Offender Record · OFF-2026-082
Harvey Glatman (photo from the Radford University biography)
Harvey Murray Glatman
Also known as Johnny Glinn, Frank Wilson, George Williams, The Lonely Hearts Killer, The Glamour Girl Slayer
Sex
Male
Race
White
Born
1927
Custody
Deceased
States
CA, NY, CO
Distinguishing featuresdescribed as slender and meek in appearance
Custody
Executed by gas chamber September 18, 1959, age 31.
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
Harvey Murray Glatman was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for the 1957-1958 strangulation deaths of aspiring models in California. He posed as a photographer offering modeling work to lure victims to his Los Angeles apartment, where he bound them with rope, sexually assaulted them, photographed them, and strangled them, dumping their bodies in the desert. He was arrested October 27, 1958, in Orange County, California, while attempting to kidnap another woman. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death on December 15 or 16, 1958. He was executed by gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison on September 18, 1959.
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 May 1945, Denver, Colorado
First-degree grand larceny / first-degree robbery
Denver Police Department, Colorado · Denver District Court · Arrested May 18, 1945 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: One to five years, Colorado State Penitentiary; served 8 months
Glatman pleaded guilty to first-degree grand larceny after breaking into an apartment through a window. Police found rope and .25-caliber pistol in his pockets. During interrogation, he confessed to multiple burglaries but initially omitted sexual assaults. This was his first arrest, involving the robbery of Eula Jo Hand and two other women.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Glatman, Harvey; Harvey Glatman - Murderpedia; Harvey Murray Glatman - Find a Grave Memorial
Offense date Jun 18, 1945, Boulder, Colorado
Kidnapping and sexual assault
Boulder Police Department, Colorado · Boulder District Court · Arrested Jun 18, 1945 · Charged (pending) Charged (pending) · Sentence: Case continued until release from New York authorities; later dismissed
Glatman abducted Noreen Laurel (also called Norene Lauer) from her neighborhood and drove her to Sunshine Canyon, where he bound her with rope. He touched but did not rape her, then returned her home. She identified him from mug shots and he was re-arrested without bail.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Glatman, Harvey; Harvey Glatman - Murderpedia
Offense date Aug 1946, Albany, New York
Sexual assault and robbery
New York State Reception Center, Elmira · Albany Court · Arrested Aug 25, 1946 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Five to ten years, Elmira Reformatory; transferred to Sing Sing 1948; paroled 1948
While on parole from Colorado, Glatman went to New York and committed several robberies and sexual assaults on women, including Florence Hayden, whom he attempted to sexually assault. She escaped. He also approached Evelyn Berge and Beverly Goldstein, robbing them while threatening them with a cap gun.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Glatman, Harvey; Harvey Glatman - Murderpedia
Offense date Mar 09, 1958, San Diego County, California
First-degree murder (Shirley Ann Bridgeford)
San Diego Police Department · San Diego County Superior Court · Arrested Oct 27, 1958 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death penalty by gas chamber
Glatman met a 24-year-old woman through a Lonely Hearts newspaper ad, claiming to take her to a dance club. Instead, he drove her to the desert, tied her up, posed her for bondage photographs, raped her, and strangled her with rope. He left her body unburied in Anza State Park, and it was found scattered and damaged by animals.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Glatman, Harvey; Harvey Glatman - Wikipedia; People v. Glatman - Supreme Court of California
Offense date Jul 24, 1958, San Diego County, California
First-degree murder (Ruth Rita Mercado)
San Diego Police Department · San Diego County Superior Court · Arrested Oct 27, 1958 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death penalty by gas chamber
Glatman found a 24-year-old aspiring model through a modeling agency. Using alias Frank Johnson, he convinced her he would photograph her for a portfolio. At her apartment or after luring her, he held her at gunpoint, forced her to pose bound and gagged for photographs, raped her repeatedly, and strangled her with rope in the desert near Anza State Park.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Glatman, Harvey; Harvey Glatman - Wikipedia; People v. Glatman - Supreme Court of California
Offense date Oct 27, 1958, Orange County, California
Attempted kidnapping with intent to commit rape
Orange County Police Department · Orange County Superior Court · Arrested Oct 27, 1958 · Charged (pending) Charged (pending) · Sentence: Death penalty applied for concurrent murders
Glatman responded to a 28-year-old aspiring model's classified ad seeking work. He picked her up using alias Frank Johnson and drove her toward a remote location on the Santa Ana Freeway in Orange County. He pulled over, claimed a flat tire, then revealed a .32-caliber pistol and rope. The victim fought back, grabbed the gun during a struggle that caused an accidental discharge grazing her thigh. She bit his hand, disarmed him, and flagged down a passing police officer (Officer Donald Kirk of Anaheim Police Department), leading to his immediate arrest.
