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William Bradford (murderer)

William Richard Bradford (May 18, 1946 – March 10, 2008) was an American convicted murderer and suspected serial killer and serial rapist who was incarcerated in San Quentin State Prison for the 1984 murders of his 15-year-old neighbor Tracey Campbell and barmaid Shari Miller. In July 2006, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department released a compilation of photos found in Bradford's apartment in the 1980s, depicting 54 different women in modelling poses. As Bradford had used the promise of a modelling career to lure his known victims, and taken pictures of Miller before murdering her, police believe many of the photos depict Bradford's other victims in the moments before their deaths. Bradford died at the Vacaville prison medical facility on March 10, 2008, of natural causes.[3][4]

William Bradford
Inmate mugshot
Born
William Richard Bradford

(1946-05-18)May 18, 1946
DiedMarch 10, 2008(2008-03-10) (aged 61)
Other namesThe Death Row Poet
Conviction(s)First degree murder with special circumstances (2 counts)
Criminal penaltyDeath
Details
Victims2 convictions, 28+ suspected
CountryUnited States
State(s)California

Crimes edit

In July 1984, while out on bail and awaiting trial for rape, Bradford met Shari Miller, a barmaid at a Los Angeles establishment called "The Meet Market".[5] Bradford told her that he was a professional photographer and offered to help her build a modeling portfolio. He took her to a remote campsite in the deserts north of Los Angeles (which was the site of the alleged rape for which Bradford was awaiting trial), photographed her in a variety of modelling poses, and then strangled her.[5]

After killing her, Bradford sliced off her tattoos and removed her blouse. He then transported her body to a Hollywood parking lot, where he dumped the corpse in an adjoining alley. When the body was found, there was no identification on it, leading Miller to be labeled "Jane Doe #60".[5]

Shortly thereafter, Bradford convinced his 15-year-old neighbor Tracey Campbell that she could be a model and took her out to the desert campsite, where he likewise photographed and strangled her. Bradford left her body there, covering her face with Shari Miller's blouse.[5][6]

Arrest edit

Bradford came under suspicion when investigators learned that he had been the last person to see Tracey Campbell alive.[6] This, coupled with his pending rape trial, compelled police to obtain a search warrant for Bradford's apartment; inside, they found the photos of Miller and Campbell, along with an assortment of 54 other photos of unidentified women.[5] Police recognized the photos of Miller as "Jane Doe #60" and arrested Bradford on suspicion of murder; using a rock formation visible in one of the photos of Miller, police were able to locate the camp site in the desert where the murders had occurred.[5][6] Upon searching the site, police found Campbell's decomposed body behind the rock formation.[5][6] Shortly thereafter, Bradford pleaded no contest to the rape charge he was awaiting trial for and was sentenced to eight years in prison.[5]

Trial and conviction edit

Bradford was put on trial in 1988, during which he fired his lawyer, opting to act as his own counsel.[5] During the phase of the trial in which Bradford acted as his own attorney, he offered no evidence or arguments as to his innocence.[6] The prosecution identified Bradford as a serial killer during the course of the trial, but offered no information on murders aside from those of Miller and Campbell. In his closing statement, Bradford implied that he had murdered several other women in addition to Campbell and Miller: "Think of how many you don't even know about. You are so right. That's it."[6]

The jury found Bradford guilty of both murders and sentenced him to death.

Time on death row edit

In 1998, Bradford dropped all of his appeals, claiming that life in San Quentin had become unbearable. Having no legal representation for the past 10 years, Bradford hired a lawyer to help speed the process of his execution, and began writing poems about life in San Quentin. His poetry attracted attention from the press, who dubbed him "Death Row Poet".[5]

Five days before his scheduled execution, Bradford said that he had changed his mind, professing his innocence and declaring that he wanted the execution process to be halted.[5]

2006 events edit

In 2006, Los Angeles police suddenly voiced new interest in the Bradford case, releasing a data sheet depicting head shots taken from the photos in Bradford's apartment.[5][7] Detectives claimed that they believed the women could all be Bradford's victims; since the photos' release, at least one woman, "#28", has been identified, as Donnalee Campbell Duhamel, a woman whose decapitated corpse was found in a canyon in Malibu in 1978.[7] It has been determined that Duhamel met Bradford in a Culver City bar, "The Frigate", a few days before her body was found.[7]

Investigators have also revealed that several of the women have since been identified as Bradford's ex-wives, though no indication has been given that they are dead, or that Bradford is suspected of murdering them.[8]

Another identified photograph is that of Nika LaRue, the sister of actress Eva LaRue.[9] Nika LaRue is number three in the series of released pictures. Both sisters spoke with the Sheriff's Department and were able to give additional information. An episode of Eva LaRue's series CSI: Miami' ("Darkroom") is based on this case.

