Elton Manning Jackson

Serial Killer

Elton Manning Jackson and the Hampton Roads Murders

Background

Elton Manning Jackson, born in 1956, is a convicted murderer from Portsmouth, Virginia, who became the principal suspect in a series of twelve killings in the Hampton Roads region. The deaths occurred between July 1987 and July 1996 and frightened many people in the area, particularly gay men and people who lived or socialized around Norfolk's late-night districts. Newspapers and true-crime writers later referred to Jackson as the "Hampton Roads Killer." However, it is important to distinguish suspicion from conviction: Jackson was convicted only of murdering Andrew D. "Andre" Smith. The other eleven deaths remain officially attributed to an unidentified serial killer, although investigators publicly described Jackson as their sole or leading suspect.

Pattern of the Crimes

The victims were men with connections to Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk and nearby communities. Several were gay, bisexual or associated with gay nightlife, while others were not known to be gay. Some were homeless, used drugs or kept irregular schedules, which meant that their disappearances were not always reported immediately. Many had visited Norfolk's Ocean View neighborhood, the bars and clubs around Granby Street, or the Truxtun section of Portsmouth shortly before they vanished. Most of the bodies were discovered nude beside isolated roads, in ditches or near wooded areas. Clothing and personal property were usually missing. Nine victims were confirmed to have been strangled, while decomposition prevented medical examiners from determining a definite cause of death in some of the remaining cases. The dumping places were generally secluded enough to conceal the killer's actions but close to major highways, especially Interstate 64 and Interstate 264, allowing someone with a vehicle to leave the area quickly. Investigators believed the murderer used conversation, offers of money, transportation or sexual activity to persuade victims to accompany him voluntarily. The absence of extensive defensive wounds suggested that several victims were taken by surprise or controlled before they understood the danger. As the series continued, bodies were left in increasingly visible places, leading detectives to believe the killer was becoming more confident and possibly wanted the discoveries to attract attention. ...

Confirmed Victims: (1)

Andrew D. Smith Age: (38), Date of Death: July 22, 1996

Suspected Victims:

Charles F. Smith Age: (18), Date of Death: July 7, 1987

Joseph A. Ray Age: (26), Date of Death: July 19, 1987

Stacey L. Reneau Age: (21), Date of Death: January 7, 1989

John W. Ross, Jr. Age: (37), Date of Death: January 21, 1989

Billy Lee Dixon Age: (32), Date of Death: July 2, 1992

Reginald Joyner Age: (32), Date of Death: March 7, 1993

Ray Bostick Age: (27), Date of Death: June 6, 1993

Robert A. Neal Age: (24), Date of Death: September 8, 1993

Garland L. Taylor, Jr. Age: (24), Date of Death: September 17, 1994

Samuel Eugene Aliff Age: (31), Date of Death: May 14, 1995

Jessie J. Spencer, Jr. Age: (30), Date of Death: January 28, 1996

Elton Manning Jackson - JioSaavn