Gary Michael Heidnik

Serial Killer

Gary Michael Heidnik: The Crimes in the Basement

Background

Gary Michael Heidnik was an American kidnapper, rapist and murderer whose crimes shocked Philadelphia during the late 1980s. He was born on November 22, 1943, in Eastlake, Ohio. After serving briefly in the United States Army, he worked as a licensed practical nurse and spent periods of his life in psychiatric hospitals. He later founded a small religious organization called the United Church of the Ministers of God and referred to himself as a bishop. Although he lived in a modest house, he accumulated considerable wealth through stock-market investments. Heidnik lived at 3520 North Marshall Street in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Between November 1986 and March 1987, he abducted six young women and imprisoned them inside this house. Most of the women were confined in a narrow hole that he had dug into the concrete floor of his basement. They were restrained with chains, deprived of food, repeatedly assaulted and subjected to physical and psychological torture. Two of the captives, Sandra Lindsay and Deborah Dudley, died. Four others survived.

The Beginning of the Captivity

On November 25, 1986, Heidnik approached 25-year-old Josefina Rivera in Philadelphia and offered her money to accompany him to his house. After she entered the property, he attacked and restrained her. Rivera became the first woman imprisoned in the basement. Heidnik chained her by the ankle and confined her in the pit for long periods. Over the following four months, Heidnik brought five more women to the house. He attempted to prevent the captives from cooperating with one another by threatening them, punishing them collectively and sometimes offering small privileges to one woman in exchange for information about the others. The women were frequently kept in darkness and were given inadequate food, water and sanitation. Loud music was sometimes played inside the house, apparently to hide noises from the basement. ...

Confirmed Victims: (2)

Sandra Lindsay Age: (24), Date of Death: 1986-12-03

Survivors:

Josefina Rivera Age: (25), Date of Attack: November 25, 1986

Lisa Thomas Age: (19), Date of Attack: December 23, 1986

Jacqueline Askins Age: (18), Date of Attack: January 18, 1987

Agnes Adams Age: (24), Date of Attack: March 23, 1987

Gary M. Heidnik - Wikipedia