The "vast majority" of the women in the photos remain unidentified, and are all viewed as possible rape and/or murder victims.[7][8] Police are encouraging that the photos be distributed nationwide, as Bradford spent time in Michigan, Florida, Texas, Oregon, Illinois, Kansas and Louisiana, and faced criminal charges in several of those states. In 1978 he faced criminal charges for sexually assaulting his wife in Michigan, and in 1980 was accused of sexual assault in Valparaiso, Florida.[7]

Bradford was also linked to the murder of a 23-year-old man named Mischa Stewart, who was last seen leaving a gay bar in Santa Monica on the night of October 8, 1982. Stewart's body was found in an alley the following morning, and his cause of death was determined to be ligature strangulation.[10]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ . LACountyMurders.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  2. ^ . The Murder Squad: Jensen & Holes. April 20, 2020. Archived from the original on October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Murderer on Death Row dies of natural causes". SFGate. Vacaville, California. March 14, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Blankstein, Andrew (March 14, 2008). "Killer's death hinders probe of other cases". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l O'Neill, Ann (26 July 2006). . CNN. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Oppose the execution of William Bradford". Amnesty International Group 22 Newsletter. Vol. VI, no. 7. Amnesty International Group 22. July 1998. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e Winton, Richard (26 July 2006). "A Killer's Warning Haunts Detectives". Los Angeles Times. from the original on 12 May 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  8. ^ a b . CNN. Associated Press. 25 July 2006. Archived from the original on 18 August 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  9. ^ Haynes, John (10 November 2006). . CBS. Archived from the original on 19 May 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  10. ^ "The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Bill BRADFORD, Defendant and Appellant". Supreme Court of California. July 14, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2022 – via FindLaw.

