Paul Bateson

Timeline

• September 14, 1977 — Film critic Addison Verrill was beaten and stabbed to death in his New York apartment.
• March 5, 1979 — Paul Bateson was convicted of the homicide of Addison Verrill.
• 1979 — Paul Bateson drew a term of 20 years to life in prison.

Background

In 1977 and 1978, New York homosexuals were terrorized by a series of “bag murders,” in which six male victims were mutilated and dismembered. Their remains were wrapped in black plastic bags and dumped in the Hudson River. Some of the grisly fragments washed up on the New Jersey shore, and others came to ground near the World Trade Center.

Police traced items of recovered clothing to a shop in Greenwich Village that catered to gays. Distinctive tattoos identified one of the victims as a known homosexual. Lacking identities and confirmed cause of death in several cases, the crimes were not officially classified as homicides, but were listed as CUPPI’s — circumstances undetermined pending police investigation.

The offence

On September 14, 1977, film critic Addison Verrill was beaten and stabbed to death in his New York apartment.

Paul Bateson was charged with the slaying of Addison Verrill. The account of the killing described Bateson crushing Verrill’s skull with a metal skillet after having sex at Verrill’s flat, and afterward stabbing Verrill “in the heart.”

While in custody, awaiting trial, Paul Bateson bragged of killing other men “for fun,” dismembering their bodies, and dropping the bagged remains in the Hudson River.

Investigation

A solution in the case derived from evidence collected in an “unrelated” case.

Detectives satisfied themselves of Bateson’s guilt, but he was never charged for the additional “bag murders.” The “bag murders” that later inspired the movie Cruising remained technically unsolved.

Arrest

Paul Bateson confessed to meeting Addison Verrill in a Greenwich Village gay bar.

Trial

Paul Bateson was convicted of the homicide on March 5, 1979.

Sentencing

After his conviction, Paul Bateson drew a term of 20 years to life in prison.

Outcome

The “bag murders” that later inspired the movie Cruising remained technically unsolved, and Bateson was not charged for the additional murders despite detectives being satisfied of his guilt.

Other details

• Paul Bateson was a 38-year-old X-ray technician.
• Bateson confessed to meeting Addison Verrill in a Greenwich Village gay bar.
• After having sex at Verrill’s flat, Bateson crushed Verrill’s skull with a metal skillet.
• Bateson afterward stabbed Verrill “in the heart.”
• Bateson’s jailhouse claim described killing other men “for fun,” dismembering their bodies, and dropping the bagged remains in the Hudson River.
• Michael Newton is referenced as An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers - Hunting Humans.