By: Alex Herbick

Background Information born on June 6, 1945 in Kittery, Maine his family moved to Watertown, New York when he was still a child Shawcross claims that his adolescence was rough, and says he had a difficult relationship with both parents (but especially his mother) and blames his later troubles on them He says he also had behavioral problems at an early age like constant bed wetting and bullying He claimed his aunt sexually molested him when he was 9, and that he had sexual relations with his younger sister He also admitted to his first homosexual encounter at the age of 11 Shawcross dropped out of school in 9 th grade From school records it can be verified that he had a particularly low IQ Early Life

Background Information When he was 19 he enlisted in the army He fought in the Vietnam War where he later confessed that he had murdered and cannibalized two young girls, although there was nothing to back up his claim Shawcross married four times and had two kids all of the marriages ended due to his violent and erratic behavior Later Life

Convictions CRIMEDATEVICTIMSPUNISHMENT Murdered 10 year old boy May 1972Jake Blake Raped and murdered 8 year old girl September 1972Karen Hillarrested First spree After he raped and killed Karen, he confessed to both murders. The prosecutors made a deal that if he plead guilty in trial to killing Karen Hill, they would drop Jake Blake’s charge. Shawcross was charged with manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years.

Convictions Shawcross served 15 years and was let out on parole. Shortly after he began killing again. CRIMEDATEVICTIMSPUMISHMENT Murdering 11 prostitutes within 2 years March Patricia Ives, Frances Brown, June Cicero, Darlene Trippi, Anne Marie Steffen, Dorothy Blackburn, Kim Logan, June Stotts, Marie Welch, Elizabeth Gibson, and Dorothy Keller Pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 250 years (life imprisonment) Second spree

How he was Caught All 11 bodies were dumped near the Genesee River. after police found body number 11, they decided to try to find a different way to catch this violent murderer. Instead of taking the body, they left it there. They did this because it is a murderers habit to go back to see scene of the crime and the body. Their plan worked. They found Arthur Shawcross masturbating in his car while staring at the body. He was instantly arrested. He pleaded not guilty due to insanity. The jury found him sane and guilty to all 11 murders and was sentenced to 250 years which is life imprisonment. He just died in the Sullivan Correctional Facility in 2008.

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Nickname Arthur Shawcross was nicknamed: “The Genesee River Killer” He was nicknamed this because he dumped 11 girls that he killed into or near that river.

Cultural Refrences Book – Arthur has a book written about him titled: Arthur Shawcross: The Genesee River Killer This is a nonfictional book based on the life of Arthur Shawcross.

Theory I believe Arthur Shawcross follows the Differential – Association Theory. The Differential - Association Theory can be defined by when people’s behavior is largely determined by the company they keep. I think it is this theory because Shawcross claims to have had rough relationships with everyone while growing up. He had an especially tough relationship with his own mother. He also claimed that his aunt had sexually molested him at the age of 9. Lastly, he claimed to have sexual relations with his little sister. Shawcross blames his killings on what happened to him as a young boy. He said that it changed him into a different, deviant person. I chose differential – association theory because I think that Arthur’s life perfectly defines this theory. How he was treated when he was little effected his behavior when he was older.