March 11, 2025
Gaskins was arrested on May 14, 1975, after a lengthy investigation. He was charged with nine counts of murder and went on trial in 1976. During the trial, Gaskins confessed to over 100 murders, but was convicted of only nine. He was sentenced to death and executed on September 6, 1991.

Donald Henry "Pee Wee" Gaskins Jr.: The Life and Crimes of a Notorious Serial Killer

Personality Profile

Name: Donald Henry "Pee Wee" Gaskins Jr.
Age: 42 (at the time of execution)
Height: 5'4" (162 cm)
Weight: 140 lbs (64 kg)
Nationality: American
History: Gaskins had a troubled childhood, was arrested multiple times, and was convicted of murder.
Criminal Past: Convicted of 9 murders, but confessed to over 100.
Verified Wikipedia Page: Donald Henry Gaskins

The Life of Donald Henry "Pee Wee" Gaskins Jr.

Donald Henry "Pee Wee" Gaskins Jr. was an American serial killer, rapist, and murderer who was convicted of nine murders, but confessed to over 100. He was born on March 13, 1933, in Charleston, South Carolina. Gaskins' childhood was marked by poverty, neglect, and abuse. He dropped out of school in the seventh grade and began committing crimes at a young age.

Early Life and Crimes

Gaskins' early life was marked by trouble. He was arrested multiple times for theft, burglary, and assault. In 1953, he was sentenced to six years in prison for burglary. After his release, he continued to commit crimes and was arrested again in 1965 for attempted murder.

Escapes and Recaptures

Gaskins escaped from prison twice, in 1966 and 1967. During his time on the run, he committed several crimes, including murder. He was recaptured in 1968 and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

The Murders

Gaskins' killing spree began in the late 1960s and continued until his arrest in 1975. His victims included men, women, and children. He would often target vulnerable individuals, including prostitutes, hitchhikers, and people with intellectual disabilities.

Modus Operandi

Gaskins' modus operandi was to target people who were unlikely to be reported missing or suspected of being murdered. He would often use his charm and good looks to lure victims into his trap. He would then use a variety of methods to kill, including shooting, stabbing, and bludgeoning.

Victims

Gaskins' victims included: * Hazel Shaw, a 15-year-old girl who was last seen hitchhiking * Peggy Cuttino, a 17-year-old girl who was found murdered in a wooded area * Johnny Knight, a 20-year-old man who was found shot to death * Dianne Anciaux, a 23-year-old woman who was found murdered in a ditch

Arrest and Trial

Gaskins was arrested on May 14, 1975, after a lengthy investigation. He was charged with nine counts of murder and went on trial in 1976. During the trial, Gaskins confessed to over 100 murders, but was convicted of only nine. He was sentenced to death and executed on September 6, 1991.

Psychological Profile

Gaskins was known to have a charismatic personality, which he used to manipulate and charm his victims. However, he also had a troubled childhood and was known to have a violent temper.

Personality Traits

* Charismatic: Gaskins was known to be charming and charismatic, which he used to lure victims into his trap. * Violent: Gaskins had a history of violence and was known to have a short temper. * Manipulative: Gaskins was known to manipulate people, including his victims and those close to him.

Legacy and Impact

Gaskins' crimes had a significant impact on the community and the families of his victims. His case also raised questions about the death penalty and the treatment of prisoners.

FAQs

  1. Q: How many murders did Gaskins confess to?

    A: Gaskins confessed to over 100 murders, but was convicted of nine.

  2. Q: What was Gaskins' modus operandi?

    A: Gaskins targeted vulnerable individuals, including prostitutes, hitchhikers, and people with intellectual disabilities, and used his charm and good looks to lure them into his trap.

  3. Q: How was Gaskins caught?

    A: Gaskins was arrested on May 14, 1975, after a lengthy investigation.

  4. Q: What was Gaskins' sentence?

    A: Gaskins was sentenced to death and executed on September 6, 1991.

  5. Q: What was Gaskins' childhood like?

    A: Gaskins had a troubled childhood, marked by poverty, neglect, and abuse.

  6. Q: How many times did Gaskins escape from prison?

    A: Gaskins escaped from prison twice, in 1966 and 1967.

  7. Q: What was Gaskins' occupation?

    A: Gaskins did not have a steady occupation, but worked odd jobs and committed crimes to support himself.

  8. Q: How tall was Gaskins?

    A: Gaskins was 5'4" (162 cm) tall.

  9. Q: What was Gaskins' weight?

    A: Gaskins weighed around 140 lbs (64 kg).

  10. Q: Is Gaskins' Wikipedia page verified?

    A: Yes, Gaskins' Wikipedia page is verified.

