Offender Record · OFF-2026-128
Patrick McCullough (photo from the Radford University biography)
Patrick McCullough
Also known as The Deaf Serial Killer, The Silencer
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
5'6"
Weight
82 lbs
Born
1960
Custody
Deceased
States
MD, US, AK
Distinguishing featuresDeaf, speech-impaired, described as strikingly handsome with a charming demeanor
Custody
Patrick McCullough died November 30, 2001 in Waldorf, Maryland from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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
Patrick McCullough was a deaf serial killer convicted in two Annapolis homicides in the 1980s. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the February 6, 1980 death of Clint Riley in Annapolis, Maryland, and was convicted in connection with the February 17, 1982 death of John Myer. He was released from prison in 2001 and killed his girlfriend Randi Lawrence, age 48, on November 30, 2001 in Waldorf, Maryland, then died by self-inflicted gunshot wound the same day.
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 Feb 06, 1980, Annapolis, Maryland
Manslaughter
Anne Arundel County Police Department, Maryland · Anne Arundel County Circuit Court · Arrested Feb 06, 1980 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Pleaded guilty via Alford Plea; sentenced to maximum 10 years reduced to 7 years
Patrick McCullough killed his employer Clint Riley on February 6, 1980 at Yankee Yacht Carpentry Shop in Annapolis during a dispute over wages. Riley struck Patrick with a board and pulled a knife; Patrick pushed Riley into a wall, Riley died, and Patrick cleaned the blood, placed the body in a van, and disposed of it. Patrick confessed during trial and pleaded guilty to manslaughter on February 16, 1985.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: McCullough, Patrick; A Deaf Man's Troubled Life, Death; Killer: Patrick McCullough - The Deaf Serial Killer
Offense date Feb 17, 1982, Annapolis, Maryland
Murder and robbery of John Myer
Anne Arundel County Police Department, Maryland · Anne Arundel County Circuit Court · Arrested 1982 · Convicted Convicted
Patrick McCullough was convicted in the February 17, 1982 death of parking attendant John Myer at Noah Hillman Parking Garage in Annapolis. McCullough hit Myer in the head with a pick axe handle and robbed him. McCullough admitted to a friend that he killed and robbed Myer to get money for new clothes and motorcycle parts.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: McCullough, Patrick; A Deaf Man's Troubled Life, Death; Killer: Patrick McCullough - The Deaf Serial Killer
Offense date Nov 30, 2001, Waldorf, Maryland
Murder of Randi Lawrence
Waldorf Police Department, Maryland · Charged; died before trial Charged; died before trial
Patrick McCullough shot and killed his 48-year-old girlfriend Randi Lawrence on November 30, 2001 at her residence in Waldorf, Maryland after she ended their relationship. He shot her through a sliding glass door while she sat at her kitchen table, hitting her thigh, then shot her in the head as she tried to crawl away. Her seven-year-old son was present. McCullough then went to the kitchen, put the shotgun barrel in his mouth, and died by self-inflicted gunshot wound.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: McCullough, Patrick; A Deaf Man's Troubled Life, Death; MCCULLOUGH Patrick
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
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1980–2001
Victim profile
Men, Partners or spouses
Stated motive
Anger or revenge
Range from home
local
Confessed
Yes
Education
some high school
Marital history
Never married
Children
0
Died
2001-11-30 · suicide
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.
AK
Anchorage, Alaska
Jan 1960 – Jul 1961
MD
Fort Meade, Maryland
Jul 1961 – 1964 · Military family station
Owings Mills, Maryland
approx. 1965 – Jun 1966 · Rosewood State Hospital (Asylum and Training School for the feeble minded of the State of Maryland)
Maryland
approx. Jun 1966 – 1972 · Oakland School (oral-only deaf education)
Frederick, Maryland
approx. 1974 – 1975 · Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD)
College Park, Maryland
approx. 1975 – 1977 · University of Maryland Hospital Psychological Institute; Crownsville Hospital Center (maximum security)
Maryland
approx. 1977 – 1978 · Foster home with Brent Toleman, mental health professional
Maryland
approx. 1977 – 1977 · Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD)
Annapolis, Maryland
approx. 1978 – 1980 · With girlfriend
Annapolis, Maryland
approx. 1979 – 1980 · Lived with employer Clint Riley
Annapolis, Maryland
Nov 1979 – Feb 1980 · Yankee Yacht Carpentry Shop, fixing boats
Annapolis, Maryland
Apr 16, 1980 – Oct 15, 1980 · Anne Arundel County Detention Center (awaiting trial for Eastport Bridge incident)
Eastport, Maryland
approx. May 1980 – May 1980 · Jumped off Eastport Bridge after threatening police with axe
Annapolis, Maryland
approx. Dec 1981 – 1982 · Lived with Rose Marie Harriman and her fiancé
Annapolis, Maryland
Feb 18, 1982 – Apr 1982 · Noah Hillman Parking Garage, parking attendant
Annapolis, Maryland
approx. Feb 16, 1985 – 1988 · Anne Arundel County Detention Center (serving 7-year sentence for manslaughter)
Maryland
approx. 1988 – Apr 2001 · Released from prison, worked as carpenter
Waldorf, Maryland
approx. 2001 – Nov 30, 2001 · With Randi Lawrence
US
Washington, Columbia
approx. 1972 – 1973 · St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Deaf Unit summer camp
Washington, Columbia
approx. 1982 – 1985 · Relationship with Marian Escalante, nurse
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.
