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In June, 1999, Chicago police indicted 54-year-old Ralph Andrews for the 1977 murder, rape, and aggravated kidnapping of 16-year-old Susan Clark. Not suprisingly, wherever Ralphie lived, bodies turned up to the tune of 20 dead women within a three-state area. Police said Andrews was always considered a suspect in the murders of Clark and two other women Amy Alden, and Arvella Thomas, who were fatally shot and stabbed multiple times, and their bodies dumped in Skokie.
In 1991, police said 41-year-old Virginia Griffin was murdered in her Rogers Park apartment. The knife used in the murder was found in Andrews¹ home. But authorities said Andrews recently began bragging to fellow inmates about Clark¹s murder. A special unit with the Cook County State¹s Attorney¹s Office then put a recorder in Andrews¹ cell. He allegedly confessed to the murder, giving graphic details.
According to the federal indictment, Andrews also wrote out a list of all the victims he murdered. Alden and Thomas were allegedly on that list. Skokie police are not calling Andrews a serial killer just yet. But he has lived in Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois, and in all four states there have been unsolved murders which were committed in the same way.
Convicted killer, Ralph Raymond Andrews, 54, was charged with the Aug. 25, 1977, rape and murder of 16-year-old Susan Clarke, after he was secretly recorded in prison confessing to the killing. The tape has prompted authorities to examine his possible link to the slayings of two other teenage girls in Skokie, Illinois, in the '70s, and 20 to 40 unsolved murders in other states.
Andrews, who is serving a life term for a 1991 murder and sexual assault, reportedly admitted killing Clarke after abducting her as she returned to her home from a baby-sitting job. She was sexually assaulted and shot in the head, and her torso had been sliced open from the neck to the abdomen. He allegedly dumped her body, which had been shot and stabbed, in a vegetable garden near the Edens Expy. in Skokie. He is also a prime suspect in the 1972 murder of Amy Alden, 15, found in the 4700 block of Old Orchard Road, and the 1978 killing of Arvella Thomas, 14, discovered in the 8200 block of Ridgeway Road, Skokie Police Sgt. Michael Ruth said. Andrews was a suspect from the beginning in Clarke's murder and the Skokie slayings, sources said. He was questioned in each, but denied being involved, they said.
Because the cases have the markings of a serial killer, authorities from Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin want to see if Andrews can be linked to 20 to 40 other murders in those states, sources said. Andrews, formerly of Chicago, was a caretaker at Pottawattomie Gardens on the North Side. He is currently serving a life sentence at Stateville Correctional Center. He was convicted in 1993 of the 1991 murder and rape of Virginia Griffin, 43. Like Clarke, Griffin had been sliced open and sexually mutilated.
About six months ago, Andrews reportedly started telling a fellow inmate about other murders he committed. The inmate tipped authorities, who then recorded his conversation with Andrews. Andrews has a criminal record related to attacks on teenage girls dating back to 1972 and served time on battery charges, Benjamin said. He was acquitted of attempted murder in 1973 in connection with the stabbings of two 15-year-old hitchhikers.
In June, 1999, Chicago police indicted 54-year-old Ralph Andrews for the 1977 murder, rape, and aggravated kidnapping of 16-year-old Susan Clark. Not suprisingly, wherever Ralphie lived, bodies turned up to the tune of 20 dead women within a three-state area. Police said Andrews was always considered a suspect in the murders of Clark and two other women Amy Alden, and Arvella Thomas, who were fatally shot and stabbed multiple times, and their bodies dumped in Skokie.
In 1991, police said 41-year-old Virginia Griffin was murdered in her Rogers Park apartment. The knife used in the murder was found in Andrews¹ home. But authorities said Andrews recently began bragging to fellow inmates about Clark¹s murder. A special unit with the Cook County State¹s Attorney¹s Office then put a recorder in Andrews¹ cell. He allegedly confessed to the murder, giving graphic details.
According to the federal indictment, Andrews also wrote out a list of all the victims he murdered. Alden and Thomas were allegedly on that list. Skokie police are not calling Andrews a serial killer just yet. But he has lived in Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois, and in all four states there have been unsolved murders which were committed in the same way.
Convicted killer, Ralph Raymond Andrews, 54, was charged with the Aug. 25, 1977, rape and murder of 16-year-old Susan Clarke, after he was secretly recorded in prison confessing to the killing. The tape has prompted authorities to examine his possible link to the slayings of two other teenage girls in Skokie, Illinois, in the '70s, and 20 to 40 unsolved murders in other states.
Andrews, who is serving a life term for a 1991 murder and sexual assault, reportedly admitted killing Clarke after abducting her as she returned to her home from a baby-sitting job. She was sexually assaulted and shot in the head, and her torso had been sliced open from the neck to the abdomen. He allegedly dumped her body, which had been shot and stabbed, in a vegetable garden near the Edens Expy. in Skokie. He is also a prime suspect in the 1972 murder of Amy Alden, 15, found in the 4700 block of Old Orchard Road, and the 1978 killing of Arvella Thomas, 14, discovered in the 8200 block of Ridgeway Road, Skokie Police Sgt. Michael Ruth said. Andrews was a suspect from the beginning in Clarke's murder and the Skokie slayings, sources said. He was questioned in each, but denied being involved, they said.
Because the cases have the markings of a serial killer, authorities from Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin want to see if Andrews can be linked to 20 to 40 other murders in those states, sources said. Andrews, formerly of Chicago, was a caretaker at Pottawattomie Gardens on the North Side. He is currently serving a life sentence at Stateville Correctional Center. He was convicted in 1993 of the 1991 murder and rape of Virginia Griffin, 43. Like Clarke, Griffin had been sliced open and sexually mutilated.
About six months ago, Andrews reportedly started telling a fellow inmate about other murders he committed. The inmate tipped authorities, who then recorded his conversation with Andrews. Andrews has a criminal record related to attacks on teenage girls dating back to 1972 and served time on battery charges, Benjamin said. He was acquitted of attempted murder in 1973 in connection with the stabbings of two 15-year-old hitchhikers. |
