Paul John Knowles

Overview

Paul John Knowles (April 17, 1946 – November 18, 1974) was an American spree killer tied to the deaths of 18 people in 1974, though he claimed to have taken 35 lives. He was also known as "Lester Daryl Gates", "Daryl Golden" and "The Casanova Killer".

Background

Paul John Knowles was born and raised in Florida in 1946. He logged his first arrest at age 19 and spent roughly six months of each year thereafter in jail on various convictions for burglary and auto theft. He was serving time in Raiford when he began corresponding with California divorcee Angela Covic. Angela Covic visited the prison, accepted his proposal of marriage, and paid money for lawyers to win his release.

Parole came through in May 1974. Knowles flew directly to San Francisco for the nuptials, but Covic had changed her mind. She was warned off by a psychic who foresaw the entry of a new, dangerous man in her life. The night Covic dumped him, Knowles allegedly went out and killed three people on the streets of San Francisco, but his claim has not been verified.

Back home in Jacksonville, Knowles was jailed after a bar fight. He picked a lock and escaped on July 26, 1974.

The offence

After his escape, Knowles robbed and entered homes, abducted children, and committed rapes and killings across multiple states in 1974.

On July 26, 1974, just hours after his jail escape, Knowles robbed the home of 65-year-old Alice Curtis in Jacksonville, Florida. He left her bound and gagged as he ransacked her house for money. She choked to death on the gag.

Police connected him to the crime after his picture began turning up on TV. Preparing to drop the “hot car” on a quiet residential street, he spied 11-year-old Lillian Anderson and her seven-year-old sister Mylette, recognizing them as friends of his mother. Convinced the girls had seen him and would notify police, he kidnapped both of them and dumped their strangled bodies in a swamp outside of town.

In Atlantic Beach, Florida, Knowles broke into the home of Marjorie Howe. He strangled her with a nylon stocking and stole her television set.

Knowles then picked up a teenage hitchhiker described as a “Jane Doe” hitchhiker. He raped and strangled her for sport as he drifted aimlessly, working his way north.

On August 23, 1974, Knowles invaded the home of Kathie Pierce at Musella. He strangled her with a telephone cord while her three-year-old son looked on. The child was left unharmed.

On September 3, 1974, Knowles met businessman William Bates at a tavern in Lima, Ohio, after sharing a few drinks. He strangled Bates and dumped his body in nearby woods, where it would be discovered in October. Knowles stole money, credit cards, and Bates’s car. He then made his way to Sacramento, back through Utah, and paused at Ely, Nevada.

On September 18, 1974, Knowles murdered campers Emmett and Lois Johnson in Ely, Nevada.

Three days later, passing through Sequin, Texas, he spotted a female motorist stranded at roadside and stopped "to help." He raped her before he strangled her to death and dragged her body through a tangled barbed wire fence.

On September 23, 1974, Knowles met beautician Ann Dawson in Birmingham. They traveled together, at her expense, until Knowles tired of the game and killed her on September 29, 1974. Her body was never found.

Knowles drifted through Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota, apparently leaving no bodies behind.

On October 19, 1974, he needed a “fix” and found it in Woodford, Virginia. He barged into the home of 53-year-old Doris Hovey, shooting her dead with her husband’s rifle. Afterward, he wiped his prints from the gun and placed it beside her body. Police would find no signs of sex or robbery to offer them a motive in the case.

Still driving Bates’s stolen car, Knowles picked up two hitchhikers in Key West, planning to kill them both. His plan changed when a policeman stopped him for traffic violations. The officer let him go with a warning. Knowles dropped his passengers off in Miami and phoned his lawyer for advice. He rejected a suggestion of surrender and met the attorney long enough to hand over a taped confession, then slipped out of town before police were informed of his presence.

On November 6, 1974, in Macon, Georgia, Knowles befriended Carswell Carr and was invited home to spend the night. Over drinks, he stabbed Carr to death. He then strangled Carr’s 15-year-old daughter. He failed in his attempt to have sex with her corpse.

In the wake of his flight from Macon, Knowles was suspected in the November 2 murder of hitchhiker Edward Hilliard, found in nearby woods, and his companion Debbie Griffin (whose remains were never discovered). Knowles was not proven to have murdered them, but he was under very strong suspicion.

On November 8, 1974, in Atlanta, Knowles met British journalist Sandy Fawkes. They spent the night together and Knowles impressed her with his "gaunt good looks." He was unable to perform in bed, and he failed repeatedly at sex over the next two days with a willing companion. They separated on November 10.

