Kenneth Francis Harrison

Serial Killer

Kenneth Francis Harrison: The Boston Serial Killer Known as "The Giggler"

Kenneth Francis Harrison was an American serial killer responsible for the deaths of four people in Boston, Massachusetts, between 1967 and 1969. His victims included two children, an elderly woman and a 31-year-old military veteran. Harrison became known as "The Giggler" because of a disturbing telephone call in which he identified himself by that name and laughed while directing police to one of his victims. Harrison's crimes occurred around Boston's South End, South Station and the Fort Point Channel. Two of the deaths were initially classified as accidental drownings. The connection between the cases did not become clear until Harrison was arrested for the murder of nine-year-old Kenneth Martin and confessed to the other killings.

Early Life

Kenneth Francis Harrison was born on September 4, 1938, in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston. He was the son of Earl Harrison and Veronica Harrison, who had been born in Poland. Harrison was one of two children in the family. Little reliable information is available about his childhood. He left school after completing the eighth grade and never developed a stable career. As an adult, he worked intermittently as a cook but was frequently unemployed. He lived a transient life, moving between inexpensive rooming houses in Boston's South End. At times, he reportedly slept or established temporary living spaces inside South Station. Harrison regularly spent time in bars and other locations around downtown Boston. His unstable housing, familiarity with abandoned spaces and ability to move unnoticed through transportation facilities later played important roles in his crimes.

Known Victims

• Lucy Palmarin Age 6. Date of death: April 15, 1967. Location: Fort Point Channel area, Boston, Massachusetts. Her body was recovered from the channel on May 24, 1967.
• Joseph "Joe" Breen Age 31. Date of death: June 16, 1969. Location: A construction or excavation site near Albany Street in Boston, Massachusetts. His body was discovered on June 17, 1969.
• Clovis Parker Age 75. Recorded date of death: November 27, 1969. Location: Fort Point Channel, Boston, Massachusetts. Her body was found floating in the channel on that date.
• Kenneth "Kenny" Martin Age 9. Date of death: December 26, 1969. Location: A tunnel or deserted area beneath South Station in Boston, Massachusetts. His body was found ten days later, on January 5, 1970.

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Confirmed Victims: (4)

Lucy Palmarin Age: (6), Date of Death: 1967-04-15

Kenneth Harrison (serial killer) - Wikipedia