Offender Record · OFF-2026-162
Altemio Sanchez (photo from the Radford University biography)
Altemio C. Sanchez Jr.
Also known as The Bike Path Rapist, The Bike Path Killer, Uncle Al
Sex
Male
Race
White; Puerto Rican descent
Height
5'5"
Born
1958
Custody
Deceased
States
NY, PR, FL
Distinguishing featuresShort, stocky, bald man with mustache (per news description at time of 2007 arrest)
Custody
Died September 22, 2023, by apparent suicide at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Amherst, New York
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. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. 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
Altemio C. Sanchez Jr. was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder and rape convictions spanning multiple decades. He pleaded guilty in May 2007 to the murders of Linda Yalem (1990), Majane Mazur (1992), and Joan Diver (2006) in the Buffalo, New York area, and in 2011 pleaded guilty to a 1981 rape in the Town of Tonawanda. Sanchez confessed to and was linked through DNA evidence to numerous other sexual assaults from 1975 through 2006 in Erie County, New York. He died by apparent suicide on September 22, 2023, at age 65 while serving a sentence of 75 years to life in state prison.
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 Apr 14, 1981, Tonawanda, New York
Rape in the first degree / Sexual assault
Erie County, New York (Town of Tonawanda) · Unknown · Rape · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Eight to twenty-five years additional
A 21-year-old woman was raped at Delaware Park near the Statue of David Woods on April 14, 1981, using a knife as a weapon. This rape case led to Sanchez's identification in the Bike Path investigation when DNA from a victim spotted his vehicle at Boulevard Mall. Sanchez pleaded guilty to this 1981 rape in 2011 while serving his murder sentence.
SourcesAltemio Sanchez; Radford University serial killer biography: Sanchez, Altemio
Offense date Sep 29, 1990, Amherst, New York
Second-degree murder
Erie County, New York · New York State Supreme Court · Second-degree murder · Arrested Jan 15, 2007 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 25 years (as part of 75 years to life total sentence)
Linda Yalem, a 22-year-old University at Buffalo sophomore training for the New York City Marathon, was jogging along the Ellicott Creek Bike Path in Amherst at approximately noon on September 29, 1990. Sanchez attacked her from behind, strangled her with a ligature, and raped her. Her body was found barely clothed on September 30 around 5 p.m. DNA evidence confirmed Sanchez's involvement.
SourcesBike Path Rapist Altemio Sanchez dies; The Victims of Altemio Sanchez - Case Documents & Details; Altemio Sanchez; Radford University serial killer biography: Sanchez, Altemio
Offense date Oct 30, 1992, Buffalo, New York
Second-degree murder
Erie County, New York · New York State Supreme Court · Second-degree murder · Arrested Jan 15, 2007 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 25 years (as part of 75 years to life total sentence)
Majane Mazur, a 32-year-old sex worker, was raped and murdered by Sanchez on October 30, 1992. Unlike his typical pattern, she was killed near the Amtrak rail line in downtown Buffalo rather than on a bike path. Sanchez killed her because she knew him and could recognize his face. Her body was found partially clothed in a deserted field on Exchange Street.
SourcesBike Path Rapist Altemio Sanchez dies; The Victims of Altemio Sanchez - Case Documents & Details; Altemio Sanchez; Radford University serial killer biography: Sanchez, Altemio
Offense date Sep 29, 2006, Newstead, New York
Second-degree murder
Erie County, New York · New York State Supreme Court · Second-degree murder · Arrested Jan 15, 2007 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 25 years (as part of 75 years to life total sentence)
Joan Diver, a 45-year-old nurse and mother of four, was murdered on September 29, 2006, exactly 16 years to the day after Linda Yalem's murder. She was strangled and beaten but not raped. Her body was found partially clothed on a bike path in Newstead on October 1, 2006. A sweat droplet from her vehicle provided DNA evidence linking Sanchez to the crime.
SourcesBike Path Rapist Altemio Sanchez dies; The Victims of Altemio Sanchez - Case Documents & Details; Altemio Sanchez; Radford University serial killer biography: Sanchez, Altemio
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.
