Michiah Shobek

Name

Michiah Shobek

Status and sentence

Michiah Shobek was sentenced to hang on October 18, 1976, following his conviction in the stabbing death of Irwin Borstein, a New York accountant murdered on vacation. Shobek was executed by hanging on October 19, 1976, and was buried in a pauper's grave.

Timeline

• October 18, 1976 — Sentenced to hang on conviction in the stabbing death of Irwin Borstein.
• October 19, 1976 — Executed by hanging; buried in a pauper's grave.

The offence

Shobek was convicted in the stabbing death of Irwin Borstein, a New York accountant murdered on vacation.

During his trial, Shobek also confessed to the murders of attorney Paul Howell, from Massillon, Ohio, and teenager Katie Smith, from Detroit. His confessions described his victims—slain within a two-month period—as “angels of Lucifer,” dispatched on orders from God.

Shobek described his victims as “angels of Lucifer.”

Confession and motive

During the course of his trial, Shobek confessed to the murders of attorney Paul Howell and teenager Katie Smith and declared that his victims, slain within a two-month period, were “angels of Lucifer,” dispatched on orders from God.

“angels of Lucifer”

Personal details

Shobek was a 22-year-old handyman from Milwaukee. Shobek changed his name from James Michael Shoffner on emigrating to Nassau, in the Bahamas.

Shobek was described as the first American sentenced to death in Nassau for fifteen years.

Other details

Michael Newton - An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers - Hunting Humans was associated with the case entry and listed the following details: SEX: M, RACE: B, TYPE: T, MOTIVE: PC-nonspecific, MO: Stabbed male American tourists, describing them as “angels of Lucifer”.