James Weber was 42 and worked as a junior high music teacher and an actor with the Light Opera of Manhattan when he was found murdered in Central Park on the evening of December 5, 1981, hours after a performance. His death was the first in a string of killings that terrorized New York City over the following month.

The case initially stalled for lack of leads. On January 14, 1982, investigators arrested 21-year-old male prostitute David Bullock on an unrelated disappearance; during questioning he confessed to multiple murders, including Weber’s. Bullock said he had been in Central Park to shoot birds when he encountered Weber, killed him at random, and stole his money and identification, which delayed identification of the victim. Bullock later pleaded guilty to six counts of second-degree murder and received six consecutive terms of 25 years to life.