DNA Testing for Torso Killer Victims in Cleveland

Cleveland, Ohio, is revisiting the chilling legacy of the "Torso Killer," a serial murderer who terrorized the city from 1935 to 1938. Known for dismembering at least 12 victims, many of whom were decapitated, the killer's identity remains shrouded in mystery, with only two victims ever identified. The notorious figure, also referred to as the "Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run," was interrogated extensively but never confessed to the crimes. His reign of terror ceased when he committed himself to a sanatorium, leaving a trail of unsolved cases. In a significant development, the DNA Doe Project, in collaboration with the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office, is now utilizing advanced DNA testing to identify some of the 10 unidentified victims. Among these is the "Tattooed Man," whose decapitated body was discovered near railroad tracks in 1936. Despite extensive efforts, including fingerprinting and public displays of his tattoos, the man's identity has remained elusive, even after more than 100,000 people viewed a plaster recreation of his head at the Great Lakes Exposition. Additionally, authorities are exhuming another body believed to be the killer's sixth victim, found on Cleveland's lakefront in 1938. Both sets of remains are undergoing DNA testing, funded by a single donor. The project aims to bring closure to families who may still be searching for their missing loved ones, highlighting the enduring impact of the "Torso Killer" on the community.