Offender Record · OFF-2026-116
Timothy Krajcir (photo from the Radford University biography)
Timothy Wayne Krajcir
Also known as Timothy Wayne McBride (birth name)
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
5'11"
Born
1944
Custody
Incarcerated
States
PA, MO, IL, KY
Distinguishing featuresWore a blue bandana while committing sexual assaults, earning the nickname 'Blue Bandana Rapist'
Custody
Incarcerated at Pontiac Correctional Center · #C96201
Custody record at the facility
Krajcir is currently serving 13 consecutive life sentences in Pontiac Correctional Center for the murders of Virginia Lee Witte, Mary Parsh, Brenda Parsh, Sheila Cole, Margie Call, Mildred Wallace, Deborah Sheppard, Joyce Tharp and Myrtle Rupp.
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
Timothy Krajcir is a convicted American serial killer from West Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania who has confessed to killing nine women: five in Missouri and four others in Illinois, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Krajcir was sentenced on December 10, 2007, to 40 years in prison for the 1982 killing of Southern Illinois University Carbondale student Deborah Sheppard and charged with five more counts of murder and three counts of rape against women in the Cape Girardeau area from 1977 to 1982. On January 18, 2008, Krajcir pleaded guilty and was sentenced to another 40 years in prison for the 1978 killing of Marion, Illinois resident Virginia Lee Witte. On April 4, 2008, he pleaded guilty to the murder of five women in Cape Girardeau, to seven sexual assaults, and one robbery. He was then sentenced to an additional 13 consecutive life terms. Krajcir is currently incarcerated at Pontiac Correctional Center.
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 1963, North Chicago, Illinois
Rape and attempted murder
Lake County, Illinois · Illinois state court · Docket unknown · Illinois rape statute · Arrested 1963 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Dishonorable discharge (Navy)
Second rape in North Chicago area during 1963; led to dishonorable discharge from Navy after serving 14 months.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Krajcir, Timothy; Timothy Krajcir
Offense date May 10, 1963, Waukegan, Illinois
Rape and attempted murder
Lake County, Illinois · Illinois state court · Docket unknown · Illinois rape statute · Arrested 1963 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 25-50 years
In 1963, Krajcir raped and stabbed a Waukegan, Illinois woman using 10" scissors; the woman was seriously injured but lived. He also raped a second woman in North Chicago area.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Krajcir, Timothy; Timothy Krajcir; Catching Krajcir: A bloody footnote in Southern Illinois history
Offense date Aug 12, 1977, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Murder of Mary Parsh and Brenda Parsh
Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court, Missouri · Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court · Docket unknown · Missouri murder statute · Arrested Dec 10, 2007 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 13 consecutive life terms (combined with other Cape Girardeau murders)
Krajcir tells local authorities his killing spree began in August of 1977 with the murders of Mary and Brenda Parsh in Cape Girardeau. Brenda Parsh, then 27, had just flown home to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to help her 58-year-old mother Mary Parsh. Police found the two women's nude bodies lying next to each other on a bed with their hands tied behind their backs. Krajcir had been stalking Mary Parsh, who he assumed lived alone. He raped Brenda Parsh, then shot them both.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Krajcir, Timothy; Krajcir Connected to Two More Local Murders; Timothy Krajcir's youngest victim speaks about sexual assault
Offense date Nov 17, 1977, McClure, Illinois
Murder of Sheila Cole
Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court, Missouri · Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court · Docket unknown · Missouri murder statute · Arrested Dec 10, 2007 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 13 consecutive life terms (combined with other Cape Girardeau murders)
Sheila Cole, a 21-year-old Southeast Missouri State University student was among the women who had the misfortune of crossing Krajcir's path. He drove her all the way to Carbondale to his residence. He sexually assaulted her, and told her he would bring her back. As it turned out, they stopped at the rest area in McClure and he murdered her there.
