Steven Washington

Steven Washington Jr. (July 27, 1948 – March 18, 2004), known as The Window-Screen Rapist, was an American serial killer who murdered three elderly women in St. Petersburg, Florida, in late 1963. At the time of his arrest in January 1964, he was only 15 years old. His victims ranging in ages between 52 and 80 and were raped beforehand. Having been convicted and sentenced to life in prison, he died while serving his sentence in 2004.[1]

Steven Washington
Inmate mugshot
Born
Steven Washington Jr.

(1948-07-27)July 27, 1948
St Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
DiedMarch 18, 2004(2004-03-18) (aged 55)
Florida, U.S.
Other names"Window-Screen rapist"
Conviction(s)Murder
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment
Details
Victims3
Span of crimes
August – December 1963
CountryUnited States
State(s)Florida
Date apprehended
January 3, 1964

Biography

Steven Washington Jr. was born in St. Petersburg on July 27, 1948. Little is known about his upbringing, but in October 1963, due to Florida's child marriage laws, he married a 15-year-old girl named Gwendolyn, with whom he fathered one daughter.[2]

Murders
  • On August 28, 1963, Washington attacked a 52-year-old woman during a home invasion. He choked, sexually assaulted, and beat her, but ultimately decided not to kill her.[2] Six days later he broke into the home of a 72-year-old woman. As he did before, he raped and beat her, and left without killing her.[2] The two women reported their attacks, and one described her attacker as a black man who had a grin on his face while raping her.[3]
  • On September 25, Washington invaded a third home, this time belonging to 75-year-old Austria native Mary Pawliw, by climbing through an open window.[4] He sexually assaulted, beat, choked, and strangled her to death. Washington strangled Pawliw with such force that a bone was broken in her neck.[4] The next day, neighbors became concerned after not hearing from Pawliw all day, and they called police to recommend a well-visit. Police arrived and found her slightly decomposed body lying in her bed.[4]
  • On October 20, Washington strangled 67-year-old Oleeta Lavina Beard McWaters to death. Her body was found the next day. Although she was confirmed to have been strangled, authorities could not rule if she had been raped due to the decomposition on the body.[5] By the time of this killing, authorities began to investigate if the attacks were committed by the same person.[6]
  • On December 30, Washington entered the home of 80-year-old Eva Miller by climbing through an open window. As he had done prior, he raped, beat, and strangled Miller to death. Neighbors called police shortly after reporting hearing Miller crying. The next day, her body was found.[7] By this attack, police had already come to the conclusion that all of the attacks were related, and one newspaper, The Tampa Tribune, nicknamed the attacker the "window-screen rapist/murderer".[7]

Aftermath

At each crime scene, Washington left his fingerprints, usually on the windows he had climbed through. Due to this, he was arrested on January 3, 1964, and charged with the killings.[8] Not long after, he confessed, though claimed he was suffering from insanity.[9] In November, Washington pleaded guilty to the murders, and the following month was sentenced to serve three life sentences. In 1969, he was denied a retrial. In 1970, Washington attempted to appeal his convictions through a federal court. However, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied reviewing his case.[10]

On March 18, 2004, Washington died at age 55.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Inmate Release Information". Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  2. "Boy, 15, Admits 3 Rapes". Associated Press. January 5, 1964. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  3. David Rosenbaum (August 4, 1964). "Washington Case Opens; Delayed Week". Tampa Bay Times. p. 9. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  4. "Examiner Says Elderly Widow Was Strangled". Tampa Bay Times. September 28, 1963. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  5. Ben Garrett (January 4, 1964). "St. Pete Police Arrest Negro, 15, In Rape Slayings". The Tampa Tribune. p. 5. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  6. "4 Women Attacked Since Late August". Tampa Bay Times. October 22, 1963. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  7. Nash Stublen (January 1, 1964). "Elderly St. Pete Woman Attacked, Slain in Home". The Tampa Tribune. p. 3. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  8. Ben Garrett (January 4, 1964). "St. Pete Police Arrest Negro, 15, In Rape Slayings". The Tampa Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  9. "Accused Slayer Pleads Insanity". Associated Press. January 24, 1969. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  10. "Killer's Attack On Convictions Again Denied". The Tampa Tribune. January 14, 1970. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
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