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Terry Blair (serial killer)

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This article is about the serial killer. For the Ohio politician, see Terry Blair (Ohio politician).
Terry A. Blair
File:Terry Blair (serial killer).jpg
Mugshot
Born (1961-09-16) September 16, 1961 (age 63)
Conviction(s)1982 2nd degree murder
Criminal penalty6 life sentences without the possibility of parole
Details
Victims7-9
Span of crimes
1982–2004
CountryU.S.
State(s)Kansas City, Missouri
Date apprehended
September 14, 2004

Terry Blair (born September 16, 1961) is an American serial killer, who raped and killed at least seven women in Kansas City, Missouri.

Family history

Terry Blair was born into a family which would have many encounters with the criminal justice system. He was the fourth eldest of ten siblings, born to a mother who had only finished the 9th grade and suffered from mental illness.[1]

Crimes

Below is the list of victims Terry Blair was convicted of killing:

  • Angela Monroe (see below)
  • Anna Ewing, 42, died on or before July 14, 2004.[2][3]
  • Patricia Wilson Butler, 58, died on or before September 2, 2004.[3]
  • Sheliah McKinzie, 38, died on or before September 2, 2004.[3]
  • Darci I. Williams, 25, died on or before September 4, 2004.[3]
  • Carmen Hunt, 40. September 4, 2004.[4]
  • Claudette Juniel, 31, died on or before September 4, 2004.[4]

Blair was also accused in two other murders (Sandra Reed and Nellia Harris), an assault, and three rapes. These charges were later dropped.[4]

Murder of Angela Monroe in 1982

In 1982, the pregnant Angela Monroe, mother of two of Blair's children, was murdered.[4] Blair was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for this murder. He was released on parole after serving 21 years.[5] According to court records he was angry with Monroe for performing acts of prostitution.

Trial and imprisonment for murders (2003-2004)

On October 15, 2004, Terry Blair was charged with eight counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, and three counts of forcible rape.[6][7] Two of the murder charges (the ones for Sandra Reed and Nellia Harris) were dropped in October 2003. The rape and assault charges were also dropped.

The murders came to light when a caller informed 911 of dead bodies and claimed responsibility for the killings. The caller stated that the reason the individuals were killed was that they were prostitutes and therefore they were "scum". Investigators were not able to tie Blair to the phone, but established that the calls were made from near where he lived. Linguistics testimony was introduced, and the finder of fact came to believe the voice was Blair's.[8]

Although the evidence was mainly circumstantial, Blair's semen was found on one victim. Blair's defense was that this item of evidence only proved he had engaged in sex with the victim; the prosecution countered that since she hadn't tidied herself up afterwards, he must have been the last to see her alive.[8] Because Blair continues to deny responsibility for the crimes, his motive cannot be understood beyond a compulsion to kill prostitutes.[5]

Prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty in exchange for Blair waiving his right to a jury trial.[4] Blair was found guilty by Judge John O'Malley on March 27, 2008. For these six murders he was sentenced to six life sentences with no possibility of parole.[9]

Blair is currently housed in the Potosi Correctional Center in Mineral Point, Missouri.

Blair appealed his conviction, but his appeal was denied by the Missouri Court of Appeals in August, 2009.[8]

In media

Blair's seven homicides are featured in the episodes "A Serial Killer Calls" and "The Killer Speaks" of the television show The First 48.[10]

References

  1. ^ CourtTV news story Archived 2008-05-02 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Police Identify Woman Found Dead Outside KC Apartment". KMBC.com. 14 July 2004. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d "6th Body Linked To 5 Others Found In K.C. Neighborhood". KMBC.com. 5 September 2004. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Blair Found Guilty On All Murder Counts". KMBC.com. 27 March 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  5. ^ a b Twiddy, David (27 March 2008). "Judge convicts Kansas City man of killing 6 women". Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  6. ^ Circuit Court Docket Sheet 16th Judicial Circuit. 6 December 2004
  7. ^ Indictment 04CR203141. Circuit Court of Jackson County Missouri. 3 December 2004
  8. ^ a b c State v. Blair, WD 69602 (Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District 18 August 2009).
  9. ^ "Blair Sentenced To Life Without Parole". KMBC.com. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  10. ^ IMDb
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