SourcesTimothy Krajcir's youngest victim speaks about sexual assault; Timothy Krajcir
Offense date May 12, 1978, Marion, Illinois
Murder of Virginia Lee Witte
Williamson County Circuit Court, Illinois · Williamson County Circuit Court · Docket unknown · Illinois murder statute · Arrested Dec 10, 2007 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 40 years consecutive
Krajcir was accused of raping and slaying 51-year-old Virginia Lee Witte of Marion in 1978. Krajcir confessed on videotape that he followed Witte home, forced his way inside and sexually attacked her. He said he choked her for four to five minutes but, unconvinced she was dead, then stabbed her two or three times before slashing her torso.
SourcesKrajcir pleads guilty in Williamson County murder; Timothy Krajcir
Indecent liberties with a child
Jackson County, Illinois · Jackson County Circuit Court · Docket unknown · Illinois indecent liberties statute · Arrested Feb 20, 1979 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 2+ years
In 1977, when Ambrose was just 11 years old, Timothy Krajcir moved into the trailer behind her great-grandmother's house on North Springer Street in Carbondale, Illinois. He would take her to the back bedroom and he would molest and rape her there. When Ambrose was 13 years old, Krajcir was jailed on charges of indecent liberties with a child after Ambrose's parents learned what had been happening.
SourcesTimothy Krajcir's youngest victim speaks about sexual assault; Radford University serial killer biography: Krajcir, Timothy
Offense date Mar 23, 1979, Paducah, Kentucky
Murder and kidnapping of Joyce Tharp
McCracken County, Kentucky · McCracken County Grand Jury · Docket unknown · Kentucky kidnapping statute · Arrested Dec 10, 2007 · Charged (pending) Charged (pending) · Sentence: Life sentence for kidnapping (no murder trial)
Timothy Krajcir has been charged with kidnapping and burglary in connection with the 1979 killing of Joyce Tharp, a 29-year-old woman discovered dead in an alley near her home in Paducah. A McCracken County, Ky., grand jury indicted Krajcir on Friday. McCracken Commonwealth Attorney Tim Kaltenbach said he would not charge Krajcir with Tharp's murder because it appeared the killing occurred in Illinois.
SourcesKrajcir charged in Kentucky; Timothy Krajcir
Offense date Apr 17, 1979, South Temple, Pennsylvania
Murder of Myrtle Rupp
Berks County Court, Pennsylvania · Berks County Court · Docket unknown · Pennsylvania murder statute · Arrested Jan 2008 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life
A confessed serial killer has pleaded guilty to the 1979 rape and murder of a nurse in southeast Pennsylvania. Timothy Krajcir was sentenced to life in prison after admitting that he killed 51-year-old Myrtle Rupp inside her Berks County home in 1979. Krajcir posed as a police officer investigating a burglary to get into Rupp's home. Krajcir pulled out a knife, tied Rupp to a bed, raped her and strangled her.
SourcesTimothy Krajcir pleads guilty in 1979 Pa. slaying; Timothy Krajcir
Offense date Sep 07, 1981, Mount Vernon, Illinois
Assault and stabbing of Ida White (survived)
Mount Vernon, Illinois · State court · Docket unknown · Illinois assault statute · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: unknown
He was found to be wrongfully convicted for the 1981 assault and stabbing of Ida White. White survived the attack, but the real attacker was uncovered to be Timothy Wayne Krajcir.
SourcesCatching Krajcir: A bloody footnote in Southern Illinois history; Timothy Krajcir
Offense date Jan 27, 1982, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Murder of Margie Call
Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court, Missouri · Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court · Docket unknown · Missouri murder statute · Arrested Dec 10, 2007 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 13 consecutive life terms (combined with other Cape Girardeau murders)
The fourth victim, 57-year-old Margie Call was strangled to death at her home in Cape in January of 1982.
SourcesTimothy Krajcir; Radford University serial killer biography: Krajcir, Timothy
Offense date Apr 08, 1982, Carbondale, Illinois
Murder of Deborah Sheppard
Jackson County Circuit Court, Illinois · Jackson County Circuit Court · Docket unknown · Illinois murder statute · Arrested Aug 29, 2007 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 40 years
Deborah Sheppard was 23, a marketing major at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, two weeks from graduating in 1982. On April 8, 1982 Sheppard, then 23, was found in her Carbondale apartment naked with the door ajar and the telephone line severed. Court documents claim he 'strangled Deborah Sheppard with his hands, thereby causing the death of Deborah Sheppard.'
