Lawrence Dalton

Serial killer

4known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: USA
Location: Wisconsin/Illinois, USA
Date of birth: April 12, 1945
Age at first offence: 32
Characteristics: rape
Victim profile: Blanchie Penna, 23 / Lisa Slusser, 12 / Shirley Taylor / A "Jane Doe" victim
Method of murder: ???
Date(s) of murder: 1977 - 1978
Years active: 1977–1978
Date of arrest: April 23, 1979
Status: Life imprisonment
Sentenced to life in prison in Wisconsin on October 31, 1979.

Case Summary

Background

Lawrence Dalton was the subject of a search announced by FBI spokesmen on April 23, 1979. He was 34 years old when he was sought.

The offence

Dalton was sought on murder charges after a woman's corpse was unearthed near Kenosha, Wisconsin, in front of a house which Dalton had occupied from March 1977 through February 1978. The victim was identified as Blanchie Penna, 23, who was missing from Racine, Wisconsin.

Dalton was also sought in connection with the murder of 12-year-old Lisa Slusser, slain in Waukegan, Illinois, during 1977. Authorities placed the number of his homicides at four and counting in Waukegan.

Dalton was earlier charged with rape, deviate sexual assault and taking indecent liberties with a child following an incident in Brooklyn, where a 14-year-old girl accused Dalton of holding her hostage over a period of four months. Dalton's case included allegations of sexually abusing the girl that led to arrests of other individuals: Dalton's wife, Karen, and a female acquaintance named Barbara Filipski were also arrested in that case and charged with sexually abusing the girl.

The case also included further inquiries concerning a "Jane Doe" victim found in Lake County, Illinois, in the summer of 1978.

Investigation

On April 23, 1979, FBI spokesmen announced their search for Dalton, sought on murder charges. Further inquiries involved a "Jane Doe" victim found in Lake County, Illinois, in the summer of 1978.

Arrest

On April 23, Dalton was arrested in Cleveland and held for questioning on two counts of murder.

Formally charged with the Penna murder on the day of his arrest, Dalton waived extradition to Waukegan.

Trial

On November 20, 1981, Dalton pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and one count of rape in Illinois.

Sentencing

On November 20, 1981, Dalton was sentenced to 70 years' imprisonment on each of the murder counts and 30 years on the rape count, to be served concurrently.

Dalton was sentenced to life in prison in Wisconsin on October 31, 1979.

Appeals

The United States Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit opinion 03-3982 was referenced.

Outcome

Dalton entered a guilty plea on November 20, 1981, to three counts of murder and one count of rape in Illinois, after being formally charged with the Penna murder and waiving extradition to Waukegan.

Other details

Dalton's wife was named Karen. A female acquaintance named Barbara Filipski was arrested in the Brooklyn incident case and charged with sexually abusing the girl.

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