1979 motorcycle – Patrick was interested in motorcycles; bought parts with money from robbery/killing
approx. 1979 – 1982
Patrick used money from Myer robbery to buy Harley Davidson wallet and motorcycle parts
Timeline
Jan 20, 1960
Patrick McCullough born in Anchorage, Alaska to Glen and June McCullough.
Jul 1961
McCullough family moves to Fort Meade, Maryland for military assignment.
1965
Patrick placed in Rosewood State Hospital after being declared ward of the state by his mother.
Jun 1966
Patrick discharged from Rosewood State Hospital and enrolled in Oakland School.
May 26, 1975
Patrick arrested after destroying dining room and chasing mother with table leg during altercation about motorcycle; placed in Crownsville Hospital Center.
Jan 1978
Brent Toleman, mental health professional, takes Patrick as foster son.
Nov 1979
Patrick begins working at Yankee Yacht Carpentry Shop in Annapolis, fixing boats for employer Clint Riley.
Feb 06, 1980
Patrick McCullough kills employer Clint Riley at Yankee Yacht Carpentry Shop during dispute over wages; body disposed in van.
Apr 16, 1980
Trial begins for Eastport Bridge incident; Patrick held at Anne Arundel County Detention Center.
May 1980
Patrick arrested after jumping off Eastport Bridge while threatening police with axe.
Dec 1980
Patrick convicted of parole violation in domestic assault case with girlfriend Wendy Smith; sentenced to 60 days work release.
Feb 18, 1981
Patrick arrested again for parole violation, carrying deadly weapon, disorderly conduct, breaking and entering; no jail time issued.
Jul 01, 1981
Patrick arrested for stealing friend's motorcycle; receives suspended sentence and probation.
Feb 1982
Patrick admits to friend Patrick Lavoie that he killed a man in Eastport.
Feb 17, 1982
Parking attendant John Myer found dead with blood-stained body at Noah Hillman Parking Garage in Annapolis.
Feb 18, 1982
Patrick McCullough begins working at Noah Hillman Parking Garage to fill John Myer's position.
Apr 1982
Patrick fired from parking garage for sleeping on job.
Sep 1982
Marian Escalante confronts Patrick after learning he is suspected of murdering both Clint Riley and John Myer.
Feb 16, 1985
Patrick McCullough pleads guilty to manslaughter via Alford Plea in Clint Riley's death during trial; sentenced to maximum 10 years reduced to 7 years.
May 14, 1985
Patrick McCullough sentencing hearing; judge confirms 7-year sentence at Anne Arundel Detention Center with therapy program.
Apr 2001
Patrick McCullough released from 3-year prison term; falls in love with Randi Lawrence, 48-year-old single mother.
Sep 2001
Patrick begins becoming clingy and possessive with Randi Lawrence; she realizes she is losing independence.
Nov 27, 2001
Randi Lawrence writes Patrick five-page letter ending their relationship.
Nov 30, 2001
Patrick McCullough shoots Randi Lawrence through sliding glass door at her home in Waldorf, Maryland (thigh then head), then dies by self-inflicted shotgun wound to mouth.
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 · Killer.Cloud ·
Killer: Patrick McCullough - The Deaf Serial Killer“Patrick McCullough a deaf American serial killer who confessed during the trial for the murder of Clint Riley. He also confessed to a friend and his girlfriend at one point for the two murders of Clint Riley and John Myer.”
Other · Gallaudet University Press ·
Deadly Charm: The Story of a Deaf Serial Killer“McCay Vernon and Marie Vernon present a striking portrait of Patrick McCullough, the first and only deaf man ever to be identified as a serial killer.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: McCullough, Patrick“Patrick McCullough. Information researched and summarized by Anna Daugherty & Haley Cooper.”
News report · The Washington Post ·
A Deaf Man's Troubled Life, Death“Lawrence, a 48-year-old single mother who worked at Rosecroft Raceway, was full of compassion for McCullough, a deaf and speech-impaired carpenter who had been convicted in two Annapolis homicides in the 1980s.”
Other · Serial Killer Database Fandom ·
MCCULLOUGH Patrick“Patrick McCullough. Status Identification Status Criminal Status Identified Deceased. Born January 20, 1960 Anchorage, Alaska, United States. Died November 30, 2001 (aged 41) Waldorf, Maryland, United States. Cause of Death Self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
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