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Radio Host Realized He Is Talking To a Serial Killer

The Villains・25 minutes read

A serial killer named Clay confessed to killing 12 streetwalkers on the Howard Stern Show in 1997, detailing his methods and victims. The authenticity of the call was questioned, but the FBI later traced it to Russell Elwood, who was convicted of one murder, leaving other cases unsolved and the potential for the real killer to still be out there.

Insights

  • Clay, a serial killer who called the Howard Stern Show in 1997, confessed to killing streetwalkers in New Orleans using methods like strangling and hammering, indicating a pattern of targeting vulnerable individuals for a sense of power and recognition.
  • Despite the identification and sentencing of Russell Elwood for one murder, the majority of the killings in the case remain unsolved, raising concerns that the actual serial killer might still be unidentified and free, highlighting the challenges in solving cases with limited evidence and technological capabilities.

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Recent questions

  • Who was the serial killer known as Clay?

    Russell Elwood

  • What was the motive behind Clay's killings?

    Desire for power

  • How did the police initially handle the investigation of Clay's killings?

    Struggled due to limited DNA evidence

  • What led to doubts about the authenticity of Clay's call to the Howard Stern Show?

    Howard Stern's calm demeanor

  • What was the outcome of the investigation into Clay's killings?

    Russell Elwood was sentenced to life without parole

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Summary

00:00

"1997 Howard Stern Call: Serial Killer Confession"

  • A serial killer named Clay called the Howard Stern Show in 1997, claiming to have killed 12 streetwalkers.
  • The killings took place in New Orleans from July 1991 to April 1996, with 24+ victims found, some unidentified due to decomposition.
  • The police struggled to solve the case due to limited DNA evidence and technological advancements at the time.
  • Clay confessed to killing for a sense of power, using methods like strangling and hammering his victims.
  • He mentioned killing transsexual individuals, indicating a possible connection to them as victims.
  • A task force in 1995 wrongly suspected a black police officer, Victor Gantt, due to his relationship with a victim.
  • Clay claimed to have planned his kills with a signature but never left any clues, hinting at a desire for recognition.
  • He discussed a failed attempt to kill a victim who escaped, possibly linking him to a specific case in July 1991.
  • Clay described his victims as streetwalkers with substance abuse histories, chosen for their vulnerability.
  • The authenticity of the call was questioned by some due to Howard Stern's calm demeanor and suggestive comments, leading to doubts about its veracity.

15:22

"Russell Elwood: The Hammer-Wielding Serial Killer"

  • The serial killer discussed on the show admitted to killing women, with his last murder being almost a year ago.
  • He mentioned stopping due to his car breaking down, leading to suspicions linking him to a crime scene in 1994.
  • The killer, Russell Elwood, was implicated in the murders of Cheryl Lewis and Dolores Mack, with evidence pointing towards him.
  • Elwood admitted to frequenting Black Street Walkers and claimed to have been with over a hundred girls.
  • The killer's method was inspired by comic books and cartoons, using a hammer as a weapon.
  • The killer waited for an emotional response before committing the act, as seen in his interaction with one victim.
  • The FBI traced the call to a potential suspect, Russell Elwood, who was later sentenced to life without parole for one murder.
  • The rest of the murders remain unsolved, leaving the possibility that the real serial killer may still be at large.
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