BERNARD EUGENE GILES | One Of America's Most Notorious Serial Killers Has Confessed That Murdering Young Women Was His "life's passion", And That Each Attack Left Him Feeling "extraordinarily hyped" | Autographed Letter Signed

Bernard Giles. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Orlando, FL. January 7, 2025. Content unknown. SEALED.

Bernard Eugene Giles

• Classification: Serial killer

• Characteristics: Mentally disturbed sex offender – Necrophilia

• Number of victims: 5

• Date of murder: September/November 1973

• Date of birth: April 9, 1953

• Victims profile: Nancy Gerry, 18; Paula Hamric, 22; Carolyn Bennett, 17; Sharon Wimer, 14, and Kristi Melton, 15

• Method of murder: shooting, strangulation

• Location: Brevard County, Florida, USA

• Status: Sentenced to life in prison on February 17, 1977

Early Life and Background

Bernard Eugene Giles was born on April 9, 1953, in Titusville, Florida. He was the fourth child in a family that included three other siblings. His parents were described as law-abiding but not particularly effective in their parenting roles. Despite this, many of his friends viewed him positively during his childhood. He attended Titusville High School and showed an interest in visual arts, achieving some success in this area. However, due to chronic absenteeism and poor academic performance, he left school at the age of 16. After leaving school, he trained as an electrician and began working. In 1972, he married Leslie Jo Ann when she was just 17 years old, and they had a daughter together in July 1973.

Murders Committed

Giles is known for committing a series of heinous crimes between September and November of 1973. His victims were primarily young girls who often hitchhiked. The bodies of these victims were discovered in various locations such as orange groves or wooded areas within Brevard County, Florida. The identified victims include:

1. Nancy Gerry, 18: Disappeared on September 26, 1973; her body was found on December 10, shot in the head.

2. Sharon Mary Wimer, 14: Disappeared on November 5; found strangled with only a St. Christopher’s necklace.

3. Krista Jean Melton, 14: Reported missing on November 14; found fully clothed with a gunshot wound to the head on January 31, 1974.

4. Carolyn Jan Bennett, 17: Disappeared on November 15; her skeleton was discovered on Christmas Day with a gunshot wound.

5. Paula Darlene Hamric, 22: Disappeared on November 17; her nude body was found strangled eight days later.

Arrest and Investigation

On December 10, 1973, Giles attempted to attack two underage hitchhikers but failed when his gun malfunctioned. The girls escaped and reported him to the police, providing details about his car and name. Following this incident, Giles was arrested the next day. During the investigation into his activities, it became apparent that he was connected to multiple disappearances of young girls since August of that year.

Forensic ballistic examinations linked Giles’ revolver to Nancy Gerry’s murder specifically. Although he initially claimed innocence during his trial preparations in early 1974—requesting forensic medical examinations that confirmed he did not suffer from mental illness—he eventually entered into a plea bargain before the trial commenced.

Trial and Sentencing

In exchange for pleading guilty to several murders—including those of Hamric and others—Giles avoided the death penalty. On August 13, 1974, he received multiple life sentences without parole for his crimes.

Aftermath

Following his conviction, Giles was incarcerated at Florida State Prison where he later escaped in October of 1979 with two other inmates using homemade smoke grenades as distractions for prison guards and dogs.

The case of Bernard Eugene Giles remains significant due to its impact on public awareness regarding serial crimes against young women during that era.

• VIDEO: The true story of Bernard Giles / Full documentary | https://youtu.be/gQynupggyBs

• VIDEO: Bernard Giles - Killer of five Young Women I Serial Killer With Piers Morgan I Twisted Tales | https://youtu.be/_lHuL_BK-i8

Archiving Protocol:

• Handled with White Gloves ab initio

• Photo Pages/Sheet Protectors: Heavyweight Clear Sheet Protectors, Acid Free & Archival Safe, 8.5 × 11, Top Load

• White Backing Board – Acid Free

Shipping/Packaging: Rigid Mailer 9.5 × 12.5. White, self-seal, stay-flat, Kraft cardboard, no bend. Each rigid mailer is made of heavy cardboard, which has strong resistance to bending and tearing. Thicker than the USPS mailers. Shipping cost never more than it absolutely has to be to get it from me to you.