Offender Record · OFF-2026-095
Gary Heidnick (photo from the Radford University biography)
Gary Michael Heidnik
Also known as Brother Bishop, Brother Heidnik
Sex
Male
Race
White
Born
1943
Custody
Deceased
States
PA, VA, TX, DE, OH
Distinguishing featuresHead deformed from falling from a tree in childhood
Custody
Executed by lethal injection on July 6, 1999 at State Correctional Institution at Rockview, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
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
Gary Michael Heidnik was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, six counts of kidnapping, five counts of rape, four counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Between 1986 and 1987, Heidnik kidnapped six women in Philadelphia and held them captive in a basement pit, torturing and raping them; two victims died from his abuse. He was arrested on March 24, 1987, convicted on July 1, 1988, and executed by lethal injection on July 6, 1999, at State Correctional Institution at Rockview in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
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 1976, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aggravated assault and carrying an unlicensed pistol
Philadelphia Police Department
Heidnik shot at a tenant of a house he offered for rent, grazing the man's face. Charges were later dismissed or reduced.
SourcesGary M. Heidnik; Gary Heidnik
Offense date 1978, Pennsylvania
Kidnapping, rape, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, interfering with the custody of a committed person
Court of Common Pleas, Pennsylvania · Arrested 1978 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 3 to 7 years in prison; spent approximately 4 years and 4 months; released April 1983
Heidnik signed his girlfriend's cognitively disabled sister, Alberta Davidson, age 34, out of a mental institution on day leave and imprisoned her in his basement for 10 days. She was raped and sodomized. The original sentence was overturned on appeal and Heidnik spent 3 years in mental institutions before release in April 1983.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Heidnick, Gary; Gary Heidnik; Gary M. Heidnik
Offense date 1986, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Spousal rape, assault, indecent assault, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse
Philadelphia Police Department · Arrested 1986 · Charges dismissed Charges dismissed
Heidnik was charged after his wife Betty Disto left him in 1986. Charges were dismissed when Betty failed to appear for the preliminary hearing.
SourcesGary Heidnik; Gary Heidnik: How & When Did the Killer Bishop Get Caught?
Offense date Nov 25, 1986, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kidnapping, rape, aggravated assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse
Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County · Arrested Mar 24, 1987 · Convicted Convicted
Josefina Rivera, age 25, a sex worker, was picked up by Heidnik on November 25, 1986 and held captive until March 25, 1987. She was the first victim and became a key witness. She escaped after gaining Heidnik's trust and directed police to his home.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Heidnick, Gary; Gary M. Heidnik; 25 years later Heidnik captive recalls the horror
Offense date Dec 23, 1986, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kidnapping, rape, aggravated assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse
Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County · Arrested Mar 24, 1987 · Convicted Convicted
Lisa Thomas, age 19, was kidnapped on December 23, 1986 and held until March 1987. She survived her captivity.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Heidnick, Gary; Gary M. Heidnik
Offense date Jan 18, 1987, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kidnapping, rape, aggravated assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse
Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County · Arrested Mar 24, 1987 · Convicted Convicted
Jacqueline Askins, age 18, was kidnapped on January 18, 1987 and held until March 1987. She was the youngest victim and survived her captivity.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Heidnick, Gary; Gary M. Heidnik
Offense date Feb 07, 1987, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
First-degree murder of Sandra Lindsay
Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County · Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County · Arrested Mar 24, 1987 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death
A 24-year-old woman with developmental disabilities, Sandra Lindsay was kidnapped on December 3, 1986. Heidnik suspended her by her wrists from a basement rafter for two days after she attempted to escape. She died from starvation, injury, and fever on February 7, 1987. Heidnik dismembered her body with a power saw, boiled her head, and ground her flesh to feed to other captives.
