Kendall Francois
Kendall Francois (July 26, 1971 – September 11, 2014) was a serial killer from Poughkeepsie, New York, convicted of killing eight women, from 1996 to 1998.[1] After his conviction and sentencing, Francois was housed in the Attica Correctional Facility until being transferred to the Wende Correctional Facility shortly before his death.[2] It was revealed in his trial in 2000 that he tested positive for HIV in 1995, but this was not said to have been related to his death.[3]
Kendall Francois | |
|---|---|
 Mugshot of Francois | |
| Born | July 26, 1971 Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 11, 2014 (aged 43) |
| Other names | "The Poughkeepsie Killer", "Stinky" |
| Criminal status | Deceased |
| Conviction(s) | First degree murder (8 counts) |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment without parole |
| Details | |
| Victims | 8–10+ |
Span of crimes | October 1996 – August 26, 1998 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | New York |
Date apprehended | September 2, 1998 |
Trial and sentence
In August 2000, Francois was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to 8 counts of first degree murder. The plea agreement allowed him to avoid a possible death sentence. Francois was incarcerated in Attica Correctional Facility until shortly before his death.[3]
He died in the Wende Correctional Facility on September 11, 2014, at the age of 43.[3] The official cause of death was "AIDS related illness” According to a woman who corresponded with Francois in prison, he had HIV.[4]
Victims
| Name | Age | Date of death |
|---|---|---|
| Wendy Meyers | 30 | c. October 1996 |
| Gina Barone | 29 | c. November 1996 |
| Catherine Marsh | 31 | c. November 1996 |
| Kathleen Hurley | 47 | c. January 1997 |
| Mary Healey Giaccone | 29 | c. February 1997 |
| Sandra Jean French | 51 | c. June 1998 |
| Audrey Pugliese | 34 | c. August 1998 |
| Catina Newmaster | 25 | c. August 1998 |
References
- Gado, Mark (December 15, 2011). NIGHTCRAWLER. RosettaBooks. ISBN 9780795323157.
- Rowe, Claudia (January 24, 2017). The Spider and the Fly: A Reporter, a Serial Killer, and the Meaning of Murder. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062416148.
- Ferro, John. "Serial killer Kendall Francois dies in prison". Poughkeepsie Journal. Gannett Company, Inc. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- "Francois letters: Inside the mind of a remorseless killer". The Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
Further reading
- Rosen, Fred (July 1, 2015). Body Dump: Kendall Francois, the Poughkeepsie Serial Killer. Open Road Media. ISBN 9781504022644.
- Rowe, Claudia (2017). The spider and the fly. HarperLuxe. ISBN 978-0062497628