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The Forgotten Forty-Four: Victims and Survivors of America’s First Serial Sex Killer
Denise Beddows
Works of: Non-fiction
In the 1920s, America’s first recorded serial sex killer was believed to have strangled 22 victims all across the continent from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast, until his arrest in Canada. The author’s research, however, suggests he attacked at least twice that number.
Whilst much has been written about the necrophile whom the press dubbed the ‘dark strangler’ and the ‘gorilla killer’, his tragic victims, mis-named in many accounts, have been largely ignored.
The victims – one being the author’s ancestor – and those women and girls who survived his attacks, are presented here as individuals, along with an account of the odd life and ironically appropriate death of Earle Leonard Nelson.
** SHORTLISTED FOR THE TRUE CRIME AWARDS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 **
Other Awards
TRUE CRIME AWARDS 2024 – BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD, HIGHLY COMMENDED
Sub-genres
Other books by Denise Beddows


The Kohat Connection

Shearwater Point

A Long Road to Revenge

When the Grey Wolf Sings

The Hunt for WOTAK

Odd Man Out – A Motiveless Murder?

The Cheetham Hill Murder – A Convenient Killing?

Bulstrode – Splendour and Scandals of a Buckinghamshire Mansion

Buckinghamshire Spies and Subversives

The Famous and Infamous of The Chalfonts & District

Running with Crows – The Life and Death of a Black and Tan

A Wistful Eye – The Tragedy of a Titanic Shipwright

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