Biography[]
Early life[]
Maury Troy Travis was born on July 25, 1965, in Ferguson, Missouri. Raised in the St. Louis area, little is known about his early life, upbringing, or family background.
Criminal Activities[]
Travis gained notoriety as a serial killer in the early 2000s. His crimes primarily targeted women, and he operated in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Travis lured his victims through various means, including online interactions.
Modus Operandi[]
Travis' modus operandi involved abducting, assaulting, and murdering his victims. He would then dispose of their bodies in remote areas. The exact number of his victims remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 12 to 20.
Discovery and Investigation[]
In June 2002, the police discovered a body in the bedroom of Travis' home. This gruesome discovery led to a swift investigation, during which Travis was identified as a suspect. The police linked him to a series of murders through evidence found at his residence.
Online Presence[]
Travis had an online presence and had shared disturbing photographs of his victims on a website. This macabre revelation shocked the public and added a sinister dimension to his crimes.
Death[]
On June 10, 2002, while in police custody, Maury Troy Travis was found dead in his jail cell. The cause of death was determined to be suicide, as he used his own shoelaces to hang himself. His death occurred before he could be tried for his crimes.
Victims[]
Confirmed victims[]
| Name | Age | Disappeared | Body Found | Cause of Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alysia Greenwade | 34 | April 1, 2001 | ||
| Betty James | 46 | May 23, 2001 |
Suspected victims[]
| Name | Age | Disappeared | Body Found | Cause of Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Shields | 61 | July 31, 2000 | ||
| Cassandra Walker | 19 | March 21, 2001 | ||
| Unidentified woman | 44 | April 4, 2001 | ||
| Teresa Wilson | 36 | May 15, 2001 | ||
| Verona Thompson | 36 | June 29, 2001 | ||
| Yvonne Crues | 50 | August 25, 2001 | ||
| Brenda Beasley | 33 | October 8, 2001 | ||
| Unidentified woman | January 30, 2002 | |||
| Unidentified woman | March 11, 2002 | |||
| Unidentified woman | March 28, 2002 | |||
| Unidentified woman | May 25, 2002 |
On May 21, 2002, Post-Dispatch reporter Bill Smith received a letter and the postmark date of the letter, that included a map to another body, suggesting there may be other victims.
Timeline[]
Bibliography[]
Literature[]
Articles[]
Documentaries[]
Television[]
- Cold Case Files S2E19: A Map to Murder/Life on the Run (May 7, 2000) on IMDb
- Forensic Files S7E35: X Marks the Spot (Jun 7, 2003) on IMDb
- Evil, I S2E4: Hell's Basement (Sep 17, 2013) on IMDb
- Killers: Behind the Myth — The Videotape Killer/The Sidewalk Strangler (May 6, 2014) on IMDb
YouTube Documentaries[]
- Forensic Files - X Marks the Spot on YouTube
Podcasts[]
- Episode 91: Black Serial Killers Part 1: Call Me God. Last Podcast On The Left (Septmber 11, 2013).
- Maury Travis - Part 1. Serial Killers with Greg Polcyn & Vanessa Richardson (July 24, 2018).
- Maury Travis - Part 2. Serial Killers with Greg Polcyn & Vanessa Richardson (July 31, 2018).
In popular culture[]
Film adaptation[]
Related Articles[]
See also[]
Links[]
- Maury Travis at Wikipedia