The castration serial murders were a series of killings involving young men that occurred in at least five American states between 1980 and 1986. Each victim was kidnapped, shot in the back of the head, and castrated after the victims died. This led to the case being named the "castration serial murders." At first, the crimes were thought to be unrelated because the locations where they happened were far apart. However, in 1989, experts found evidence that showed two victims were killed using the same revolver, and it was likely that the other three victims were also connected.

Victims

• On August 10, 1980, the body of 27-year-old oilfield worker Willard Edward Judd was found on the banks of the North Platte River, about 20 miles from Casper, Wyoming. Judd, who often hitchhiked, was shot ten times in the head and torso with a .38 caliber revolver and may have been sexually harmed by the killer. In 1982, a prisoner in South Dakota who was serving time for murder said two other men were involved in Judd’s death, claiming all four were part of a drug group and Judd had been caught stealing money. A 25-year-old man named Durke Pace, who was in prison for a murder he and his wife committed in June 1981, accused two other people of being involved in Judd’s death. These two were investigated but cleared of any connection. However, because Pace knew details about the murder that had not been made public, authorities believed he might have been involved but could not prove it. If Pace were responsible, it would suggest Judd’s murder was not connected to other crimes in the series.

• On August 19, 1981, the body of 30-year-old Wayne Leigh Rifendifer was found in a wooded area of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, about 6 miles from I-80. Investigations showed Rifendifer had lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and traveled across the country as a hitchhiker.

• On June 14, 1982, the body of 21-year-old Marty James Shook was discovered by a fisherman in Daniels Pass, a mountain pass in Heber City, Utah, near U-40. Investigators found Shook was a hitchhiker who had been seen alive two days earlier in Sparks, Nevada. A witness told police that a young woman with blond hair was near the area where the body was found. This woman, who was also a hitchhiker, reportedly wanted to leave the state for Kansas. She has been suggested as a possible suspect, but her identity and location have never been found.

• In July 1983, the nearly naked body of an unidentified person, wearing only a swimsuit, was found in Georgia. Little information about this victim has been made public.

• On November 26, 1986, the dismembered remains of 26-year-old Jack Franklin Andrews were found near Litchfield, Connecticut. Andrews had a criminal record with arrests in California, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, and Oregon for various crimes but had no known criminal history in Connecticut. After killing Andrews, the murderer removed his genitals and cut off his legs and head. The victim was identified through DNA testing.

Investigation

In November 1989, a ballistics test showed that Rifendifer and Shook were both shot with the same .38 caliber revolver, possibly made by Charter Arms. Because the victims were found near roads often used by truck drivers, investigators thought the killer might be a truck driver or a salesperson who visits homes. They asked the FBI to create a psychological profile of the offender.

In 1991, FBI agent Terry Green, who led the VICAP program, said that since no similar killings happened after 1986, the offender was likely dead, in prison for another crime, or had left the United States.

In the 2000s, police in San Francisco, California, arrested a man. During a search of his home, a can of preservation fluid was found containing a severed human scrotum. The scrotum was sent for analysis to try to get a tissue sample and identify the victim. However, because the scrotum was preserved for a long time, no DNA could be collected. Forensic pathologists examined photos of the victims’ wounds and concluded the scrotum did not belong to any known victims. The killings remain unsolved and are considered cold cases.