SourcesInmate charged with 1982 murder; Catching Krajcir: A bloody footnote in Southern Illinois history; Timothy Krajcir
Offense date Jun 21, 1982, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Murder and sexual assault of Mildred Wallace
Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court, Missouri · Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court · Docket unknown · Missouri murder statute · Arrested Dec 10, 2007 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 13 consecutive life terms (combined with other Cape Girardeau murders)
The fifth victim, 65-year-old Mildred Wallace was shot to death at her home on William in June of 1982.
SourcesTimothy Krajcir; Radford University serial killer biography: Krajcir, Timothy
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.
7
Victims convicted
9
Victims confessed
9
Victims suspected
Active years
1977–1982
Victim profile
Young women, Elderly, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual
Range from home
interstate
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
bachelor
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Children
1
Military discharge
dishonorable
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.
IL
Great Lakes, Illinois
1962 – Jun 1963 · Navy Reserve basic training and service; dishonorably discharged for sexual assault · navy
Joliet, Illinois
Jun 1963 – 1969 · Stateville Correctional Center; serving 25-50 years for rape and attempted murder
Chester, Illinois
1969 – 1972 · Menard Correctional Facility
Vienna, Illinois
1972 – 1976 · Vienna Correctional Center; worked as inmate emergency medical technician
Jackson, Illinois
1976 – 1979 · Jackson County Ambulance Service; EMT and ambulance driver
Carbondale, Illinois
1976 – 1979 · rented trailer; enrolled at Southern Illinois University
Menard, Illinois
Aug 1979 – Jun 1981 · Menard Correctional Center; sexually dangerous person commitment for child molestation; released early on psychiatric recommendation
Carbondale, Illinois
Jun 1981 · new trailer; worked at junior college
Ina, Illinois
1988 – 2007 · Big Muddy Correctional Center; serving for parole violations and prior conditional release violations; classified as sexually dangerous person
KY
Paducah, Kentucky
1979 – 1979 · traveled as EMT; stalked victims during ambulance service trips
MO
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
approx. 1977 – 1982 · traveled from Carbondale to stalk and hunt victims in Cape Girardeau
Forest Park Southeast, Missouri
approx. 1981 – 1983 · job at junior college in Southeast Missouri
PA
West Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania
approx. 1945 – 1962 · raised by mother Fern and stepfather Bernie Krajcir (adopted 1953)
Allentown, Pennsylvania
dates unknown · arrested in shopping center parking lot near Allentown with .25 caliber pistol; parole violation
Allentown, Pennsylvania
approx. until 1983 · Lehigh County Prison; attempted escape, broke leg
Graterford, Pennsylvania
1983 – 1988 · Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution at Graterford; served 5 years for Pennsylvania assaults (indecent assault, robbery, criminal trespassing)
Timeline
1963
Rape and attempted murder (Lake County, Illinois)
1963
Arrested: Rape and attempted murder
1963
Arrested: Rape and attempted murder
May 10, 1963
Rape and attempted murder (Lake County, Illinois)
Jun 1963
Convicted: Rape and attempted murder
Jun 1963
Convicted: Rape and attempted murder
Aug 12, 1977
Murder of Mary Parsh and Brenda Parsh (Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court, Missouri)
Nov 17, 1977
Murder of Sheila Cole (Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court, Missouri)
May 12, 1978
Murder of Virginia Lee Witte (Williamson County Circuit Court, Illinois)
Feb 20, 1979
Arrested: Indecent liberties with a child
Mar 23, 1979
Murder and kidnapping of Joyce Tharp (McCracken County, Kentucky)
Apr 17, 1979
Murder of Myrtle Rupp (Berks County Court, Pennsylvania)
Aug 23, 1979
