Remains in Gaffney may

be suspected serial killer

 

BY SUSAN CALDOR

 


SPARTANBURG -- A scattering of bones around a rotted corpse, a pistol and a wristwatch are all that’s left of suspected serial killer Leroy Martin, officials said Wednesday.

Although a comparison of Martin’s dental records and the dead man’s teeth was incomplete, FBI agents appear certain the body found by a Gaffney High School student is Martin.

Officials speculated Martin, 68, murdered several women in Gaffney back in the 1960’s.  Dubbed “The Gaffney Strangler”, Martin dumped the bodies of his victims in various locations around the county.  Martin apparently killed himself shortly after parking his van. 

The van was found near just off of Ross Road, early Sept. 20, the day after someone claiming to be the “Gaffney Strangler” contacted Chief John F. O’Donald.

Martin was charged with six murders, however he was never apprehended and has remained at large for almost 40 years.  Chief O’Donald speculates that Martin returned to an area where he had buried or hid a majority of his victims back in 1967.

In 1993, a nationwide manhunt for Martin, featured twice on Fox TV’s “America’s Most Wanted,” focused on Gaffney, where police had chased dozens of  tips  that  year  on  what  proved  to be false sightings.

“I saw the ribs sticking out”

FBI agents searched a wooded area along the road where the van was found and recovered some identification belonging to Martin. Agents had planned to return to look more this week.

As the sightings decreased after years went by, police began to think he was dead. Chief O’Donald said, “For someone without much of an education, he’s a pretty good fugitive.”

Then Wednesday, the body was found by a high school student sent home from class by the school nurse. Katreena Miller, 15, said she was walking along the side of the road when she caught a foul odor, then saw clothing.

Under a tree on a small, sandy craggy hill appeared to be a body “wrapped up in a blanket,” Miller said. The smell grew stronger as she walked closer.

“I saw the ribs hanging out,” she said. With that, Miller said, she turned and ran. “I was running down the road as I was calling police,” she said.

Soon the area was swarming with police, crime lab technicians, deputy coroners and FBI agents, who combed the area collecting bones and looking for additional evidence.

A .22-caliber Colt handgun that belonged to Martin was found near the body.

 

Link to Newspaper Image File
• The Newberry Observer • 1716 Main St.
• Newberry, SC 29108
October 16, 2005
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