Benjamin Atkins

Benjamin (Tony) Atkins (August 26, 1968 – September 17, 1997), also known as the Woodward Corridor Killer, was an American serial killer who murdered 11 women in Detroit, Michigan, during a period of nine months between December 1991 and August 1992.^[2]

All the victims were found in vacant buildings, all had been raped and strangled. Most of them had been murdered in Highland Park. Many of the victims were working as prostitutes, and Atkins said he was motivated by a hatred of prostitution.

During his trial, it was revealed that Atkins himself was raped at age 10 and had witnessed his mother engage in prostitution.

He was sentenced to eleven life sentences. On September 17, 1997, he died of an infection caused by HIV.

Victims

• Darlene Saunders, 35, attacked, raped, and sodomized in October 1991 in Highland Park. She survived.
• Debbie Ann Friday, 30, found raped, strangled, and sodomized on December 14, 1991 in Highland Park.
• Bertha Jean Mason, 26, found strangled, raped, and sodomized on December 30, 1991 in Detroit.
• Patricia Cannon George, 36, found strangled, raped, and sodomized on January 3, 1992 in Detroit.
• Vickie Truelove, 39, found sodomized, strangled, and raped, on January 25, 1992 in Detroit.
• Valerie Chalk, 34, found repeatedly sodomized, raped, and strangled, on February 17, 1992 at Monterey Motel, Room 68, Highland Park.
• Juanita Hardy, 23, found raped and strangled at Monterey Motel, Room 35, February 17, 1992.
• Unknown female's body found raped and strangled at Monterey Motel, Room 18, February 17, 1992.
• Brenda Mitchell, 38, found raped and strangled on April 9, 1992 in Highland Park.
• Vicki Beasley-Brown, 43, found raped and strangled on April 15, 1992 in Highland Park.
• Joanne O'Rourke, 40, found repeatedly raped, strangled on June 15, 1992 in Highland Park.
• Ocinena Waymer, 22, found beaten, raped, sodomized, and strangled on August 21, 1992 in Highland Park.

References