A Predator Hiding in Plain Sight
Between 1977 and 1982, women in Missouri, Illinois, and Pennsylvania vanished or were found brutally murdered under eerily similar circumstances. No one connected the crimes. No one suspected a common thread.
Then, in 2007—25 years after his last known killing—DNA evidence broke the silence. Behind the horror was a soft-spoken, middle-aged man already in prison for unrelated sex crimes: Timothy Wayne Krajcir.
He confessed to nine murders, each one colder than the last. These weren’t crimes of passion. They were calculated, methodical acts of power, domination, and cruelty.
Deborah Sheppard: The Murder That Finally Spoke
Deborah Kay Sheppard, 27, was a bright and promising student at Southern Illinois University, just weeks away from graduation. On April 8, 1982, her life was cut short in her Carbondale apartment.
She had been watched, stalked, and ultimately ambushed by Krajcir while showering. He raped and strangled her, then disappeared into the night.
For two and a half decades, her family lived without answers—until forensic science caught up with the man who took her life.
“She represented light and love,” said her younger sister, Bridgette. “He didn’t just take her life—he stole our joy, our peace, our future.”
The Parsh Women: A Double Execution
On August 12, 1977, Krajcir followed 58-year-old Mary Parsh home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Unbeknownst to him, her 27-year-old daughter Brenda had just arrived for a visit.
What followed was pure horror.
Krajcir raped Brenda, then executed both women with precise gunshots to the head. The next morning, he posed for wedding photos as a groomsman, smiling, calm, untouched by the blood on his hands.
The Full List of Known Victims
| Name | Age | Date | Location | Cause of Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Parsh | 58 | Aug 1977 | Cape Girardeau, MO | Gunshot wound to the head |
| Brenda Parsh | 27 | Aug 1977 | Cape Girardeau, MO | Raped + shot execution-style |
| Sheila Cole | 21 | Nov 1977 | Cape Girardeau, MO | Strangled; dumped in canal |
| Virginia Lee Witte | 51 | May 1978 | Marion, IL | Abducted, raped, strangled |
| Joyce Tharp | 29 | Mar 1979 | Harrisburg, IL | Strangled in home |
| Myrtle Rupp | 63 | Apr 1979 | Pennsylvania | Strangled and dumped |
| Margie Call | 49 | Jan 1982 | Carbondale, IL | Raped and strangled |
| Deborah Sheppard | 27 | Apr 1982 | Carbondale, IL | Raped and strangled in shower |
| Mildred Wallace | 65 | Jun 1982 | Cape Girardeau, MO | Raped, strangled, staged robbery |
Each of these women was innocent. Most never saw their attacker coming. All were silenced by one man—and nearly lost to history.
How He Chose His Victims
Timothy Krajcir didn’t fit the typical serial killer mold. He didn’t choose women by race, age, or profession. His pattern was opportunity.
He stalked grocery store parking lots, memorized license plates, and followed women home. He often waited hours inside or around their homes—until the perfect moment came.
Sometimes, he’d break in while they were showering. Sometimes, he’d stage scenes to look like robberies. But the motive never changed: control, dominance, and complete power.
“He was methodical,” said Paul Echols, the detective who broke the case. “And he was terrifying because he could disappear without a trace.”
Why It Took So Long
Krajcir’s murder timeline is riddled with gaps. Why? Because he was in and out of prison for sex crimes. His horrific spree paused only when he was behind bars.
Without modern forensic tools, police couldn’t connect the murders. Different states, no consistent victim profile, and no suspect in common — he was a ghost in the system.
But in 2007, when DNA linked him to Deborah Sheppard’s case, everything unraveled. He confessed—calmly, clinically—to nine murders. And likely, there may have been more.
Locked Up Forever
Timothy Krajcir is now serving 13 life sentences without the possibility of parole at Pontiac Correctional Center in Illinois.
He has never expressed remorse. In fact, according to investigators, he seemed proud of how long he got away with it.
“He knows what he did. He just doesn’t care,” said Echols. “He’s not like us. He never was.”
More Than Victims—They Were People
These women were more than names on a case file:
- Mary loved gardening
- Brenda adored animals
- Sheila was studying to be a nurse
- Virginia volunteered at her church
- Joyce was a newlywed
- Myrtle doted on her grandchildren
- Margie never missed a family birthday
- Deborah dreamed of being a teacher
- Mildred still sent handwritten letters
Their lives mattered. Their memories endure.
FAQs
How many women did Timothy Krajcir kill?
He confessed to nine murders, though investigators believe the true number may be higher.
How was he caught?
A DNA match from Deborah Sheppard’s 1982 murder linked him to the crime in 2007.
Where is he now?
He’s incarcerated at Pontiac Correctional Center in Illinois, serving 13 consecutive life sentences.
Was he remorseful?
No. Investigators say Krajcir has shown no genuine remorse for his crimes.
Are there more unidentified victims?
Possibly. Investigators continue to review cold cases from the regions and timeframes where Krajcir was active.