Clarence Hill: The Duck Island Killer
Background
Clarence Hill was an American serial killer associated with a series of shootings and assaults near Trenton, New Jersey, between 1938 and 1942. He became known as the "Duck Island Killer" because several of the crimes occurred on Duck Island, an isolated industrial area along the Delaware River that was commonly used as a lovers' lane. Newspapers also called the unknown attacker the "Mad Killer of Duck Island" and the "Moon-Mad Murderer."
Hill generally targeted couples sitting in parked automobiles late at night. The attacker carried a 12-gauge shotgun, approached without warning, and demanded money or opened fire at close range. In several incidents, victims who tried to escape were chased and beaten. Six people were killed in three double murders, while several other people survived similar attacks.
The First Double Murder
On the night of November 8, 1938, Vincenzo "Jim" Tonzillo and Mary Myatovich were sitting in a parked automobile on Duck Island. A man carrying a shotgun approached the vehicle and demanded money. When Tonzillo resisted, the attacker fired at him at close range, killing him inside or beside the automobile.
Myatovich ran from the vehicle but was shot in the lower part of her body. The gunman pursued her, sexually assaulted her, and left her seriously wounded. People who heard her screams contacted the police. She was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Trenton and was able to describe portions of the attack before dying from her injuries on November 10, 1938.
...
MEMBER ACCESSContinue reading the complete profile
Unlock the full profile for Clarence Hill, complete victim information, available sources, videos, and member discussions.
Unlock Full Access — $3.97/month Already a member? Log in
