ACKROYD John Arthur

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John Arthur Ackroyd
Status
Identification Status	Identified
Criminal Status	Deceased
Personal Information
Died	December 30, 2016 (aged 67) Salem, Oregon, United States
Gender	Male
Race/Ethnicity	White
Siblings	2 sisters
Spouse	Linda Pickle
Criminal Information
Offender Type	Suspected Serial Killer
Accomplices	Roger Dale Beck
Convictions	Murder
Criminal penalty	Life imprisonment
Victims	1+
Span of crimes	1976 - 1992
Country	United States
State	Oregon
Imprisonment	Oregon State Penitentiary — Salem, Oregon

Biography

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Ackroyd grew up in a middle class family in Sweet Home, Oregon. Records show he was a special education student. He enlisted in the army as an adult and worked for the Highway Patrol. He married Linda Pickle in the mid-1980s and became the step-father to her two children. His step-daughter Rachanda Pickle disappeared in 1990 and he is believed to have killed her, although her body was never found.

Ackroyd was charged with Rachanda's murder in 2013, and pleaded no contest.

The Oregonian newspaper and others have alleged that Ackroyd was involved in the murder of several more women. The serial killings he's suspected of are often referred to as "The Ghosts of Highway 20"

Victims

Confirmed victims

Name	Age	Date of Death	Cause of Death
Kaye Turner	35	1978

Suspected victims

Name	Age	Disappeared	Body Found	Cause of Death
Wanda Herr	19	June 1976	1986
"Swamp Mountain Jane Doe"	18-40		July 24, 1976
Rodney Grissom	14	May 24, 1977
Karen Lee	15	May 26, 1977
Elizabeth Mussler	22	1977	1978
"Linn County Jane Doe"			April 27, 1978
"Finley Creek Jane Doe"			August 27, 1978
Rachanda Pickle	13	July 10, 1990
Melissa Sanders	17	May 3, 1992	October 10, 1992
Sheila Swanson	19	May 3, 1992	October 10, 1992

Links

• John Arthur Ackroyd at Wikipedia
• Ghosts of Highway 20 at Wikipedia
• ABC News
• Swamp Mountain Jane Doe. Doe Network
• Rodney Grissom. Charley Project.
• Karen Lee. Charley Project.
• Melissa Sanders at Find a Grave