SourcesPeople v. Glatman - Supreme Court of California; Harvey Glatman - Murderpedia; Harvey Glatman - Grokipedia
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.
2
Victims convicted
3
Victims confessed
1
Victims suspected
Active years
1957–1958
Stated motive
Sexual, Power or control
Range from home
interstate
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
high school
Marital history
Never married
Children
0
Died
1959-09-18 · executed
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
Los Angeles, California
Jan 1957 – Oct 1958 · moved to Los Angeles; lived in apartment on South Norton Avenue and Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, California
approx. 1957 – 1958 · worked as amateur photographer and television repair technician; operated small TV repair shop
Santa Ana, California
Oct 27, 1958 – Nov 03, 1958 · held in county jail in Santa Ana pending arraignment
Orange, California
Oct 27, 1958 – Oct 27, 1958 · arrested on shoulder of Santa Ana Freeway while assaulting Lorraine Vigil
San Diego, California
Nov 03, 1958 – Dec 17, 1958 · San Diego County Courthouse custody during trial and sentencing
San Quentin, California
Dec 1958 – Sep 18, 1959 · San Quentin State Prison, death row, inmate number A-50239
CO
Denver, Colorado
1938 – 1946 · lived with parents after family relocated
Denver, Colorado
1942 – 1945 · Denver East High School, top seventh of class, played cornet in concert band
Denver, Colorado
Dec 05, 1945 – Jul 27, 1946 · Colorado State Penitentiary, prisoner number 23863, approximately 8 months
Denver, Colorado
approx. 1948 – 1951 · returned to parents after parole; lived on Kearney Street with mother Ophelia
Denver, Colorado
approx. 1951 – 1957 · released from parole in April 1951; continued living in Denver
Denver, Colorado
approx. 1951 – 1957 · worked as television repair technician
NY
The Bronx, New York
approx. 1927 – 1938 · birthplace, with parents Albert and Ophelia Glatman
Albany, New York
approx. Jul 1946 – Aug 1946 · briefly lived in Albany with relatives while on parole
Elmira, New York
Oct 24, 1946 – Sep 08, 1948 · New York State Reception Center at Elmira Reformatory
Village of Ossining, New York
Sep 08, 1948 – Nov 27, 1948 · Sing Sing Correctional Facility, maximum-security prison
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.
1951 Dodge Coronet – vehicle used in Colorado, possibly involved in unresolved homicide
approx. 1951 – 1957
Body damage consistent with striking a victim; suspected connection to Dorothy Gay Howard death
Timeline
Dec 10, 1927
Harvey Murray Glatman born in The Bronx, New York to Albert and Ophelia Glatman.
1938
Family relocated from Bronx to Denver, Colorado.
May 18, 1945
Arrested in Denver for breaking and entering apartment of Elma Hamum; police found rope and .25-caliber pistol.
May 21, 1945
Charged with first-degree robbery; parents posted bail.
Jun 18, 1945
While out on bail, abducted and assaulted Noreen Laurel in Boulder, Colorado; she identified him from mug shots.
Dec 01, 1945
Sentenced to one to five years at Colorado State Penitentiary in case of Eula Jo Hand and others.
Dec 05, 1945
Began first prison term as prisoner number 23863 at Colorado State Penitentiary.
Jul 27, 1946
Paroled from Colorado State Penitentiary after approximately 8 months.