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7-year-old girl dies several days after her mom fatally shot herself, 3 other daughters

SALT LAKE CITY (TCN) -- The last surviving victim of a murder-suicide involving a mother and her four children died over the weekend after suffering traumatic brain injuries.

Olivia Blackmer’s family announced on GoFundMe that the 7-year-old died Saturday, Feb. 15, at a hospital in Salt Lake City after her mother, Tranyelle Harshman, fatally shot herself and her kids. Blackmer underwent brain surgery and other procedures in the days preceding her death.

The family wrote in an update, "She fought so so hard up til the last minute! Her body and her brain had been through too much, medication helped but we reached a point where medical options were exhausted and her body only continued to get worse. She kept fighting through it all though until her heart stopped."

On Feb. 10 at 1:30 p.m., the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Communications Center received a call from a woman who said her daughters had been shot, and that two were in their cribs and the other two would be in a bedroom downstairs. The caller told the dispatcher she "could be found in her upstairs bedroom and that she was going to do the same to herself."

The sheriff’s office wrote in a news release that the dispatcher "pleaded with the female caller over the phone for the female caller to remain on the line until responding units arrived," but the caller "stated multiple times that she could not do that and that it was too late."

The line ultimately went dead.

Several law enforcement units responded to the home and entered, where they found a 2-year-old and 9-year-old deceased with gunshot wounds to the head and another 2-year-old and 7-year-old, Blackmer, still alive but with shots to the head. The 2-year-old died at the scene from her injuries. Officials located the caller, Harshman, with "signs of life" and began rendering aid.

Paramedics transported Blackmer and Harshman to nearby hospitals. Blackmer was air lifted to another hospital for advanced care, then taken to Salt Lake City. Harshman died from her injuries.

Harshman’s husband, Cliff Harshman, told Cowboy State Daily that Tranyelle Harshman was coping with postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression.

He shared, "My wife was not a monster."

Cliff Harshman said Tranyelle Harshman’s actions were "so out of character" because they had been getting her help, "and along the way, something didn’t work."

Cliff Harshman was the father of the two younger kids, while Quinn Blackmer was Olivia Blackmer and 9-year-old Brailey Blackmer’s father. Harshman’s daughters were identified as Brooke and Jordan.

The four kids were reportedly home from school that day because they had the flu.

Cliff Harshman told Cowboy State Daily, "As angry as I may be with her, I still love her — and I still lost her as well."

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Mom gets life for killing toddler found 'tightly wound' in foil in trash can

SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. (TCN) -- A judge sentenced a 23-year-old woman to life in prison after she was convicted of killing her toddler daughter, leaving her body in a trash can, and covering her remains with foil.

Sullivan County court records show a jury convicted Megan Boswell of three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated child abuse, one count of tampering with evidence, 11 counts of false reports to officer, one count of abuse of corpse, and one count of refuse/neglect to comply death under suspicious circumstances in connection with the death of 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell. WJHL-TV reports Boswell was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for the murder charges, but she will be sentenced in May for the others.

Evelyn Boswell was reported missing to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 18, 2020, but family members said she had not been seen since Dec. 26, 2019. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) issued an Amber Alert the next day. On March 6, 2020, TBI detectives executed a warrant at one of Boswell’s family’s properties and discovered the girl’s remains.

TBI Agent Brian Fraley testified at a hearing in September 2022 about how Megan Boswell’s father reached out to the agency and requested they search a shed on his property. WJHL reports Fraley said the father "believed it may have been valuable for us to look in it," and when they did, they discovered the toddler’s remains in a trash can behind a playhouse.

Evelyn Boswell was placed in a trash bags and blankets underneath additional layers of bags.

The Tennessee Lookout reports forensic pathologist Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan described Evelyn Boswell as being "tightly wound" in a blanket and wrapped in aluminum foil. Mileusnic-Polchan said Evelyn Boswell was "sort of compressed in the can" and her facial features were "pretty much flattened."

Boswell reportedly claimed she was co-sleeping with her daughter and her boyfriend, and when they woke up, Evelyn Boswell was unresponsive.

The girl’s cause of death was listed as asphyxiation.

TBI Director David Rausch said in a statement following Boswell’s verdict, "Five years ago, we began working alongside the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and the Office of the 2nd Judicial District Attorney General to pursue justice for Baby Evelyn. Today, justice was finally served. Every single person who worked on this case should be commended. It was both challenging and heartbreaking, but they never wavered from their mission to ensure the person responsible for Evelyn’s death was held accountable."