3
Victims convicted
13
Victims confessed
15
Victims suspected
Active years
1975–2006
Stated motive
Sexual, Power or control
Range from home
local
Confessed
Yes
Education
high school
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Children
3
Died
2023-09-22 · suicide
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
New York State Commission of Correction · NY
Agency case Death review
Reviewed Sanchez's death in custody; issued final report December 2024
Erie County Medical Examiner's Office · NY
Agency case Death investigation
Determined cause of death (suicide) at time of Sanchez's death in 2023
Erie County Medical Center · NY
Agency case DNA evidence storage and analysis
Stored and analyzed DNA evidence from rape kits; DNA evidence found March 2007 linked Sanchez to crimes
New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision · NY
Agency case Inmate #07B2617
Held Sanchez at Clinton Correctional Facility (2007-2016) then Wende Correctional Facility (2016-2023)
Amherst Police Department · NY
Agency case Linda Yalem murder (1990)
Investigated Linda Yalem murder; part of Bike Path Task Force; arrested Sanchez at traffic stop January 15, 2007
Erie County District Attorney's Office · NY
Agency case Murder charges; rape charges
Prosecuted murders and rapes; DA Frank Clark led prosecution; Deputy DA Frank A. Sedita III prosecuted
Buffalo Police Department · NY
Agency case Majane Mazur murder (1992)
Investigated murder of Majane Mazur; part of Bike Path Task Force
Source: Wikipedia
Town of Tonawanda Police Department · NY
Agency case 1981 rape; 1985 Katherine Herold murder
Investigated 1981 rape case that led to Sanchez identification; investigated 1985 Herold case with Sanchez as suspect
Federal Bureau of Investigation · US
Agency case Bike Path cases
Provided support assistance to Bike Path Task Force
Erie County Sheriff's Office · NY
Agency case Joan Diver murder (2006); Bike Path Task Force
Created and led Bike Path Task Force after Joan Diver murder; coordinated arrest of Sanchez
Agency case Bike Path cases; Linda Yalem murder
Part of Bike Path Task Force; investigated cold cases dating to 1981
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.
FL
Miami, Florida
1960 – 1967 · Mother moved with him after parents separated; initially lived with her mother
NY
Village of North Collins, New York
1967 – 1977 · Lived south of Buffalo; attended Grover Cleveland High School, graduated 1977
Town of Cheektowaga, New York
1977 – 2007 · Lived on Allendale Drive in Cheektowaga; was living here when he murdered Linda Yalem in 1990
Buffalo, New York
1977 – 1978 · Buffalo State College, Industrial-Arts program; dropped out after discovering his wife was pregnant
Buffalo, New York
1978 – 1983 · Trico factory (local factory after dropping out of college)
Buffalo, New York
1983 – Jan 15, 2007 · American Brass (also known as Outokumpu American Brass), an auto parts/copper and brass factory; position: machinist and factory worker; employed for 24 years until his arrest on January 15, 2007
Village of Dannemora, New York
Jan 15, 2007 – Sep 22, 2023 · State prison; initially held here after arrest, then transferred to Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York before death
PR
San Sebastián, Puerto Rico
1958 – 1960 · Birthplace
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.
1981 White Unknown Unknown – White vehicle belonging to his uncle Wilfredo Caraballo; Sanchez was driving this vehicle on the day of a 1981 rape when the victim spotted him at Boulevard Mall and recorded the license plate
approx. 1981 – 1981
Vehicle was connected to a 1981 rape after victim spotted Sanchez at Boulevard Mall and noted plate; lead investigators to Sanchez in 2007 investigation
Timeline
Jan 19, 1958
Altemio C. Sanchez Jr. was born in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico.
1960
Sanchez's mother discovered his father having an affair with a prostitute and moved with Altemio to Miami, Florida.
1975
Sanchez's first sexual assault is believed to have occurred after his senior year of high school.
1977
Sanchez attacked a female riding a bicycle and insisted his name was 'Dave'; he lived with his mother and was enrolled in Buffalo State College's Industrial-Arts program.
Jul 05, 1980
Sanchez married Kathleen Whitley.
Apr 14, 1981
Sanchez raped a 21-year-old female victim at Delaware Park near the Statue of David Woods using a knife as a weapon.
1983
Sanchez took a job at American Brass in Buffalo, where he remained employed until his arrest in 2007.