william, bradford, murderer, confused, with, william, bradford, bishop, william, richard, bradford, 1946, march, 2008, american, convicted, murderer, suspected, serial, killer, serial, rapist, incarcerated, quentin, state, prison, 1984, murders, year, neighbor. Not to be confused with William Bradford Bishop Jr William Richard Bradford May 18 1946 March 10 2008 was an American convicted murderer and suspected serial killer and serial rapist who was incarcerated in San Quentin State Prison for the 1984 murders of his 15 year old neighbor Tracey Campbell and barmaid Shari Miller In July 2006 the Los Angeles County Sheriff s Department released a compilation of photos found in Bradford s apartment in the 1980s depicting 54 different women in modelling poses As Bradford had used the promise of a modelling career to lure his known victims and taken pictures of Miller before murdering her police believe many of the photos depict Bradford s other victims in the moments before their deaths Bradford died at the Vacaville prison medical facility on March 10 2008 of natural causes 3 4 William BradfordInmate mugshotBornWilliam Richard Bradford 1946 05 18 May 18 1946Pleasanton California U S 1 2 DiedMarch 10 2008 2008 03 10 aged 61 California Medical Facility Vacaville California U S Other namesThe Death Row PoetConviction s First degree murder with special circumstances 2 counts Criminal penaltyDeathDetailsVictims2 convictions 28 suspectedCountryUnited StatesState s California Contents 1 Crimes 2 Arrest 3 Trial and conviction 4 Time on death row 5 2006 events 6 See also 7 ReferencesCrimes editIn July 1984 while out on bail and awaiting trial for rape Bradford met Shari Miller a barmaid at a Los Angeles establishment called The Meet Market 5 Bradford told her that he was a professional photographer and offered to help her build a modeling portfolio He took her to a remote campsite in the deserts north of Los Angeles which was the site of the alleged rape for which Bradford was awaiting trial photographed her in a variety of modelling poses and then strangled her 5 After killing her Bradford sliced off her tattoos and removed her blouse He then transported her body to a Hollywood parking lot where he dumped the corpse in an adjoining alley When the body was found there was no identification on it leading Miller to be labeled Jane Doe 60 5 Shortly thereafter Bradford convinced his 15 year old neighbor Tracey Campbell that she could be a model and took her out to the desert campsite where he likewise photographed and strangled her Bradford left her body there covering her face with Shari Miller s blouse 5 6 Arrest editBradford came under suspicion when investigators learned that he had been the last person to see Tracey Campbell alive 6 This coupled with his pending rape trial compelled police to obtain a search warrant for Bradford s apartment inside they found the photos of Miller and Campbell along with an assortment of 54 other photos of unidentified women 5 Police recognized the photos of Miller as Jane Doe 60 and arrested Bradford on suspicion of murder using a rock formation visible in one of the photos of Miller police were able to locate the camp site in the desert where the murders had occurred 5 6 Upon searching the site police found Campbell s decomposed body behind the rock formation 5 6 Shortly thereafter Bradford pleaded no contest to the rape charge he was awaiting trial for and was sentenced to eight years in prison 5 Trial and conviction editBradford was put on trial in 1988 during which he fired his lawyer opting to act as his own counsel 5 During the phase of the trial in which Bradford acted as his own attorney he offered no evidence or arguments as to his innocence 6 The prosecution identified Bradford as a serial killer during the course of the trial but offered no information on murders aside from those of Miller and Campbell In his closing statement Bradford implied that he had murdered several other women in addition to Campbell and Miller Think of how many you don t even know about You are so right That s it 6 The jury found Bradford guilty of both murders and sentenced him to death Time on death row editIn 1998 Bradford dropped all of his appeals claiming that life in San Quentin had become unbearable Having no legal representation for the past 10 years Bradford hired a lawyer to help speed the process of his execution and began writing poems about life in San Quentin His poetry attracted attention from the press who dubbed him Death Row Poet 5 Five days before his scheduled execution Bradford said that he had changed his mind professing his innocence and declaring that he wanted the execution process to be halted 5 2006 events editIn 2006 Los Angeles police suddenly voiced new interest in the Bradford case releasing a data sheet depicting head shots taken from the photos in Bradford s apartment 5 7 Detectives claimed that they believed the women could all be Bradford s victims since the photos release at least one woman 28 has been identified as Donnalee Campbell Duhamel a woman whose decapitated corpse was found in a canyon in Malibu in 1978 7 It has been determined that Duhamel met Bradford in a Culver City bar The Frigate a few days before her body was found 7 Investigators have also revealed that several of the women have since been identified as Bradford s ex wives though no indication has been given that they are dead or that Bradford is suspected of murdering them 8 Another identified photograph is that of Nika LaRue the sister of actress Eva LaRue 9 Nika LaRue is number three in the series of released pictures Both sisters spoke with the Sheriff s Department and were able to give additional information An episode of Eva LaRue s series CSI Miami Darkroom is based on this case The vast majority of the women in the photos remain unidentified and are all viewed as possible rape and or murder victims 7 8 Police are encouraging that the photos be distributed nationwide as Bradford spent time in Michigan Florida Texas Oregon Illinois Kansas and Louisiana and faced criminal charges in several of those states In 1978 he faced criminal charges for sexually assaulting his wife in Michigan and in 1980 was accused of sexual assault in Valparaiso Florida 7 Bradford was also linked to the murder of a 23 year old man named Mischa Stewart who was last seen leaving a gay bar in Santa Monica on the night of October 8 1982 Stewart s body was found in an alley the following morning and his cause of death was determined to be ligature strangulation 10 See also editList of serial killers in the United StatesReferences edit SUSPECT BRADFORD LACountyMurders com Archived from the original on September 12 2009 Retrieved October 2 2021 Can I Take Your Picture Part 4 The Murder Squad Jensen amp Holes April 20 2020 Archived from the original on October 2 2021 Retrieved October 2 2021 Murderer on Death Row dies of natural causes SFGate Vacaville California March 14 2008 Retrieved November 2 2022 Blankstein Andrew March 14 2008 Killer s death hinders probe of other cases Los Angeles Times Retrieved January 3 2009 a b c d e f g h i j k l O Neill Ann 26 July 2006 Face to face with an alleged serial killer CNN Archived from the original on 2014 07 15 Retrieved 4 April 2012 a b c d e f Oppose the execution of William Bradford Amnesty International Group 22 Newsletter Vol VI no 7 Amnesty International Group 22 July 1998 Retrieved 4 April 2012 a b c d e Winton Richard 26 July 2006 A Killer s Warning Haunts Detectives Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on 12 May 2010 Retrieved 5 January 2015 a b Police seek 50 women linked to killer CNN Associated Press 25 July 2006 Archived from the original on 18 August 2006 Retrieved 5 January 2015 Haynes John 10 November 2006 CSI Miami Writers Blog CBS Archived from the original on 19 May 2007 Retrieved 5 January 2015 The PEOPLE Plaintiff and Respondent v Bill BRADFORD Defendant and Appellant Supreme Court of California July 14 1997 Retrieved March 5 2022 via FindLaw Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Bradford murderer amp oldid 1183518923, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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