Aug 25, 1946
Arrested in Albany, New York for sexual assaults and robberies of women.
Oct 10, 1946
Sentenced to one to five years for New York robberies and assaults.
Oct 24, 1946
Entered New York State Reception Center at Elmira Reformatory.
1948
Diagnosed by Dr. Ralph Ryancale as psychopathic personality-schizophrenic type with sexually perverted impulses.
Sep 08, 1948
Transferred to Sing Sing Prison at Ossining, New York to complete sentence.
Nov 27, 1948
Paroled from Sing Sing Prison.
Oct 1952
Father Albert Glatman died of diabetes.
Jan 1957
Moved to Los Angeles, California; resumed work as photographer and television repair technician.
Aug 01, 1957
Murdered 19-year-old model Judith Ann Dull; offered her $50 for modeling photoshoot, sexually assaulted her, photographed her, and strangled her in the desert.
Mar 09, 1958
Murdered 24-year-old Shirley Ann Bridgeford after contacting her through Lonely Hearts newspaper ad; drove her to desert, photographed her, raped her, and strangled her.
Jul 24, 1958
Murdered 24-year-old Ruth Mercado, contacted through modeling agency; took her to apartment, sexually assaulted her, photographed her, and strangled her in desert.
Oct 27, 1958
Arrested on shoulder of Santa Ana Freeway in Orange County, California while attempting to kidnap and sexually assault Lorraine Vigil; patrolman intervened.
Nov 03, 1958
Arraigned in San Diego County; confessed on tape to murders of Judy Dull, Shirley Bridgeford, and Ruth Mercado.
Dec 15, 1958
Court day; Harvey pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder for Bridgeford and Mercado cases. Judge Low or Hewicker imposed death penalty (sources vary on exact date as December 15, 16, or 17).
Dec 17, 1958
Judge John A. Hewicker found Harvey Glatman guilty of murders of Shirley Bridgeford and Ruth Mercado and sentenced him to death.
Sep 18, 1959
Harvey Glatman executed by gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison; inmate number A-50239; died within 12 minutes by cyanide gas.
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.
News report · Deranged LA Crimes ·
Harvey Glatman: The Glamour Girl Slayer“On December 17, 1958, Judge John A. Hewicker found Harvey Glatman, 31 year old television repairman, guilty in the murders of Shirley Bridgeford and Ruth Mercado.”
News report · Grokipedia ·
Harvey Glatman - Grokipedia“Following his sentencing to death on December 15, 1958, Harvey Glatman was transferred to San Quentin State Prison, where he was assigned prisoner number A-50239.”
Other government record · Find a Grave ·
Harvey Murray Glatman - Find a Grave Memorial“Arrested for the first time in 1945, he served 8 months in the Colorado State Penitentiary.”
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Glatman, Harvey“Harvey Glatman was executed by inhaling cyanide and died within 12 minutes on September 18, 1959.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
Harvey Glatman - Murderpedia“October 27, 1958—Glatman was arrested in Orange County, California, while assaulting Lorraine Vigil.”
News report · History.com ·
Serial killer Harvey Glatman is executed“He then drove her out to the desert east of Los Angeles and strangled her to death with his favorite rope.”
News report · All That's Interesting ·
The Chilling Crimes Of Harvey Glatman, 'The Glamour Girl Slayer'“He would contact them with offers of work for pulp magazines, take them back to his apartment, tie them up and sexually assault them, taking pictures all the while.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Harvey Glatman - Wikipedia“He was executed in the gas chamber of San Quentin State Prison on September 18, 1959.”
News report · George Pallas Blog ·
Harvey Glatman: A Weird Boy Turns Ruthless Serial Killer“On December 17, 1958, Judge John A. Hewicker found Harvey Glatman guilty in the murders of Shirley Bridgeford and Ruth Mercado and sentenced him to death.”
Court record · Stanford Supreme Court Opinion Database ·
People v. Glatman - Supreme Court of California“After his arrest defendant confessed that he had killed three women, Judy Dull, Shirley Bridgeford and Ruth Mercado, and he was indicted in San Diego County for the murders of Shirley and Ruth.”
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