Harvey Louis Carignan
“The Want-Ad Killer”
Information researched and summarized by
Tamara Lilly, Brandon Minton, Ashley Neel, Kelly Nelson Meaghan Mutispaugh,
Ann Tully, Joey Wilkerson, and Heather Van Patten
Department of Psychology
Radford University
Radford, VA 24142-6946
Date
Age
Life Event
May 18, 1927
Birth
Carignan was born in Fargo, North Dakota. His mother was around age20 and single
1930-1931
3-4
Mother remarried and had a second son. Claims he was sexually abused by a babysitter.
1933
6
Behavior problems. Still undersized and has a twitch in his face. Carignan is a chronic bed wetter and has an imaginary friend, Paul.
1935
8
Sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Cavalier, ND. He is soon sent back home.
1937
10
Sent to live with his grandmother in Williams, ND. Then sent to live with another aunt before running home to his mother. Suffers from enuresis and begins stealing.
1938
11
Mother attempted to place him in an orphanage.
1939
Sent to reform school in Mandan, ND for the next seven years. Diagnosed with childhood Chorea.
1939-1946
12-18
During these years, Carignan claims female employees sexually abused him.
1946
18
Carignan left the reform school and enlisted in the U.S. Army
1948
21
Stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska
July 31, 1949
22
Carignan raped and killed Laura 57-year old Laura Showatler. Cause of death was due to several blows to the head.
Sep. 16, 1949
Dorcas Callen was attacked by Harvey and was able to escape the attempted rape. She told police she was approached by an intoxicated soldier at around 7 a.m. Callen and another eyewitness, John Keith, identified Carignan in a line-up.
Sep 17, 1949
Carignan was brought to the U.S. Marshal Herring for the murder for Laura Showatler where he provided officials with a written statement confession. Carignan provided a description of July 1949 however there was not mention of a murder. Carignan orally confessed to murder.
1950
Carignan was charged and convicted of first degree murder. He was sentenced to death by hanging. Carignan’s lawyers however filled an appeal with the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that Carignan’s confession was unlawfully elicited by an overzealous police officer who assured Carignan that he would not be executed if he confessed.
1951
The Supreme Court overruled Carignan’s death sentence due the officers’ violations of the McNabb rule.
1952
Carignan was transferred to Alcatraz
April 2, 1960
32
Carignan served eight more years and was paroled on April 2nd
August 5 1960
33
Arrested in Minnesota for burglary, assault, and attempted rape. He was convicted and sentenced to 2½ years in a Minnesota State prison and another 2,086 days in federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas
March 2, 1964
36
Carginan is released on parole and moves to Seattle
November 22, 1964
37
Arrested for second-degree burglary and sentenced to 15 years in the Washington State prison in Walla Walla. During his stay he obtained in his high school diploma (GED) and took some college courses.
1968
41
Cariganan is paroled
1969
42
Married Sheila Moran and moved in with her and her daughter.
1969
Carignan was arrested for parole violation and suspicion of robbery. He severed 1 year in Walla Walla .
1970
43
Sheila divorced him due to physical abuse.
April 14, 1972
44
Carignan married Alice Johnson and moved in with her and her two children, Bilyl (11) and Georgia (14)
June, 1972
45
Billy moves out to live with his real father due to the beatings he received fro Carignan.
Aug 1969- Oct 1972
Carignan receives seven speeding tickets during this period
July 27, 1972
46
It is speculated that Carignan kidnapped Virginia Piper
October 15, 1972
19 year-old Leslie Laura Brock of Bellingham, Washington was found dead. Her cause of death was due to be several blows to the head. Spectator claimed that they saw her get into Carignans silver truck.
May 1, 1973
Kathy Sue Miller, age 15, answered a want ad placed by Carignan for his gas station. When the girl showed up in response to the ad, Carignan sexually assaulted and killed her. Her body was found months later by two boys hiking on the Indian reservation north of Everett, Washington. She was bundled in a sheet of plastic, and beaten with a hammer leaving nickel-size holes in her skull.