SourcesCom. v. Heidnik; Radford University serial killer biography: Heidnick, Gary; Gary M. Heidnik
Offense date Mar 19, 1987, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
First-degree murder of Deborah Dudley
Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County · Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County · Arrested Mar 24, 1987 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death
A 23-year-old woman, Deborah Dudley was kidnapped on January 2, 1987. Heidnik electrocuted her in a water-filled pit in the basement after she resisted his control. Her body was dumped in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
SourcesCom. v. Heidnik; Radford University serial killer biography: Heidnick, Gary; 25 years later Heidnik captive recalls the horror
Offense date Mar 23, 1987, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kidnapping, rape, aggravated assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse
Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County · Arrested Mar 24, 1987 · Convicted Convicted
Agnes Adams, age 24, was kidnapped on March 23, 1987, but Heidnik was arrested the next day before her captivity lasted long. She survived and helped authorities by calling police.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Heidnick, Gary; Gary M. Heidnik
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
0
Victims confessed
6
Victims suspected
Active years
1978–1987
Stated motive
Sexual, Power or control
Range from home
local
Education
high school
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Children
3
Military discharge
honorable
Died
1999-07-06 · 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.
DE
Landstuhl, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
approx. Jun 1961 – Aug 1962 · 46th Army Surgical Hospital; trained as medic · army
OH
Cleveland, Ohio
approx. 1943 – 1961 · Raised in Cleveland suburb after birth in Eastlake
PA
Coatesville, Pennsylvania
approx. 1962 – 1970 · Veterans Administration Hospital; worked as LPN and psychiatric nurse; fired for poor attendance and rude behavior to patients
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1962 – 1987 · Settled in Philadelphia after military discharge; moved to multiple addresses including 3520 North Marshall Street where crimes occurred
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
approx. Oct 1962 – Oct 1962 · Military hospital; diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder · army
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1964 – 1965 · Nursing school and Philadelphia General Hospital internship
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1971 – 1987 · Founded and operated United Church of the Ministries of God as self-ordained minister
Pennsylvania
1978 – Apr 1983 · Graterford State Correctional Institution · Incarcerated for kidnapping and rape of Alberta Davidson; spent time in mental health institution
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mar 24, 1987 – Mar 24, 1987 · Arrested at gas station on March 24, 1987; detained at Philadelphia Detention Center
Pennsylvania
Jul 1988 – Apr 1997 · State Correctional Institution at Pittsburgh · Death row inmate pending execution
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Apr 1997 – Jul 06, 1999 · State Correctional Institution at Rockview · Death row inmate; executed by lethal injection
TX
San Antonio, Texas
approx. 1961 – 1961 · U.S. Army basic training · army
VA
Staunton, Virginia
approx. 1957 – 1959 · Staunton Military Academy
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.
1987 pewter and white / silver and white Cadillac Coupe de Ville
approx. 1986 – 1987
Timeline
Nov 22, 1943
Gary Michael Heidnik was born in Eastlake, Ohio.
1944
Heidnik's parents divorced and his mother died from overdose of medication and alcohol.
1961
Heidnik dropped out of high school in his senior year and joined the U.S. Army.
Jun 1961
Heidnik was stationed at San Antonio, Texas for Army medic training.
1962
Heidnik received an honorable discharge from the Army with full disability pension.
Jun 1962
Heidnik was transferred to 46th Army Surgical Hospital in Landstuhl, West Germany.
Aug 1962
Heidnik began complaining of severe headaches, dizziness, blurred vision and nausea in West Germany.
Oct 1962
Heidnik was transferred to a military hospital in Philadelphia and diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder.
1964
Heidnik started taking nursing classes in Philadelphia.
1965
Heidnik received an internship at Philadelphia General Hospital.
1971
Heidnik formed his own church, the United Church of the Ministries of God.
1976
Heidnik was charged with aggravated assault and carrying an unlicensed pistol after shooting a tenant.
1978
Heidnik kidnapped Alberta Davidson, his girlfriend's sister, from a mental institution and held her in his basement.
Mar 16, 1978
Heidnik's daughter Maxine was born to girlfriend Anjeanette Davidson.
Apr 1983
Heidnik was released from prison after serving approximately 4 years and 4 months.
1985
Heidnik married Betty Disto, a Filipino mail-order bride.