Knowles then picked up one of Sandy’s friends, Susan MacKenzie, the next day. Knowles demanded sex at gunpoint. Susan MacKenzie escaped and notified police. When patrolmen tried to stop him, Knowles brandished a sawed-off shotgun and made his escape.

In West Palm Beach, he invaded the home of invalid Beverly Mabee, abducting her sister and stealing their car. He dropped his hostage off in Fort Pierce, Florida, the following night.

A police officer recognized the stolen car the next morning and pulled Knowles over. Knowles moved faster than expected. He took the officer hostage and drove away in the patrol car. He used the siren to stop motorist James Meyer, switching cars a second time. Burdened with two prisoners, Knowles handcuffed both men to a tree in Pulaski County, Georgia, and shot each one in the head at close range.

A short time later, Knowles tried to crash through a police roadblock, losing control of his car and smashing into a tree. A foot chase ensued with Knowles pursued by dogs and helicopters. An armed civilian cornered him on November 17, 1974.

In custody, Knowles claimed 35 murders, but only 18 could be verified.

On November 18, 1974, while being transferred to maximum security, Knowles made a grab for the sheriff's revolver, and FBI agent Ron Angel shot him dead in his tracks.

Investigation

Knowles became the subject of police attention after his picture began turning up on TV in connection with the crimes.

He was also investigated regarding the November 2 murder of hitchhiker Edward Hilliard and his companion Debbie Griffin. His involvement was not proven, but he was under strong suspicion.

Arrest / custody and death

After his escape attempts and violent encounters with law enforcement in Pulaski County, Georgia, Knowles was cornered by an armed civilian on November 17, 1974. He later claimed 35 murders while in custody, but only 18 could be verified.

On November 18, 1974, while being transferred to maximum security, Knowles made a grab for the sheriff's revolver. FBI agent Ron Angel shot him dead.

Victims

Alice Curtis was a 65-year-old resident of Jacksonville, Florida. Knowles gagged her on July 26, 1974 while stealing her belongings. She choked to death on her gag.

Lillian Anderson, aged eleven, and Mylette Anderson, aged seven, were strangled in early August 1974 and their bodies were subsequently dumped in a nearby swamp.

Marjorie Howe lived in Atlantic Beach, Florida. She was strangled with a nylon stocking. The motive was that Knowles stole her television.

Kathie Pierce was strangled with the cord of her telephone on August 23, 1974. Her three-year-old son remained unharmed.

A “Jane Doe” hitchhiker was raped and strangled. Her body was not identified by name in the material.

William Bates met his fate on September 3, after sharing drinks with Knowles in Lima, Ohio. His body was not discovered until October. Knowles took Bates’s money and credit cards and stole his car.

Emmett and Lois Johnson were murdered on September 18, 1974 in Ely, Nevada.

A victim described as a stranded female motorist in Sequin, Texas, was raped and strangled and her body was dragged through some barbed wire on September 21, 1974.

Ann Dawson, from Birmingham, Alabama, met Knowles on September 23, 1974. They traveled together for a while until Knowles killed her on September 29. Her body was never found.

Doris Hovey was 53 years old and lived in Woodford, Virginia. She was shot dead by Knowles with her husband’s rifle on October 19, 1974.

Carswell Carr met Knowles on November 6, in Macon, Georgia, and invited him to spend the night. Knowles stabbed Carr to death and strangled Carr’s 15-year-old daughter. He attempted sexual intercourse with her body but failed.

Edward Hilliard and Debbie Griffin were hitchhiking near Macon, Georgia, on November 2. Hilliard’s body was found in nearby woods, but Griffin’s remains were never discovered.

British journalist Sandy Fawkes spent several days with Knowles and was left unharmed.

Susan MacKenzie escaped after Knowles demanded sex at gunpoint. When patrolmen tried to stop him, Knowles made his escape after brandishing a sawed-off shotgun.

Beverly Mabee was described as an invalid. Knowles abducted her sister and stole their car. The sister was dropped off in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Trooper Charles Eugene Campbell was abducted while on patrol and shot by Knowles in Pulaski County, Georgia.

James Meyer was taken hostage along with Trooper Campbell. Knowles handcuffed Meyer and Campbell to a tree in Pulaski County, Georgia, and shot each one in the head at close range.

Other details

Knowles made a taped confession after meeting his attorney in Miami.