Bernard Middleton

Murderer

1known / alleged victims

Similar offenders

Brian Kevin Rosenfeld Murderer · USA · 1985 Brian Kevin Rosenfeld Brian Kevin Rosenfeld was sentenced to three concurrent l… 23 victims

Russell Ellwood Murderer · USA · 1991 Russell Ellwood was a former taxi driver. Authorities suspected him of killing… 20 victims

JO Joseph Dewey Akin Murderer · USA · 1990 Joseph Dewey Akin was a hospital nurse who killed patients. Akin worked at Coop… 18 victims

Robert Martines Perez Murderer · USA · 1994 Name: Robert Martines Perez · Other name used in proceedings: Robert Martinez P… 15 victims

Billy Frank Vickers Murderer · USA · 1993 Billy Frank Vickers Vickers was executed by lethal injection in Texas on Januar… 14 victims

DA Daniel Ray Troyer Murderer · USA · 1985 Daniel Ray Troyer was 39 at the time he pleaded guilty to killing Drucilla Ovar… 13 victims

Random profiles

Tim Kretschmer Mass homicide · Germany · 2009 Tim Kretschmer (26 July 1991 – 11 March 2009) was a 17-year-old graduate of the… 15 victims

Omar Thornton Mass murderer · USA · 2010 Omar S. Thornton was 34 years old at the time of the Hartford Distributors shoo… 8 victims

Reginald Brooks Murderer · USA · 1982 Reginald Brooks was a 66-year-old Black man. His legal outcome was the executio… 3 victims

CH Charles Noel Brown Murderer · USA · 1961 Charles Noel Brown was born in June 1933. He was the oldest of seven children i… 3 victims

Peter Dupas Serial killer · Australia · 1997 Peter Norris Dupas was an Australian serial killer known for violence against w… 6 victims

Louis Castro Perez Murderer · USA · 1998 Louis Castro Perez was listed as a condemned killer with TDCJ Number 999328. He… 3 victims

Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: USA
Location: Cook County, Illinois, USA
Date of birth: May 29, 1947
Age at first offence: 48
Characteristics: serial rapist, rape
Victim profile: A 32-year old woman
Method of murder: ???
Date(s) of murder: October 16, 1995
Years active: 1995
Date of arrest: August 8, 2002
Status: Imprisoned
Sentenced to 50 years in prison in 2003

Case Summary

Overview

Bernard Middleton was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 2003. He had been charged with one murder and three aggravated criminal sexual assaults.

Timeline

January 17, 1987 — Bernard Middleton was arrested for Aggravated Battery.
May 6, 1993 — Bernard Middleton was arrested for Felony Theft.
September 25, 1995 — A 22-year-old woman was raped. As she waited for a bus, an offender placed a knife to her head, led her to an isolated area, beat and raped her on the 600 block of West Garfield. DNA evidence was recovered.
October 16, 1995 — A 32-year-old woman was found murdered. She was lured into a stairwell at Hope Academy on the 5500 block of South Lowe, raped, and then murdered; her body was found in the stairwell. DNA evidence was recovered from the criminal sexual assault kit.
May 28, 1997 — Bernard Middleton was arrested for Felony Theft.
July 25, 1997 — A 34-year-old woman was raped. The offender placed a knife against her head, told her that she would be killed, and then raped her on the 5500 block of South Calumet. DNA evidence was recovered.
September 14, 1998 — Bernard Middleton was arrested for Felony Theft.
October 9, 1998 — Bernard Middleton was convicted and sentenced to probation for 1 year.
October 31, 1998 — A 48-year-old woman was raped. As she walked down the street, an offender grabbed her from behind, placed a knife against her, forced her to the alley, and raped her on the 1500 Block of North Claremont Avenue. DNA evidence was recovered.
November 12, 2001 — Bernard Middleton was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance.
August 8, 2002 — Bernard Middleton was arrested for Felony Retail Theft. He was convicted and sentenced to 20 months.
May 1, 2003 — Bernard Middleton was charged with the aforementioned murder and three rapes.
2003 — Bernard Middleton was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

The offences

Rape of a 22-year-old woman (1995)

On September 25, 1995, a 22-year-old woman was raped. DNA evidence was recovered.

Murder and rape of a 32-year-old woman (1995)

On October 16, 1995, a 32-year-old woman was found murdered. She was lured into a stairwell at Hope Academy on the 5500 block of South Lowe, raped, and then murdered. Her body was found in the stairwell.

Rape of a 34-year-old woman (1997)

On July 25, 1997, a 34-year-old woman was raped. The offender placed a knife against her head, told that she would be killed and then raped her on the 5500 block of South Calumet. DNA evidence was recovered.

Rape of a 48-year-old woman (1998)

On October 31, 1998, a 48-year-old woman was raped. DNA evidence was recovered.

Investigation and DNA database

While Bernard Middleton was in prison for a Retail Theft conviction in 2002, his DNA sample was entered into the DNA database, and his sample matched the evidence recovered from the previous unresolved cases.

Arrests, convictions, and later charging

Bernard Middleton had arrests for felonies in 1987 and 1993, and additional arrests later on, including multiple Felony Theft arrests, an arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and an arrest for Felony Retail Theft. While in prison for the Retail Theft conviction in 2002, his DNA sample was entered into the DNA database and matched evidence recovered from the prior unresolved cases. On May 1, 2003, he was charged with the aforementioned murder and three rapes.

Sentencing

Bernard Middleton was sentenced to probation for 1 year on October 9, 1998.

He was convicted and sentenced to 20 months for the Retail Theft conviction in 2002.

He was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 2003.

Spotted an error, or have more information about this case?