1986
Heidnik's wife Betty left him after he charged her with spousal rape and assault.
Nov 25, 1986
Heidnik kidnapped Josefina Rivera, age 25, a sex worker, beginning his series of basement abductions.
Dec 03, 1986
Heidnik kidnapped Sandra Lindsay, age 24, a mentally disabled woman.
Dec 23, 1986
Heidnik kidnapped Lisa Thomas, age 19.
Jan 02, 1987
Heidnik kidnapped Deborah Dudley, age 23.
Jan 18, 1987
Heidnik kidnapped Jacqueline Askins, age 18.
Feb 07, 1987
Sandra Lindsay died after being suspended by her wrists from a basement rafter for two days.
Mar 17, 1987
Deborah Dudley was electrocuted in a water-filled pit in Heidnik's basement.
Mar 23, 1987
Heidnik kidnapped Agnes Adams, age 24.
Mar 24, 1987
Josefina Rivera escaped from Heidnik and called police. Heidnik was arrested.
Mar 25, 1987
Police raided Heidnik's basement and found three surviving women chained in a pit and a dismembered head in a stockpot.
Jul 01, 1988
Heidnik was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, six counts of kidnapping, five counts of rape, four counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
Jul 03, 1988
Heidnik was sentenced to death.
Dec 31, 1988
Heidnik attempted suicide by overdosing on Thorazine in prison.
Jun 25, 1999
Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed Heidnik's death sentence.
Jul 06, 1999
Gary Michael Heidnik was executed by lethal injection at 10:29 p.m. at State Correctional Institution at Rockview in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
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 · Pennsylvania Capital-Star ·
Five things to know about the death penalty in Pa.“Philadelphia torture-killer Gary Heidnik was executed by lethal injection at Rockview State Prison in Centre County in July 1999.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
Gary Heidnik“1978: First imprisonment. Heidnik signed his girlfriend's cognitively disabled sister out of a mental institution on day leave and kept her prisoner in a locked storage room in his basement in 1978.”
News report · A&E Television Networks ·
Gary Heidnik's Unspeakable Crimes: An Interview with the Serial Killer's Attorney“Heidnik was convicted of two counts of murder, six counts of kidnapping, five counts of rape, and various other charges in 1988.”
News report · Broad & Liberty ·
What Gary Heidnik, the last man executed in Pa., foretold“Heidnik then became an LPN, worked at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Coatesville, Pennsylvania (where he was fired for rude behavior to patients).”
Court record · U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit ·
Heidnik v. Horn“At this state court hearing the petitioner, Gary Heidnik, stated that he wanted his execution to proceed.”
News report · Yahoo News ·
Gary Heidnik: How & When Did the Killer Bishop Get Caught?“Gary Heidnik, known as the Bishop, kidnapped and held six women captive in his Philadelphia home, torturing and killing some of them before being caught in March 1987.”
News report · Philadelphia Inquirer ·
For Phila., a dubious recognition“Between November 1986 and March 1987, he tortured and raped six young women in the basement of his home on North Marshall Street, in Franklinville.”
News report · Philadelphia Inquirer ·
25 years later Heidnik captive recalls the horror“On March 25, 1987 - 25 years ago - Rivera would forge her escape after being held by Gary Heidnik since November 1986.”
Other · Wikipedia ·
Gary M. Heidnik“Gary Michael Heidnik (November 22, 1943 – July 6, 1999) was an American murderer and serial rapist who kidnapped, tortured and raped six women, murdering two of them, while holding them captive in a self-dug pit in his basement floor in Philadelphia between 1986 and 1987.”
Other government record · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Heidnick, Gary“Gary Michael Heidnik was born in November 1943; he was convicted of 2 murders and sentenced to death on July 1, 1988; he was executed on July 6, 1999.”
Court record · Pennsylvania Supreme Court ·
Com. v. Heidnik“On July 1, 1988, a jury in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County convicted appellant, Gary M. Heidnik, of two counts of murder of the first degree, six counts of kidnapping, five counts of rape, four counts of aggravated assault and two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.”
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