Offender Record · OFF-2026-050
John Martin Crawford (photo from the Radford University biography)
John Martin Crawford
Also known as The Lady Killer
Sex
Male
Race
White
Born
1962
Custody
Deceased
States
CA
Distinguishing featuresScarring on upper chest, neck and arm from cigarette lighter burn injury
Custody
Deceased at Regional Psychiatric Centre, Saskatoon
Custody record at the facility
Died December 16, 2020 while serving three concurrent life sentences; sentenced May 30, 1996
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
John Martin Crawford was convicted of killing four women in Saskatchewan and Alberta between 1981 and 1992. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 1981 killing of Mary Jane Serloin in Lethbridge, Alberta, and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in 1982. After release in 1989, he committed three murders in Saskatoon in 1992: Eva Taysup (age 30), Calinda Waterhen (age 22), and Shelley Napope (age 16). He was convicted in 1996 of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to three concurrent life sentences. Crawford died in custody at the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon on December 16, 2020.
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 Dec 23, 1981, Lethbridge, Alberta
Manslaughter in the killing of Mary Jane Serloin
Lethbridge Police Service, Alberta · Alberta Court of Justice · Arrested 1981 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 10 years imprisonment
Crawford met Mary Jane Serloin in a bar in Lethbridge. Her nude body was found on Christmas Day 1981 with bruises, lacerations and mutilated breasts bearing deep bite marks. Although charged with first-degree murder, Crawford pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Crawford, John Martin; John Martin Crawford; Why are Canadians indifferent to race crimes?; Serial killer John Martin CRAWFORD - The Lady Killer; John Martin Crawford
Offense date May 1992, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Sexual assault of Janet Sylvestre
Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatchewan · Saskatchewan Provincial Court · Arrested May 1992 · Charged (pending) Charged (pending) · Sentence: Released on bail to mother's custody
Janet Sylvestre reported to police in May 1992 that Crawford had raped her. Crawford was arrested and held in remand but was released into custody of his mother on bail on June 18, 1992. Charges were not pursued after his release.
Sources'To him, they were expendable': Columnist says Saskatoon serial killer exploited racism when targeting victims; Radford University serial killer biography: Crawford, John Martin
Offense date Sep 1992, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
First-degree murder of Shelley Napope
Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatchewan · Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench · Docket Trial began May 21, 1996 · Arrested Jan 1995 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment concurrent with other sentences
Crawford and accomplice Bill Corrigan picked up 16-year-old Shelley Napope. Both men raped and beat her; Crawford then stabbed her to death. Her body was discovered in woods near a golf course in October 1994, approximately 2 years after her death.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Crawford, John Martin; John Martin Crawford; Serial killer John Martin CRAWFORD - The Lady Killer; John Martin Crawford; List of solved missing person cases (1990s)
Offense date Sep 20, 1992, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Second-degree murder of Eva Taysup
Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatchewan · Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench · Docket Trial began May 21, 1996 · Arrested Jan 1995 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment concurrent with other sentences
Crawford raped, tortured and strangled 30-year-old Eva Taysup on September 20, 1992. Her remains were discovered in 1994 near Saskatoon. Crawford later sawed off her arm before burial.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Crawford, John Martin; John Martin Crawford; Serial killer John Martin CRAWFORD - The Lady Killer; John Martin Crawford; Saskatoon serial killer John Martin Crawford has died in prison
Offense date Sep 21, 1992, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Second-degree murder of Calinda Waterhen
Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatchewan · Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench · Docket Trial began May 21, 1996 · Arrested Jan 1995 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment concurrent with other sentences
Crawford strangled 22-year-old Calinda Waterhen on September 21, 1992, the day after Eva Taysup's murder. Her body was found intact and buried near Saskatoon in 1994.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Crawford, John Martin; John Martin Crawford; Serial killer John Martin CRAWFORD - The Lady Killer; John Martin Crawford; Saskatoon serial killer John Martin Crawford has died in prison
Offense date Oct 02, 1992, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Attempted murder of Derek Langager
Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatchewan · Saskatchewan Provincial Court · Arrested Oct 02, 1992 · Charges dismissed Charges dismissed · Sentence: Dismissed; charged with aggravated assault instead
Crawford charged with attempted murder after beating a man named Derek Langager over the man's refusal to give Crawford a cigarette. In November 1992, the court found insufficient evidence for attempted murder but sufficient evidence for aggravated assault.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Crawford, John Martin; Opinion: Looking back at Just Another Indian
Offense date Oct 1994, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Sexual assault of Theresa Kematch
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Saskatchewan · Saskatchewan Provincial Court · Arrested Oct 1994 · Charged (pending) Charged (pending) · Sentence: No charges filed; victim arrested instead
While under RCMP surveillance in October 1994, Crawford picked up Theresa Kematch, beat and raped her, and left her on the street. RCMP officers witnessed the assault but did not intervene. Kematch was arrested by police after being found injured.
SourcesFormer prostitute sues RCMP; Opinion: Looking back at Just Another Indian; 'To him, they were expendable': Columnist says Saskatoon serial killer exploited racism when targeting victims
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.