June 28 1973
47
Mary Townsend was attacked by Carignan waiting at a bus stop. He attacked her from behind knocking her unconscious. She awoke as he in his vehicle. He began to command sexual favors when she managed to leap from the vehicle and escape.
July 1973
Arrested for the assault of his wife Alice. Alice decides to leave Carignan
September 9 1973
Picks up hitchhiker Jerri Billings, age 13. He forced her to perform sexual acts on him while he assaulted her with a hammer. After the event, Carignan released her. She did not mention of the event until several months later.
May 1974
48
Gives up on and Alice, and begins dating and living with Eileen Hunley, who he picks up hitchhiking, after moving to Minnesota
August 9 1974
48
Eileen Breaks off their relationship.
August 10 1974
48
Eileen Hunley disappeared. Her body was found a five weeks later in Shelbourne County five weeks later, her skull imploded by blows to the head. It was determined that she had been raped with a tree branch.
September 8 1974
48
June Lynch, 17 and Lisa King, 16, were picked up by Carignan while they were hitching rides in Minneapolis. Carignan offered him money if that would help him fetch another car that had been stranded in a rural area. Once they reach the outskirts of town Carignan stopped the car and beat June in the head and face with a hammer. Lisa was able to escape. While she was running for help, Carignan sped off leaving June on the road side for die.
September 14 1974
48
Carignan picked up Gwen Burton from a Sears parking lot. He ripped her clothing choked her into semi-consciousness and sexually assaulted her with a hammer. Carignan dumped her body in a near by field. Fortunately she survived the attack and was able to craw to the road side for help.
September 18 1974
48
Sally Versoi and Diane Flynn were picked up by Carignan. He forced them to perform oral sex and would beat them if they didn’t follow a command. The two girls were able to escape when Carignan stopped for fuel.
September 20 1974
48
Kathy Shultz did not make it to her classes. Her body was found the next day by hunters in a cornfield forty miles form Minneapolis. Her skull was imploded.
September 24 1974
48
Was pulled over by her and arrested due to survivor’s description of his car. As police search is positions they found a map united States with 181 circles. Some of these circle had identify places where he had applied for jobs and purchased cars but other identify several bodies. They were also associated with areas in which other unsolved crimes against women had taking place Carignan was arrested for attempted murder of Gwen Burton who identified him in a line up.
February, 19 1975
48
Harvey was tried on the attempted murder and aggravated sodomy. He pled not guilty by reason of insanity claiming that God told him to kill those women.
March , 3 1975
48
The jury was not convinced by the insanity plea and found Carignan guilty of aggravated sodomy and attempted murder.
March, 7 1975
48
Carignan was sent to St. Peters State Hospital for a pre-sentence psychiatric examination. He was diagnosed as having severe anti-social personality disorder.
April, 18 1975
48
Carignan was found guilty on four counts of sodomy and indecent liberties in the attack of Jerri Billings.
May, 5 1975
48
Sentenced to 30 years for the sodomy of Jerri Billings and 30 years for the sodomy of Gwen Burton. He was only ordered to serve 40 of those 60 years.
June 19, 1975
49
Indicted on murder charges against Katherine.
June 19, 1975
Indicated on murder charges against Eileen Hunley
September 4, 1974
Indicated on murder charges against Katherine Schultz
February 9, 1976
Carginan waived his right and took the stand where he pled guilty to the murder of Kathy Schultz and received a sentence of 40 years. Under Minnesota law he could serve no more than 40 years no matter how many years that total sentence was for. By pleading guilty he would avoid a life sentence and only serve 40 years.
June 24, 1976
50
Found guilty of first degree murder of Eileen Hunely and sentenced to life in prison
1978
52
Minnesota Supreme Court heard Harvey’s appeal
Aug. 11, 1978
52
Minnesota Supreme Court upheld Harvey’s conviction.
1997
72
Develops prostate cancer
General Information
Sex
Male
Race
White
Number of victims
Convicted of 3 but possibly many more
Country where killing occurred
United States
States where killing occurred
Washington, North Dakota, Minnesota
Childhood Information
Date of birth
May 18,1927
Location
Fargo, North Dakota
Birth order
1st of 3
Number of siblings
2
XYY?
