Does anyone remember the serial killer from Delaware? Steven Pennell?

[JimmyJazz]

I followed that story pretty closely because it happened near where I live. Plus (this is how small Delaware is) I was close friends with his attorney, my best friend graduated from high school with him. I went to elementary school and was close friends with one of his victims.

Later I went to work at a law office where the investigating officer was working (he was going to law school while on the police force). He told fascinating stories about how they ended up catching the guy.

Oh - and I'm also familiar with the Capano case. :) - for most of the same reasons.

[johnnie]

1. The Pennell case seems a bit familiar to me

But I would have to read more about it. I do see one reason why someone from Delaware would know all about this one. He is one of the, if not only serial killer Delaware has ever had. That would stand out I would say.:)
I am a bit more familiar with Capano, but I would have to reread about it to make sure.

[JimmyJazz]

2. To my knowledge, he is Delaware's only documented serial killer.

I don't know if there were ever any books written about him, but I think there were at least 2 on the Capano case.

The other high profile case was the Peterson/Grossberg case where the college students were accused of killing their newborn son.

[Zuni]

17. Pennell is one the single most extreme killers in US history

he does not have body counts like Gary Ridgeway or John Wayne Gacy, nor is he quite as abnormal as Dahmer or Ed gein, but the sheer anger and sadism (torture and mutiliation of victims while they were still alive was part of his signature) he displayed is quite beyond the norm, even for a serial murderer.

[XanaDUer]

4. Capano got the death penalty

even though the body was never found. It was of his young mistress, Anne Marie Fahey. FOr reasons unknown (she was leaving him and he was a control freak?) he shot her, dumped her body out at sea, and then tried to frame his other mistress as the killer, in an "accident."

[XanaDUer]

3. The Capano case absolutley fascinated me.

I've read all the books on the case so far.

[JimmyJazz]

7. If I had to read just one, which would you recommend?

thanks.

[XanaDUer]

11. Probably the Ann Rule one

"And Never Let Her Go". 'Cause she gives the most background.

She is also more sympathetic to the victims in the case (as she is with all cases she covers).

[Zuni]

18. Anne Rule's books are fantastic

I recommend 'Small Sacrifices" for starters, about the Diane Downs case

[XanaDUer]

5. Are their any books on the Pennell case?

I think that is one TC case I am not familiar with.

[JimmyJazz]

8. I don't know. I'll have to do a search and find out.

If not, there should be. It was a fascinating case in terms of how the police tracked him and eventually caught him. My mom and I would argue about the case because she couldn't understand how anyone could defend that "monster."

[XanaDUer]

10. Thnx!

:hi:

[southlandshari]

6. Hi JimmyJazz!

And welcome to the TC group!

I'm not familiar with the Pennell case, though - I'm sure not surprising to you - I've read extensively about the Capano/Fahey case. Every TC television program has had at least one full episode on that one, and (as you said) at least two major true crime books have been written about it.

I'm glad you posted here! I'm going to do a little research on the case you mentioned and come back and post my thoughts here.

[JimmyJazz]

9. Please do. It really was an interesting case.

:hi: And, thanks for the welcome.

[XanaDUer]

12. Have you see Capano's pic on the Delaware

inmate search site? He's gained weight.

[JimmyJazz]

13. Here's what I found on the Pennell case - it's not very much.

http://www.skcentral.com/pennell.html

I think it's interesting that the article cites the amount spent in defending the case. The State of Delaware did a pretty cool thing. They hired the best criminal attorney in the state (Gene Maurer) so that the conviction would be upheld.

Also, if I recall correctly, Gene traveled around the country to learn about DNA evidence because this was one of the first cases that allowed that type of evidence.

It was a pretty cool case. I was in the courthouse almost everyday and got to see some of the trial - the Prosecution had cut away the back end of Pennell's van where the girls were murdered and reassembled it in the courtroom.

[XanaDUer]

14. Thanks.

Always interested in learning about new cases.

[Zuni]

16. That is because Anne Rule wrote a book about it

[Zuni]

15. The Pennell case is one of the most intriguiging

cases of all. John Douglas and Bob Keppel both write quite a bit about this torture murderer in their books. His signatures are so distinctive and sadistic that it is surprising he is not more well known.