Convicted: Indecent liberties with a child
Sep 07, 1981
Assault and stabbing of Ida White (survived) (Mount Vernon, Illinois)
Jan 27, 1982
Murder of Margie Call (Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court, Missouri)
Apr 08, 1982
Murder of Deborah Sheppard (Jackson County Circuit Court, Illinois)
Jun 21, 1982
Murder and sexual assault of Mildred Wallace (Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court, Missouri)
1983
Convicted: Assault and stabbing of Ida White (survived)
Aug 29, 2007
Arrested: Murder of Deborah Sheppard
Dec 10, 2007
Arrested: Murder of Virginia Lee Witte
Dec 10, 2007
Arrested: Murder of Margie Call
Dec 10, 2007
Arrested: Murder of Mary Parsh and Brenda Parsh
Dec 10, 2007
Arrested: Murder and sexual assault of Mildred Wallace
Dec 10, 2007
Arrested: Murder of Sheila Cole
Dec 10, 2007
Arrested: Murder and kidnapping of Joyce Tharp
Dec 10, 2007
Convicted: Murder of Deborah Sheppard
Jan 2008
Charged (pending): Murder and kidnapping of Joyce Tharp
Jan 2008
Arrested: Murder of Myrtle Rupp
Jan 18, 2008
Convicted: Murder of Virginia Lee Witte
Apr 04, 2008
Convicted: Murder of Mary Parsh and Brenda Parsh
Apr 04, 2008
Convicted: Murder of Margie Call
Apr 04, 2008
Convicted: Murder and sexual assault of Mildred Wallace
Apr 04, 2008
Convicted: Murder of Sheila Cole
Jun 13, 2008
Convicted: Murder of Myrtle Rupp
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: Krajcir, Timothy“Timeline and biographical compilation of Timothy Wayne Krajcir's life and crimes”
Other · Wikipedia ·
Timothy Krajcir“Convicted American serial killer from West Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania”
Other · Military History Fandom ·
Timothy Krajcir“After a stint of just 14 months in the Navy, he was dishonorably discharged in 1963 for sexual assault”
News report · KFVS12 ·
Timothy Krajcir's youngest victim speaks about sexual assault“Timothy Krajcir was arrested for indecent liberties with a child involving his young neighbor in 1979”
News report · Southeast Missourian ·
Serial killer Krajcir moved to prison in Pontiac, Ill.“Timothy Krajcir, a confessed serial killer who received his 14th life sentence last year, has been transferred to Illinois' Pontiac Correction Center”
News report · Daily Egyptian ·
Catching Krajcir: A bloody footnote in Southern Illinois history“Krajcir is currently serving 13 consecutive life sentences in Pontiac Correctional Center for the murders of Virginia Lee Witte, Mary Parsh, Brenda Parsh, Sheila Cole, Margie Call, Mildred Wallace, Deborah Sheppard, Joyce Tharp and Myrtle Rupp”
News report · Southeast Missourian ·
Timothy Krajcir pleads guilty in 1979 Pa. slaying“Sixty-three-year-old Timothy Krajcir was sentenced Friday to life in prison after admitting that he killed 51-year-old Myrtle Rupp inside her Berks County home in 1979”
News report · Southeast Missourian ·
Krajcir pleads guilty in Williamson County murder“Timothy Krajcir (KRY'-chur) pled guilty to one count of murder and was sentenced to 40 years in prison”
News report · Southeast Missourian ·
Krajcir charged in Kentucky“Timothy Krajcir has been charged with kidnapping and burglary in connection with the 1979 killing of Joyce Tharp”
News report · Southeast Missourian ·
Case files: Timothy W. Krajcir“Krajcir was the first person to be convicted in Jackson County, Ill., as a sexually dangerous person”
News report · CNN ·
How serial killer stumped cops for decades“Around the time he enrolled, Krajcir killed five women in Cape Girardeau, an hour's drive from the school's campus, police said”
News report · Southeast Missourian ·
Krajcir Connected to Two More Local Murders“Krajcir tells local authorities his killing spree began in August of 1977 with the murders of Mary and Brenda Parsh in Cape Girardeau”
News report · The Southern ·
Inmate charged with 1982 murder“Timothy W. Krajcir, 62, was arrested and charged with four counts of murder for the 1982 slaying of Deborah Sheppard”
Discussion
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