Offender Record · OFF-2026-022
Jerome Brudos (photo from the Radford University biography)
Jerome Henry Brudos
Also known as Jerry Brudos, The Lust Killer, The Shoe Fetish Slayer
Sex
Male
Race
White
Born
1939
Custody
Deceased
States
OR, SD, GA, CA
Distinguishing featuresDescribed as large and pudgy; found wearing women's panties during arrest search
Custody
Deceased at Oregon State Penitentiary · #33284
Custody record at the facility
Admitted to prison on June 27, 1969; died March 28, 2006, of natural causes (liver cancer) at the Oregon State Penitentiary Infirmary at age 67, having served almost 37 years, making him the longest-incarcerated inmate in Oregon Department of Corrections history.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Jerome Henry Brudos was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder for killing Jan Susan Whitney, Karen Elena Sprinker, and Linda Dawn Salee between 1968 and 1969 in Salem, Oregon. He confessed to a fourth murder, Linda Kay Slawson, which was not prosecuted. He attempted to abduct at least two other young women. Brudos was arrested on May 29, 1969, in Marion County and pled guilty on June 27, 1969, receiving three consecutive life sentences. He remained incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary until his death on March 28, 2006.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date 1956, Corvallis, Oregon
Assault and battery (1956)
Oregon Police · Oregon State Hospital (psychiatric commitment) · Arrested 1956 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Committed to Oregon State Hospital for 8-9 months evaluation and treatment; diagnosed as 'adjustment reaction of adolescence with sexual deviation and fetishism'; later diagnosed as borderline schizophrenic
At age 16, Brudos lured a 17-year-old girl to his car and drove her to a deserted farmhouse where he beat her profusely. A passing couple witnessed the assault and notified police. Brudos initially claimed he stopped to help the girl. Oregon state police obtained his confession. Police found women's undergarments, photos, and photo equipment in his house and car. He was arrested for assault and battery.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Brudos, Jerome; Jerry Brudos; 'Shoe Fetish Slayer' Jerry Brudos Took His Victims' Footwear
Offense date 1967, Portland, Oregon
Rape (1967 - reported but not prosecuted)
Portland Police · unknown · Sentence: Not connected to Brudos at the time; never prosecuted
Late 1967: Brudos stalked a woman in Portland, broke into her home as she slept, strangled her until unconscious, raped her, and stole several pairs of her shoes. The victim reported the assault to police but Brudos was not connected to the crime at the time.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Brudos, Jerome
Offense date Jan 26, 1968, Portland, Oregon
First-degree murder - Linda Kay Slawson (1968)
Multnomah County · Multnomah County Circuit Court · Arrested May 29, 1969 · Charged (pending) Charged (pending) · Sentence: Charged but charge dropped July 1969 for lack of physical evidence; body never found
Linda Kay Slawson, 19, an encyclopedia salesman, was lured to Brudos's workshop in his home on January 26, 1968. Brudos hit her with a two-by-four and strangled her to death. He removed her left foot, placed it in a high-heeled shoe, and kept it in his freezer. He dressed the corpse in undergarments from his collection, then dumped her body over a bridge. The body was never found. Brudos confessed to this murder but was not prosecuted due to lack of physical evidence.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Brudos, Jerome; Linda Kay Slawson - The Charley Project; Jerome Brudos
Offense date Nov 26, 1968, Salem, Oregon
First-degree murder - Jan Susan Whitney (1968)
Marion County Sheriff · Marion County Circuit Court · Arrested May 29, 1969 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Guilty plea to first-degree murder on June 27, 1969; sentenced to one of three consecutive life sentences
Jan Susan Whitney, 23, a University of Oregon student, was reported missing November 26, 1968, after her car broke down on Interstate 5. Brudos offered her a ride, then strangled her in his car. He brought her body to his workshop, had sexual relations with the corpse, dressed it in clothing, posed it for photographs, and removed one of her breasts. Her body was disposed of in the Long Tom River, weighted down with an auto transmission.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Brudos, Jerome; Jerry Brudos; Jerome Brudos; Jerome Brudos - Victims, Family & Facts
Offense date Mar 27, 1969, Salem, Oregon
First-degree murder - Karen Elena Sprinker (1969)
Marion County Sheriff · Marion County Circuit Court · Arrested May 29, 1969 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Guilty plea to first-degree murder on June 27, 1969; sentenced to one of three consecutive life sentences
Karen Elena Sprinker, 19, a college student at Oregon State University, disappeared on March 27-28, 1969, from the Meier & Frank department store parking lot in Salem. Brudos abducted her, took her to his home, sexually assaulted her, and strangled her to death. He removed both of her breasts and filled the cavities with brown paper towels. He placed a bra from his collection over her mutilated chest. He tied her body to an old car engine and disposed of it in the Long Tom River. Her body was found May 10-12, 1969, weighted down fifty feet from Linda Salee's body.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Brudos, Jerome; Jerry Brudos; Jerome Brudos; Jerome Brudos - Victims, Family & Facts