?
Raised by
Mother and stepfather parents
Birth category
Oldest
Parent’s marital status
Married
Family event
Unnurturing, abusive
Age of family event
Problems in school?
Behavioral problems
Teased while in school?
Yes
Physically attractive?
Undersized, decent
Physical defect?
Chorea (involuntary twitching and face pulling)
Speech defect?
No
Head injury?
?
Physically abused?
?
Psychologically abused?
?
Sexually abused?
Claims of sexually abuse by his mother and baby setter (sodomy)
Father’s occupation
?
Age of first sexual experience
Claims of sexual abuse at age 4
Age when first had intercourse
Claims of sexual abuse at age 4
Mother’s occupation
?
Father abused drugs/alcohol
?
Mother abused drugs/alcohol
?
Cognitive Ability
Highest grade in school
Completed high school
Highest degree
Diploma, some college courses in prison
Grades in school
?
IQ
?
Work History
Served in the military?
Yes
Branch
Army
Type of discharge
Due to rape convictions
Saw combat duty
?
Killed enemy during service?
?
Applied for job as a cop?
?
Worked in law enforcement?
No
Fired from jobs?
?
Types of jobs worked
Gas station owner
Employment status during series
Gas station owner for a period for time
Relationships
Sexual preference
Heterosexual
Marital status
Married twice (divorced, remarried)
Number of children
0
Lives with his children
N/A
Living with
N/A
Triad
Animal torture
?
Fire setting
?
Bed wetting
Yes
Killer Psychological Information
Abused drugs?
?
Abused alcohol?
?
Been to a psychologist?
Yes
Time in forensic hospital?
No
Diagnosis
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Killer Criminal History
Committed previous crimes?
Yes
Spend time in jail?
Yes
Spend time in prison?
Yes
Killed prior to series? Age?
Yes, at age 22
Serial Killing
Number of victims
13 maybe more
Victim type
Young women
Killer age at start of series
47
Gender of victims
Women
Race of victims
White
Age of victims
Typically in their twenties but ranged up to 57
Method of killing
Bludgeoned with a hammer
Type of serial killer
Visionary
How close did killer live?
?
Killing occurred in home of victim?
No
Killing occurred in home of killer?
No in outdoor setting or in vehicle
Weapon
Hammer
Behavior During Crimes
Rape?
Yes
Tortured victims?
No
Stalked victims?
No
Overkill?
No
Quick & efficient?
Yes
Used blindfold?
Yes
Bound the victims?
Yes
After Death Behavior
Sex with the body?
No
Mutilated body?
Yes
Ate part of the body?
No
Drank victim’s blood?
No
Posed the body?
No
Took totem – body part
No
Took totem – personal item
No
Robbed victim or location
No
Disposal of Body
Left at scene, no attempt to hide
Yes typically in the woods
Left at scene, hidden
No
Left at scene, buried
No
Moved, no attempt to hide
No
Moved, buried
No
Cut-op and disposed of
No
Moved, too home
No
Sentencing
Date killer arrested
1949,1960,1964 and 1974
Date convicted
1950, 1960,1975,1976
Sentence
Life
Killer executed?
No
Name and state of prison
Killer committed suicide?
?
Killer killed in prison?
?
Date of death
?
References
Books:
Rule, A. (1983). The Want-Ad Killer. NY: Penguin Putnam Inc.
Newton, M. (2000). The encyclopedia of Serial killers. NY: Facts on File Inc
Web Sites:
Male Serial Killers. http://www.faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/401/401lec10.htm (November 15, 2004)
Harvey Carignan.
http://angelefire.com/oh/yadaspage/harvey.html (November 15, 2004)
Harvey Carignan. http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/harvey-carignan/ (November 14,
2004)
Harvey Carignan. http://horrorthirst.com/harveycarignan.html. (November 10, 2004)
Harvery Carignan. http://www.geocities.com/verbal_plainfield/a-h/carignan.html. (November 15, 2004)
Harvey Carignan. http://www.skcentral.com/carignan.html. (November 15, 2004)