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Man drove over 700 miles and allegedly set house on fire because the victim was talking to his ex

BENSALEM, Pa. (TCN) -- A 21-year-old man faces multiple charges of attempted homicide and arson for allegedly driving from Michigan to Pennsylvania and lighting a house on fire because his ex-girlfriend was supposed to go on a date with the resident.

On Feb. 10 at 5:22 a.m., Bensalem Police Department officers and the Bensalem Volunteer Fire Department responded to a house fire on Merganser Way and made contact with six people who evacuated the home, some of whom reportedly needed to jump out of a second-story window. Bensalem Police said two dogs died as a result of the fire, which caused a "total loss" of the home. The six residents were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Investigators determined that the fire "appeared to be intentionally set and incendiary in nature." Video footage reportedly showed a black Volkswagen Passat drive by the home at 5:01 a.m., and a man got out of the car and walked to the home. About 15 minutes later, he was reportedly seen running back to his car. At the same time, smoke "could be seen billowing up from the rear yard of the home, and within 30 seconds, a large explosion was observed, and the house became engulfed in flames."

Investigators initially only had a blurry image from a neighbor’s surveillance system, but they managed to track the vehicle and its owner to a residence in Michigan. One of the victims, a 21-year-old male, told police that he had been talking to a woman online who lived in Michigan. They reportedly made plans for her to travel to Bensalem to meet for the first time. The woman’s ex-boyfriend, Harrison Jones, lives at the same address as the owner of the Volkswagen.

Bensalem Police worked with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan, who obtained a search warrant for Jones' house. Detectives located lock-picking devices, a phone, and a computer. Jones reportedly had burn marks on his skin as well.

Deputies took him into custody, and the Bensalem Police Department issued an arrest warrant for six counts of attempted criminal homicide, six counts of recklessly endangering another person, four counts of arson, one count of reckless burning or exploding, one count of criminal mischief, and one count of possession an instrument of crime with intent.

Bensalem Police allege Jones traveled over 700 miles and 11 hours in each direction "to commit crimes that nearly cost six people their lives."

Jones is still awaiting extradition from Michigan to Pennsylvania.

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Man drove over 700 miles and allegedly set house on fire because the victim was talking to his ex

BENSALEM, Pa. (TCN) -- A 21-year-old man faces multiple charges of attempted homicide and arson for allegedly driving from Michigan to Pennsylvania and lighting a house on fire because his ex-girlfriend was supposed to go on a date with the resident.

On Feb. 10 at 5:22 a.m., Bensalem Police Department officers and the Bensalem Volunteer Fire Department responded to a house fire on Merganser Way and made contact with six people who evacuated the home, some of whom reportedly needed to jump out of a second-story window. Bensalem Police said two dogs died as a result of the fire, which caused a "total loss" of the home. The six residents were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Investigators determined that the fire "appeared to be intentionally set and incendiary in nature." Video footage reportedly showed a black Volkswagen Passat drive by the home at 5:01 a.m., and a man got out of the car and walked to the home. About 15 minutes later, he was reportedly seen running back to his car. At the same time, smoke "could be seen billowing up from the rear yard of the home, and within 30 seconds, a large explosion was observed, and the house became engulfed in flames."

Investigators initially only had a blurry image from a neighbor’s surveillance system, but they managed to track the vehicle and its owner to a residence in Michigan. One of the victims, a 21-year-old male, told police that he had been talking to a woman online who lived in Michigan. They reportedly made plans for her to travel to Bensalem to meet for the first time. The woman’s ex-boyfriend, Harrison Jones, lives at the same address as the owner of the Volkswagen.

Bensalem Police worked with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan, who obtained a search warrant for Jones' house. Detectives located lock-picking devices, a phone, and a computer. Jones reportedly had burn marks on his skin as well.

Deputies took him into custody, and the Bensalem Police Department issued an arrest warrant for six counts of attempted criminal homicide, six counts of recklessly endangering another person, four counts of arson, one count of reckless burning or exploding, one count of criminal mischief, and one count of possession an instrument of crime with intent.

Bensalem Police allege Jones traveled over 700 miles and 11 hours in each direction "to commit crimes that nearly cost six people their lives."

Jones is still awaiting extradition from Michigan to Pennsylvania.

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Socialite acquitted in ex-husband’s death after fatal argument - TCNPOD

This Week on True Crime News The Podcast: An argument between socialite Penelope McGee and her politically prominent ex-husband, Andrew Savitz, ended with Savitz dropping dead and McGee charged with manslaughter. McGee was ultimately found not guilty, but that leaves one major question: who should be accountable for the man’s untimely death?

Luis Bolaños joins host Ana Garcia.

YouTube: Socialite acquitted in ex-husband’s death after fatal argument

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