Offense date Apr 21, 1969, Portland, Oregon
Attempted abduction and assault - Sharon Wood (1969)
Portland State University Police · Sentence: Not charged; victim was not abducted and case not prosecuted
On April 21, 1969, Sharon Wood, 24, a woman who worked as a secretary, encountered Brudos in the basement parking garage of Portland State University. Brudos attacked her from behind. She fought back by biting his thumb until it bled. He beat her unconscious, but an oncoming car caused him to flee. Wood survived and later identified Brudos to police, which was crucial to the investigation.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Brudos, Jerome; Jerome Henry 'Jerry' Brudos (1939-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial; 'Shoe Fetish Slayer' Jerry Brudos Took His Victims' Footwear
Offense date Apr 22, 1969, Salem, Oregon
Attempted abduction - Liane Brumley (1969)
Marion County Sheriff · Arrested May 29, 1969 · Sentence: Not separately charged; formed basis for arrest warrant
On April 22, 1969, Brudos attempted to abduct 14-year-old Liane Brumley. He tried to force her into his car, but she escaped. Police obtained an arrest warrant for Brudos for this attempted abduction after failing to locate him on other leads. When attempting to serve the warrant for the Brumley abduction, Brudos attempted to flee police on May 28-30, 1969.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Brudos, Jerome; Jerome Henry 'Jerry' Brudos (1939-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial
Offense date Apr 23, 1969, Portland, Oregon
First-degree murder - Linda Dawn Salee (1969)
Marion County Sheriff · Marion County Circuit Court · Arrested May 29, 1969 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Guilty plea to first-degree murder on June 27, 1969; sentenced to one of three consecutive life sentences
Linda Dawn Salee, 19 (also reported as 22), was abducted on April 23-24, 1969, from the Lloyd Center shopping mall parking lot in Portland. Brudos posed as a police officer and forced her into his car. He took her to his home, sexually assaulted her, and killed her by asphyxiation. Her body was found in the Long Tom River on May 10, 1969, weighted down with an auto transmission.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Brudos, Jerome; Jerry Brudos; Jerome Brudos; Jerome Brudos - Victims, Family & Facts
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
3
Victims convicted
4
Victims confessed
12
Victims suspected
Active years
1968–1969
Victim profile
Young women, Strangers, Students
Range from home
regional
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
high school
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Children
2
Military discharge
medical
Died
2006-03-28 · natural
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
CA
Riverton, California
approx. 1945 – 1947 · First grade (failed second grade)
Riverton, California
approx. 1945 – 1946 · Family residence
GA
Fort Gordon, Georgia
Mar 1959 – Oct 1959 · Fort Ord · U.S. Army; basic training at Fort Gordon, Georgia; stationed at Fort Ord, California; rank E-2; discharged October 15, 1959 as psychologically unfit · army
OR
Portland, Oregon
approx. 1944 – 1945 · Family residence
Grants Pass, Oregon
approx. 1947 – 1948 · Family residence
Oregon
approx. 1948 – 1951 · Wallace Pond · Family residence
Corvallis, Oregon
approx. 1955 – 1960 · Family residence with parents; later forced to live in shed
Salem, Oregon
approx. Apr 1956 – 1956 · Oregon State Hospital psychiatric ward; 8-9 months commitment for evaluation and treatment
Oregon
approx. 1957 – 1959 · Corvallis · Oregon State University and Salem Technical Vocational School; erratic attendance, eventually dropped out
Corvallis, Oregon
approx. 1957 – 1957 · Corvallis High School; graduated 142nd out of 202 students
Corvallis, Oregon
approx. 1960 – 1961 · Family residence with parents
Corvallis, Oregon
approx. 1960 – 1961 · Corvallis radio station; obtained FCC license
Oregon
approx. 1961 – 1967 · Portland · Suburban Portland area; married to Darcie Metzler; couple moved up and down west coast due to Brudos's employment instability
West Salem, Oregon
approx. 1965 – 1965 · Electronics firm technician; left job after brief period
Salem, Oregon
approx. 1967 – 1969 · Electrician
Salem, Oregon
approx. 1967 – 1969 · Home on 3100 block of Center Street NE, near Oregon State Hospital; contained workshop/garage with pulley system and freezer
Salem, Oregon
Jun 27, 1969 – Mar 28, 2006 · Oregon State Penitentiary; inmate #33284; three consecutive life sentences; longest-incarcerated inmate in Oregon Department of Corrections history at time of death
SD
Webster, South Dakota
approx. 1939 – 1944 · Birthplace; family farm
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1960 green Volkswagen Karmann Ghia – Mother's green Volkswagen Karmann Ghia used in attempted abduction of Gloria Smith
approx. 1969 – 1969
Vehicle identified by attempted abduction victim Gloria Smith as the car Brudos attempted to use to abduct her
Timeline
Jan 31, 1939
Jerome Henry Brudos born in Webster, South Dakota, the second son of Henry and Eileen Brudos.
