Offender Record · OFF-2026-096
Waneta Hoyt (photo from the Radford University biography)
Waneta Ethel Hoyt
Also known as Waneta Ethel Nixon, Waneta Nixon Hoyt
Sex
Female
Race
White
Born
1946
Custody
Deceased
States
NY
Custody
Deceased at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women
Custody record at the facility
Hoyt died on August 13, 1998, of pancreatic cancer while incarcerated at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women, having served approximately 3 years of her 75-year sentence.
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Summary of the record
Waneta Ethel Hoyt was convicted of five counts of second-degree murder for killing five of her biological children by suffocation in Oswego County, New York between 1965 and 1971. All five deaths were initially attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. She confessed in March 1994 after being questioned by state police, was tried in Tioga County in 1995, and convicted on April 22, 1995. She was sentenced to 75 years to life in prison and died in Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in 1998.
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 Jan 26, 1965, Oswego, New York
Second-degree murder
New York State Police; Tioga County District Attorney · Tioga County Court, Owego, New York · Second-degree murder · Arrested Mar 23, 1994 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 15 years, to be served consecutively with other sentences
Eric Hoyt (also referred to as Erik in some sources), born October 17, 1964, died January 26, 1965, at approximately 3 months old. Waneta Hoyt suffocated him in their home. Death was initially attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Hoyt, Waneta; Waneta Hoyt; Waneta Ethel Hoyt; Waneta Hoyt Trial: 1995
Offense date Sep 26, 1968, Oswego, New York
Second-degree murder
New York State Police; Tioga County District Attorney · Tioga County Court, Owego, New York · Second-degree murder · Arrested Mar 23, 1994 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 15 years, to be served consecutively with other sentences
James Hoyt (also referred to as Jimmy or James Avery Hoyt), born May 31, 1966, died September 26, 1968, at approximately 2 years and 4 months old. Waneta Hoyt suffocated him in their home. He was the oldest of her five biological children at time of death.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Hoyt, Waneta; Waneta Hoyt; Waneta Ethel Hoyt; Waneta Hoyt Trial: 1995
Offense date Jun 05, 1970, Oswego, New York
Second-degree murder
New York State Police; Tioga County District Attorney · Tioga County Court, Owego, New York · Second-degree murder · Arrested Mar 23, 1994 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 15 years, to be served consecutively with other sentences
Molly Hoyt, born March 18, 1970, died June 5, 1970, at approximately 2 months and 18 days old. Waneta Hoyt suffocated her in their home. Molly was the first child enrolled in an apnea monitoring study; she died despite being on a home apnea monitor.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Hoyt, Waneta; Waneta Hoyt; Waneta Ethel Hoyt; Waneta Hoyt Trial: 1995
Offense date Jul 28, 1971, Oswego, New York
Second-degree murder
New York State Police; Tioga County District Attorney · Tioga County Court, Owego, New York · Second-degree murder · Arrested Mar 23, 1994 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 15 years, to be served consecutively with other sentences
Noah Hoyt, born May 9, 1971, died July 28, 1971, at approximately 2 months and 19 days old. Waneta Hoyt suffocated him in their home. Noah was the last of her five biological children to die.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Hoyt, Waneta; Waneta Hoyt; Waneta Ethel Hoyt; Waneta Hoyt Trial: 1995
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.
5
Victims convicted
5
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1965–1971
Victim profile
Children, Family members
Confessed
Yes
Education
some high school
Marital history
Married
Children
7
Died
1998-08-13 · 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.
NY
Town of Richford, New York
1946 – 1964 · Birthplace and childhood home
City of Oswego, New York
1964 – 1994 · Lived with husband Tim Hoyt and children; location where all five biological children died; Tioga County
Village of Endicott, New York
dates unknown · Endicott Johnson (employer during the period of the crimes)
Bedford Hills, New York
Sep 11, 1995 – Aug 13, 1998 · Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women, maximum security prison, Westchester County
Timeline
May 13, 1946
Waneta Ethel Nixon was born in Richford, New York.
Jan 11, 1964
Waneta Nixon married Tim Hoyt after dropping out of high school in 10th grade.
Jan 26, 1965
Eric Hoyt, Waneta and Tim's first biological child, died at 3 months old; death was attributed to SIDS.
Sep 05, 1968
Julie Hoyt, daughter, died at approximately 1 month and 17 days old; death was attributed to SIDS.
Sep 26, 1968
James Hoyt, son, died at 2 years and 4 months old; death was attributed to SIDS.
Jun 05, 1970
Molly Hoyt, daughter, died at approximately 2 months and 18 days old while on an apnea monitor; death was attributed to SIDS.
Jul 28, 1971
Noah Hoyt, son, died at approximately 2 months and 19 days old; death was attributed to SIDS.
Aug 01, 1971
Scott was temporarily adopted by Waneta and Tim Hoyt.
Sep 20, 1977
Jay was permanently adopted by Waneta and Tim Hoyt; he remained in their care until Waneta's arrest.
Mar 23, 1994
Waneta Hoyt was arrested and charged with five counts of second-degree murder after confessing to state police during questioning at the post office about her role in the deaths of her five children.
Mar 30, 1995
Waneta Hoyt's trial began in Tioga County Court in Owego, New York.
Apr 22, 1995
Waneta Hoyt was convicted on five counts of second-degree murder after jury deliberation.
Sep 11, 1995
Waneta Hoyt was sentenced to 75 years to life in prison (15 years for each of five murders, to be served consecutively) by Tioga County Judge Vincent Sgueglia.
Aug 13, 1998
Waneta Hoyt died of pancreatic cancer at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women at age 52, having served approximately 3 years of her 75-year sentence.
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: Hoyt, Waneta“Waneta Ethel Hoyt; Number of victims: Convicted of 5; States where killing occurred: New York; Cities where killing occurred: Oswego (Tioga County)”
Other government record · Wikipedia ·
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women“Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women, a women's prison in the town of Bedford, New York, is the only maximum security New York State women's prison.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
Waneta Ethel Hoyt“Date of arrest: March 23, 1994; Status: Sentenced to 75 years to life in prison on September 11, 1995; Died in prison on August 13, 1998”
Offender registry · Find a Grave ·
Waneta Ethel Nixon Hoyt (1946-1998) - Find a Grave Memorial“Waneta Hoyt's 1995 conviction was overturned by the Appellate Court, because she died prior to having her appeal heard.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Waneta Hoyt“Waneta Ethel (Nixon) Hoyt (May 13, 1946 – August 13, 1998) was an American serial killer who was convicted of killing all five of her biological children.”
News report · Deadly Women Fandom ·
Waneta Hoyt“She was arrested in 1994 and charged with multiple counts of second-degree murder.”
News report · Encyclopedia.com ·
Waneta Hoyt Trial: 1995“Defendant: Waneta Hoyt; Crime Charged: Murder; Dates of Trial: March 30—April 21, 1995; Verdict: Guilty on 5 counts of murder; Sentence: 75 years imprisonment”
Discussion
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