David Bullock (serial killer)

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David Bullock
Born (1960-11-13) November 13, 1960 (age 64)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Other names"The .38 Caliber Killer"
Conviction(s)Second degree murder (6 counts)
Theft
Burglary
Criminal penalty150 years to life
Details
Victims6+
Span of crimes
1981–1982
CountryUnited States
State(s)New York
Date apprehended
January 14, 1982; 43 years ago (January 14, 1982)
Imprisoned atClinton Correctional Facility, Dannemora, New York

David Bullock (born November 13, 1960), known as The .38 Caliber Killer, is an American serial killer who killed at least six people in New York City between December 1981 and January 1982. Owing to his unassuming appearance and character, his killing spree was undetected by local police for some time, who were unaware that a serial murderer was operating in the area.[1] Although Bullock committed the murders four years after David Berkowitz's notorious eight serial murders, which caused a moral panic in the city, Bullock's killings were not widely reported since it was not known until his arrest that they were connected.

Early life

David Bullock was born on November 13, 1960, in New York City. Both of his parents were dependent on alcohol, which resulted in Bullock's grandfather raising him. He attended school until, after his first arrest aged 16 in February 1977 and subsequent imprisonment, he was expelled.

Criminal career

Bullock was first arrested in February 1977 in Monroe, New York, for theft. Five months later, he committed a similar crime in Manhattan, was caught, pleaded guilty, was convicted, and spent several months in a juvenile institution. He was released in November of that same year, but two months later, Bullock was arrested in Goshen, New York, for burglary. After his release, he permanently moved to Manhattan, where, having no source of income, Bullock engaged in male prostitution to survive. Between the period of 1978 and 1981, he was prosecuted an additional five times.[2]

Arrest and exposure

A few days later, Bullock killed his 23-year-old friend, prostitute Edwina Atkins. According to Bullock, it was a crime of hatred: he had told her about killing Weber, but in response, she laughed in his face in disbelief. After shooting Atkins, he set fire to the apartment in order to destroy any evidence of a crime.[3] His next confessed victim was 29-year-old investment consultant Stephen Glenn Hassell, who was promised sexual services in exchange for money. Hassell took Bullock to his luxurious Manhattan apartment where, late in the night of December 15, Bullock shot him after covering his face with a pillow.[3] Although Hassell was an influential person and the murder had taken place in a prestigious area of the city, Bullock managed to leave the crime scene unnoticed, leaving no evidence or clues for the investigators.[4] Subsequently, Bullock admitted that he was responsible for his roommate's disappearance: according to his claims, he shot Winley on December 23, 1981, and threw his corpse into the Harlem River.[1] Police searched, unsuccessfully, for the body.[2] After examining the five murder scenes, ballistic experts concluded that the same .38 caliber revolver, which belonged to Bullock, had been used to kill the victims.[5]

Trial and imprisonment

David Bullock's trial, a high-profile case for its time, began in the fall of 1982. He was sent to be mentally evaluated; psychiatrists determined that he had no underlying mental illnesses or abnormalities, but acknowledged that the defendant had an impaired emotional state.[6] He was charged with six murders, although Winley's body was never found. At the court hearings, Bullock appeared to be in a positive mood, describing in detail the crimes he had committed in a sarcastic and extremely cynical tone, without expressing any remorse. On October 26, 1982, he pleaded guilty to all charges, naming hedonism as his main motive, saying: "I was in the Christmas spirit. It made me happy. I enjoy what I do". Three days later, he was sentenced to 150 years' imprisonment; at the time such long sentences were unprecedented in the state's history.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Buder, Leonard (January 15, 1982). "SUSPECT IS HELD IN SLAYINGS OF 6 IN LAST 6 WEEKS". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-05-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Buder, Leonard (January 16, 1982). "SUSPECT IN 6 SLAYINGS SAID TO HAVE SHOT AT OTHERS". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-05-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO 6 MURDERS; SAYS KILLING 'MAKES ME HAPPY'". The New York Times. October 27, 1982. Archived from the original on 2016-01-03.
  4. ↑ "Wall St. Investment Adviser Is Slain in Apartment-Office". The New York Times. December 15, 1981. Archived from the original on 2018-09-25.
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named автоссылка2
  6. ↑ "Mass killer smiles as he gets 150 years in jail". United Press International. November 29, 1982. Archived from the original on 2018-09-25.
  7. ↑ Shipp, E. R. (November 30, 1982). "MAN WHO KILLED 6 TO GET A 'HIGH' GIVEN LIFE TERM". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-05-24.

External links

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