Ralph Raymond Andrews

Name

Ralph Raymond Andrews

Legal status and outcome

Ralph Raymond Andrews was sentenced to life imprisonment. He died in prison on January 31, 2006.

Timeline

• June 1999 — Chicago police indicted 54-year-old Ralph Andrews for the 1977 murder, rape, and aggravated kidnapping of 16-year-old Susan Clark.
• 1991 — Virginia Griffin, 41, was murdered in her Rogers Park apartment; the knife used in the murder was in Andrews home.
• 1993 — Andrews was convicted of the 1991 murder and rape of Virginia Griffin.
• Aug. 25, 1977 — Andrews was charged with the rape and murder of 16-year-old Susan Clarke.
• January 31, 2006 — Andrews died in prison.

Background

Ralph Andrews was formerly of Chicago and was a caretaker at Pottawattomie Gardens on the North Side. Authorities said he had lived in Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois, and that in those four states there were unsolved murders committed in the same way as the Susan Clark case. Police said Andrews was always considered a suspect in the murders of Clark and two other women, Amy Alden and Arvella Thomas.

The offence

Murder, rape, and aggravated kidnapping of Susan Clark (1977)

Andrews was indicted in June 1999 for the 1977 murder, rape, and aggravated kidnapping of 16-year-old Susan Clark.

Authorities said Andrews admitted killing Clark after abducting her as she returned to her home from a baby-sitting job. He was said to have sexually assaulted her and shot her in the head. Authorities said her torso had been sliced open from the neck to the abdomen. Police said he dumped her body—shot and stabbed—in a vegetable garden near the Edens Expy. in Skokie.

Other murders associated with Andrews

Authorities and police described Andrews as a prime suspect in additional killings:

• Virginia Griffin (1991) — Police said Griffin was murdered in her Rogers Park apartment and that the knife used in the murder was in Andrews home. Authorities said Griffin had been sliced open and sexually mutilated.
• Amy Alden (1972) — Andrews was described as a prime suspect. Amy Alden, 15, was found in the 4700 block of Old Orchard Road.
• Arvella Thomas (1978) — Andrews was described as a prime suspect. Arvella Thomas, 14, was discovered in the 8200 block of Ridgeway Road, Skokie.

Police said the cases had “the markings of a serial killer,” and authorities from Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin wanted to see if Andrews could be linked to 20 to 40 other murders in those states.

Investigation

Authorities said Andrews recently began bragging to fellow inmates about Clark’s murder. A special unit with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office then put a recorder in Andrews’ cell. Investigators said Andrews allegedly confessed to the murder and gave graphic details.

According to the federal indictment, Andrews also wrote out a list of all the victims he murdered, and Alden and Thomas were allegedly on that list. Investigators said Skokie police were not calling Andrews a serial killer “just yet.”

During the years when he was imprisoned, the Cook County cold case squad obtained a court order to secretly bug Andrews’ cell. On the taped conversation, Andrews confessed to the murder of 16-year-old Susan Clark.

Authorities found lists of women he claimed to have killed, described as “at least 40 names.” Authorities described that many were names of missing women for which there had never been any physical evidence. Andrews said he buried some victims and dumped others in a septic tank in Michigan; Cook County authorities checked the tank but found no remains, and investigators said the system had been cleaned since Andrews was there.

Investigators also said Andrews was questioned in connection with Clark’s murder and the Skokie slayings, and he denied being involved.

Skokie Police Sgt. Michael Ruth said Andrews was a prime suspect in the 1972 murder of Amy Alden and the 1978 killing of Arvella Thomas.

Arrest / custody / place of imprisonment

Andrews was serving a life sentence at Stateville Correctional Center.

Cook County authorities informed that Andrews’ death occurred while he was serving the life sentence.

Trial / conviction details

Andrews was convicted in 1993 of the 1991 murder and rape of Virginia Griffin, 43.

Sentencing

Ralph Andrews was serving a life sentence for a 1991 murder and sexual assault. The record also described his disposition as “Life + 30 years on one count, 1993.”

Appeals

No appeal information was stated.

Aftermath

Andrews died of natural causes in prison on January 31, 2006.

Dick Clark, the victim’s father, was quoted regarding Andrews:

"Mr. Ralph Andrews is a wild animal, out of place, and he deserves to die,"

Cook County State’s Attorney Dick Devine personally informed Mr. Clark of Andrews’ death. The quote about Susan Clark’s babysitting for Devine’s family was provided as background.

In prison, authorities found lists of women he claimed to have killed.

Andrews’ death was described as being linked to his refusal to undergo heart surgery that might have prolonged his life in prison. It was also stated that he died refusing the surgery that might have prolonged his life.

Betty Hanson was quoted after she survived a stab wound to the heart:

"Have a nice trip to hell, because all your victims are waiting for you, and I couldn't wait to see them attack him like a bunch of piranhas,"