1944
At age 5, Brudos discovers high-heeled shoes in a junkyard in Portland, Oregon, initiating lifelong shoe fetish.
1955
At age 16, Brudos fantasizes about overpowering women and begins stealing women's shoes and undergarments.
1956
Brudos lures a 17-year-old girl to his car, beats her, forces her to pose for nude photographs; arrested for assault and battery.
1956
While hospitalized, Brudos attends North Salem High School in Dallas, Oregon during the day; diagnosed as borderline schizophrenic.
Apr 16, 1956
Brudos committed to Oregon State Hospital for psychiatric evaluation and treatment; diagnosed with adjustment reaction of adolescence with sexual deviation and fetishism.
1957
Brudos discharged from Oregon State Hospital after 8-9 months; deemed not to be a danger to society; graduates high school.
Mar 09, 1959
Brudos joins the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Ord, California; basic training at Fort Gordon, Georgia; rank E-2.
Oct 15, 1959
Brudos discharged from U.S. Army by psychiatrist Captain Theodore J. Barry for bizarre obsessions and psychological unfitness.
1960
Brudos stalks a young girl in Corvallis, strangles her until unconscious, steals her shoes.
1960
Brudos moves back to Corvallis with parents; forced to live in their shed; works at Corvallis radio station as electrician.
Jan 1962
Brudos meets and marries Darcie Metzler, age 17, after brief courtship; couple moves frequently up and down west coast.
1962
Daughter Megan born to Jerome and Darcie Brudos.
1967
Brudos and wife relocate to Salem, Oregon; forbids wife from entering workshop/garage.
1967
Brudos electrocuted at work by 480-volt shock; minor injuries, not hospitalized.
1967
Brudos and wife settle in Portland, Oregon; son Jason born; Darcie refuses to allow Brudos in delivery room.
1967
After rejection in birthing room, Brudos stalks woman in Portland, breaks into her home, strangles her unconscious, rapes her, steals shoes.
Jan 26, 1968
Linda Kay Slawson, 19, killed by Brudos; she was selling encyclopedias door-to-door; Brudos hits her with two-by-four, strangles her; removes her foot and places in high-heeled shoe for freezer storage.
Nov 26, 1968
Jan Susan Whitney, 23, disappears from Interstate 5 after car breakdown; Brudos offers ride, strangles her in car, performs necrophilia, removes breast for trophy.
Mar 27, 1969
Karen Elena Sprinker, 19, disappears from Meier & Frank parking lot in Salem; Brudos abducts, sexually assaults, and strangles her; removes both breasts.
Apr 21, 1969
Sharon Wood, 24, attacked by Brudos in Portland State University parking garage; she bites his thumb and fights off attack; oncoming car causes Brudos to flee; victim survives.
Apr 22, 1969
Brudos attempts to abduct 14-year-old Liane Brumley; she escapes from his car.
Apr 23, 1969
Linda Dawn Salee, 19, disappears from Lloyd Center parking lot in Portland; Brudos poses as police officer, forces her into car, takes her to home, sexually assaults and kills her.
May 10, 1969
Fisherman discovers Linda Salee's body in Long Tom River, weighted down by auto transmission.
May 12, 1969
Karen Sprinker's body found in Long Tom River 50 feet from Salee's body, tied to old engine.
May 26, 1969
Police search Brudos's home on 3100 block of Center Street NE in Salem; find suspicious items in garage including rope, photographs, and undergarments.
May 29, 1969
Brudos arrested by police after initial warrant issued for attempted abduction of Liane Brumley; young woman who escaped attempted abduction identifies him to police.