4
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
2
Victims suspected
Active years
1981–1992
Victim profile
Young women, Sex workers, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual, Power or control
Range from home
regional
Accomplice
Yes
Marital history
Never married
Died
2020-12-16 · 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
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
approx. 1981 – 1981 · Where he met Mary Jane Serloin in a bar
Drumheller, Alberta, Canada
approx. 1982 – 1984 · Federal institution; later transferred to Prince Albert
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
approx. 1984 – 1989 · Saskatchewan Penitentiary; transferred to Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon several times
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
1989 – 1995 · Lived with his mother; released on mandatory supervision March 23, 1989
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
1993 – 1993 · Saskatoon Correctional Centre for assault charge
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
1995 – 2020 · Regional Psychiatric Centre; arrested January 1995 for the Saskatoon murders; initially held at Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert after May 1996 conviction, later transferred to Regional Psychiatric Centre where he died
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.
Crawford's Cougar
approx. 1994 – 1994
Vehicle used to pick up Theresa Kematch in October 1994
Mother's car
approx. 1989 – 1992
Used to cruise for prostitutes in dilapidated areas of Saskatoon
Timeline
Mar 29, 1962
John Martin Crawford born in Steinbach, Manitoba.
Dec 23, 1981
Crawford killed 35-year-old Mary Jane Serloin in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Jun 16, 1982
Crawford convicted of manslaughter in the death of Mary Jane Serloin and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Mar 23, 1989
Crawford released from prison on mandatory supervision after serving approximately 7 years of his 10-year sentence.
May 09, 1992
Janet Sylvestre reported to police that Crawford had raped her; Crawford arrested and held in remand.
Jun 18, 1992
Crawford's mother posted bail and he was released into her custody.
Sep 1992
Crawford and accomplice Bill Corrigan raped, beat and stabbed to death 16-year-old Shelley Napope.
Sep 20, 1992
Crawford raped, tortured and strangled 30-year-old Eva Taysup.
Sep 21, 1992
Crawford strangled 22-year-old Calinda Waterhen.
Oct 02, 1992
Crawford charged with attempted murder of Derek Langager after beating him over refusal to give a cigarette.
Nov 1992
Attempted murder charge against Crawford dismissed; charged with aggravated assault instead.
1993
Crawford spent most of the year in Saskatoon Correctional Centre on assault charges.
1994
Remains of Eva Taysup and Calinda Waterhen discovered; Shelley Napope's body found in woods.
Oct 1994
While under RCMP surveillance, Crawford beat and raped Theresa Kematch; she was arrested by police.
Oct 1994
A farmer discovered the remains of three women in heavy brush outside Saskatoon; RCMP began surveillance of Crawford.
Jan 1995
Crawford arrested for the murders of Calinda Waterhen, Eva Taysup and Shelley Napope.
May 21, 1996
Trial begins for the killings of Calinda Waterhen, Eva Taysup and Shelley Napope.
May 30, 1996
Crawford convicted of one count of first-degree murder (Shelley Napope) and two counts of second-degree murder (Eva Taysup and Calinda Waterhen) and sentenced to three concurrent life sentences.
1999
Crawford appealed his sentence; appeal denied.
Dec 16, 2020
Crawford died at age 58 while incarcerated at the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon.
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 · Murderpedia ·
John Martin Crawford“Crawford was convicted in 1996 of killing three native women in Saskatoon in 1992, Eva Taysup, Shelley Napope, and Calinda Waterhen”
News report · Wikipedia ·
John Martin Crawford“Crawford was convicted of one count of first degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder in the 1992 deaths of three Indigenous women”
News report · Listen Notes ·
John Martin Crawford - Top podcast episodes“Crawford was sentenced in 1981 to ten years' imprisonment for manslaughter in the killing of Mary Jane Serloin”
News report · Wikipedia ·
List of solved missing person cases (1990s)“Shelley Gail Napope was murdered by strangulation on or about September 29. Her body was discovered in a stand of trees near a golf course in October 1994”
Other · Serial Killer Calendar ·
Serial killer John Martin CRAWFORD - The Lady Killer“Released on March 23, 1989. Sentenced to three concurrent life sentences in 1996”
Other · Grokipedia ·
John Martin Crawford“On June 16, 1982, he received a 10-year prison sentence for manslaughter”
News report · CBC News ·
'To him, they were expendable': Columnist says Saskatoon serial killer exploited racism when targeting victims“In 1992, a Saskatoon woman named Janet Sylvestre told police that Crawford had raped her”
News report · Askew Creek Publishing ·
Serial killer who preyed on Saskatoon women dies in custody“He was convicted in June of 1996 and sentenced to three concurrent life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years”
News report · CBC News ·
Saskatoon serial killer John Martin Crawford has died in prison“Crawford was serving three concurrent life sentences after killing three Indigenous women in Saskatoon in the early 1990s”
Other government record · Correctional Service Canada ·
Death of an inmate from the Regional Psychiatric Centre“On December 16, 2020, John Crawford, an inmate from the Regional Psychiatric Centre died while in our custody”
News report · Eagle Feather News ·
Opinion: Looking back at Just Another Indian“He beat her, raped her and threw her out of the car during the assault on Theresa Kematch in 1994”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Crawford, John Martin“Crawford was sentenced in 1981 to 10 years imprisonment for manslaughter in the killing of Mary Jane Serloin”
News report · AMMSA ·
Why are Canadians indifferent to race crimes?“Crawford was sentenced in 1981 to 10 years imprisonment for manslaughter in the killing of Mary Jane Serloin, in Lethbridge, Alberta”
News report · CBC News ·
Former prostitute sues RCMP“In 1994 Theresa Kematch was working as a prostitute in Saskatoon and Crawford picked up Theresa Kematch, beat and raped her and left her on the street”
Discussion
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