Sep 29, 1990
Sanchez raped and murdered Linda Yalem, a 22-year-old University at Buffalo student, by strangling her with a ligature along the Ellicott Creek Bike Path in Amherst.
Oct 09, 1990
A co-worker of Sanchez contacted Amherst police reporting he had seen Sanchez on the Ellicott Creek Bike Path at least twice over the previous 14 months; police set up surveillance on Sanchez's home.
Jan 31, 1991
Sanchez engaged in a voluntary interview at Amherst Police Station and was released after fingerprints were taken but no DNA sample was collected.
May 1991
Sanchez was arrested in Buffalo for solicitation of an undercover police officer; charge was reduced to loitering and he paid a fine.
Oct 30, 1992
Sanchez raped and murdered Majane Mazur, a 32-year-old prostitute, near the Amtrak rail line in downtown Buffalo.
Sep 23, 1999
Sanchez was arrested for a second time in Buffalo for patronizing a prostitute; charge was reduced to loitering and he paid a fine.
May 2005
Sanchez's mother died.
2006
Sanchez's father died.
Sep 29, 2006
Sanchez murdered Joan Diver, a 45-year-old nurse, by strangling and beating her on the Clarence-Newstead Bike Path in Newstead, New York.
Nov 15, 2006
DNA testing linked Sanchez to the Bike Path Rapist series when a sweat droplet found in Joan Diver's vehicle matched his profile.
Jan 13, 2007
Police obtained DNA samples from a napkin, dish, and straw used by Sanchez at Sole Restaurant during dinner with his wife.
Jan 14, 2007
DNA testing confirmed Sanchez's DNA matched the Bike Path Rapist profile.
Jan 15, 2007
Sanchez was taken into custody after work; his interrogation lasted 9.5 hours before he was formally arrested.
Jan 19, 2007
An Erie County grand jury indicted Sanchez for the murders of Linda Yalem and Majane Mazur.
Mar 01, 2007
Sanchez was indicted for the murder of Joan Diver, making him accountable for three different murders.
May 16, 2007
Sanchez pleaded guilty to three murders (Linda Yalem, Majane Mazur, and Joan Diver) in State Supreme Court.
Aug 14, 2007
Sanchez was sentenced to 75 years in prison (25 years for each of the three murders) with no possibility of parole.
Oct 2007
Kathleen and Altemio Sanchez were officially divorced.
2011
Sanchez pleaded guilty to a 1981 rape in the Town of Tonawanda and received an additional 8 to 25 years.
Sep 22, 2023
Altemio Sanchez died at age 65 by apparent suicide (exsanguination) at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Amherst, New York, while serving his 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 · Serial Killer Calendar ·
Altemio Sanchez“In 2011 he pleaded guilty to a 1981 rape in the Town of Tonawanda and received a further eight to twenty-five years.”
News report · Gavin Fish ·
The Victims of Altemio Sanchez - Case Documents & Details“Altemio Sanchez is sentenced by Judge Christopher J. Burns. Altemio Sanchez is a convicted serial rapist and serial killer.”
News report · The Review Geek ·
Where is Altemio Sanchez now?“On the 17th May, 2007, Sanchez pleaded guilty to all three murders in a confession that surprised many observers.”
Other · Department of Psychology, Radford University ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Sanchez, Altemio“Altemio C. Sanchez Jr., known as the 'Bike Path Rapist', born January 18, 1958 in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico”
Other · Wikipedia ·
Altemio Sanchez“Altemio C. Sanchez (January 19, 1958 – September 22, 2023), also known as the Bike Path Rapist (and later Killer), was a serial killer of Puerto Rican descent, who is known to have raped and murdered at least three women”
Other · Murderpedia ·
Altemio Sanchez“On August 15, 2007, Sanchez was sentenced to 75 years in prison with no chance of parole.”
News report · Buffalo News ·
Bike Path Killer dies Friday afternoon in Amherst hospital“Altemio C. Sanchez, the Cheektowaga man who in 2007 confessed to being the infamous Bike Path Killer and was serving a sentence of 75 years to life in state prison for the brutal murders of three women, died Friday in an Amherst hospital.”
News report · WGRZ ·
Bike Path Rapist Altemio Sanchez dies“Altemio Sanchez was convicted on four counts of second-degree murder, dating back to 1981, and was also accused of raping dozens of women.”
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