Jun 02, 1969
Investigator Jim Stovall obtains confession from Brudos for all four murders and attempted abductions.
Jun 04, 1969
Brudos arraigned for murder of Karen Sprinker; enters plea of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI).
Jun 04, 1969
Psychiatrists evaluate Brudos; find him NOT criminally insane; diagnose as antisocial personality with fetishism, transvestitism, exhibitionism, voyeurism, and sadism.
Jun 27, 1969
Brudos revokes NGRI plea and pleads guilty to three counts of first-degree murder for deaths of Jan Whitney, Karen Sprinker, and Linda Salee; sentenced to three consecutive life sentences.
Jul 1969
Charge dropped against Brudos for murder of Linda Slawson due to lack of physical evidence and missing body.
Aug 1970
Darcie Brudos divorces Jerome; changes her name and obtains court order forbidding children from visiting or writing their father.
May 25, 1977
Last appeal by Brudos and his lawyers rejected by appellate court after multiple failed appeals since 1969.
1999
Brudos appears before parole board; parole denied; board makes clear to victims' families he will not be released.
Mar 28, 2006
Jerome Brudos dies of natural causes (liver cancer) at Oregon State Penitentiary Infirmary at age 67 after nearly 37 years of incarceration; longest-incarcerated inmate in Oregon Department of Corrections history.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Brudos, Jerome“Jerome Henry Brudos biography and timeline of offenses, diagnoses, and incarceration”
News report · The Charley Project ·
Linda Kay Slawson - The Charley Project“Brudos was charged with murder in Slawson's disappearance as well, but the charge was dropped for lack of evidence in July 1969.”
Other · Murderpedia ·
Jerome Brudos“Sentenced to three consecutive life sentences on June 27, 1969. Died in prison on March 28, 2006. Police investigation and interviews of local coeds led them to Brudos, who confessed to the murders in detail.”
Court record · CourtListener ·
Brudos v. Palmateer“Jerome Brudos pled guilty to three counts of murder in Marion County, Oregon, and received three consecutive life sentences.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Jerry Brudos“Jerome Henry 'Jerry' Brudos (January 31, 1939 – March 28, 2006) was an American serial killer and necrophile known as the Lust Killer and the Shoe Fetish Slayer who committed the kidnap, rape, and murder of four young women between 1968 and 1969 in Salem, Oregon.”
News report · A&E Television Networks ·
'Shoe Fetish Slayer' Jerry Brudos Took His Victims' Footwear“Brudos was arrested on charges of assault and battery and sent to the Oregon State Hospital. He spent almost nine months there before being discharged with a diagnosis of 'borderline schizophrenia.'”
Offender registry · Find a Grave ·
Jerome Henry 'Jerry' Brudos (1939-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial“Although he was convicted of 3 murders, he confessed to four, and was suspected of at least 6 others. On May 25, 1977, his last appeal is rejected by the appellate courts.”
Other · Grokipedia ·
Jerry Brudos“On June 27, 1969, Jerome 'Jerry' Brudos changed his initial plea of not guilty by reason of insanity to guilty on three counts of first-degree murder.”
News report · Biography.com ·
Jerome Brudos - Victims, Family & Facts“Jerome Brudos was a serial killer and necrophile who murdered four women in Oregon during the 1960s. He was known as the 'The Lust Killer' and 'The Shoe Fetish Slayer.' Brudos, known as the 'The Lust Killer' was apprehended in 1969 and died in prison in 2006.”
News report · The World Link (AP) ·
Oregon's longest-held prisoner dies of natural causes“Admitted to prison on June 27, 1969, Brudos was serving three life sentences for murdering three women in his Salem home. Serial killer Jerome Brudos, the longest-held prisoner in the Oregon State Penitentiary, died Tuesday of natural causes, state officials said.”
Discussion
Casual discussion about this record on the community forum. The facts live on this page: to add a place, a vehicle or a source, use the Edit record button under the photo so a moderator can review it. Please name no one else, never name a victim, and do not connect the person to any case not listed here.Open the topic on the forum
Corrections and removal. If a charge on this page has been dismissed, acquitted, overturned, pardoned or expunged, or any fact is wrong, tell us through the correction form. Corrections are free, reviewed within five business days, and a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed. Information here may not be used for decisions about employment, housing, credit, insurance or any purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and never to harass, threaten or harm anyone. Where a source is an offender registry, that information is reproduced as of the date shown and is subject to the conditions of use of that registry.