Offender Record · OFF-2026-202
Faryion Wardrip
Faryion Edward Wardrip
Summary of the record
Faryion Edward Wardrip was convicted of the murders of five women—Terry Sims, Toni Gibbs, Debra Taylor, Ellen Blau, and Tina Kimbrew—in and around Wichita Falls, Texas, between December 1984 and May 1986. He pleaded guilty to the capital murder of Tina Kimbrew in 1986 and was sentenced to 35 years in prison, but was released on parole in December 1997. After DNA evidence linked him to four additional murders in 1999, he was arrested, confessed to all four, and was convicted and sentenced to death by lethal injection in November 1999, with three concurrent life sentences for the other murders. Wardrip remains incarcerated on death row at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas.
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.
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
6'6"
Weight
220 lbs
Hair
unknown
Eyes
unknown
Born
1959
Custody
Incarcerated
States
IN, US, SC, TX
Distinguishing features6 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 220 pounds
Custody
Incarcerated at Polunsky Unit, Texas Department of Criminal Justice · #00999331
Custody record at the facility
Received by TDCJ on November 9, 1999; currently on death row.
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 Dec 21, 1984, Wichita Falls, Texas
Capital murder of Terry Sims
Wichita County District Attorney, Texas · Wichita County District Court · Texas Penal Code § 19.02 · Arrested May 09, 1986 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death by lethal injection
Terry Lee Sims, 20, was a Midwestern State University student and part-time EKG specialist at Bethania Hospital. On December 20, 1984, she was dropped off at a co-worker's apartment around 12:30 am. Wardrip, who had heard her outside investigating a disturbance he was causing, lunged at her when she came outside. She ran inside and locked the door, but Wardrip broke it down. He bound her hands with an electrical cord, sexually assaulted her, and stabbed her eleven times. Her body was found in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor. Fingerprints and semen were preserved and later matched to Wardrip.
SourcesFaryion Wardrip - Wikipedia; First victim of Wichita Falls serial killer Faryion Wardrip was found 37 years ago today; Terry Lee Sims - Find a Grave; Faryion Edward Wardrip - Murderpedia
Offense date Jan 19, 1985, Archer County, Texas
Capital murder of Toni Gibbs
Archer County Sheriff's Department and District Attorney, Texas · Archer County District Court · Texas Penal Code § 19.02 · Arrested Feb 14, 1999 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment (consecutive)
Toni Jean Gibbs, 23, was a nurse at Wichita General Hospital where Wardrip worked as an orderly. She disappeared on January 19, 1985, after offering Wardrip a ride around 6 a.m. Wardrip forced her to drive to a secluded field in Archer County, where he sexually assaulted and stabbed her eight times (three on back, three on chest, two defensive wounds on left forearm and thumb). Her body was found February 15, 1985, in an advanced state of decomposition in a field south of the Wichita County line. DNA evidence later linked Wardrip to her death.
SourcesFaryion Wardrip - Wikipedia; Wardrip v. Lumpkin, No. 18-70016 (5th Cir. 2020); Faryion Edward Wardrip - Murderpedia; Faryion Wardrip - Reference.org
Offense date Mar 24, 1985, Fort Worth, Texas
Capital murder of Debra Taylor
Tarrant County District Attorney, Texas · Tarrant County District Court · Texas Penal Code § 19.02 · Arrested Feb 14, 1999 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment (consecutive)
Debra Sue Taylor, 25, was a married woman whom Wardrip met in the early morning hours of March 24, 1985, at a bar on East Lancaster Street in Fort Worth. Wardrip offered to drive her home, which she accepted. Outside the vehicle, Wardrip attempted to make sexual advances which Taylor rejected. Angered by the rejection, Wardrip killed her and left her body at a construction site in east Fort Worth. Her body was found by construction workers on March 29, 1985. Wardrip confessed to this murder in custody in February 1999.
SourcesDebra Taylor - Wikipedia/Faryion Wardrip; Wardrip v. Lumpkin, No. 18-70016 (5th Cir. 2020); Faryion Edward Wardrip - Murderpedia
Offense date Sep 20, 1985, Wichita Falls, Texas
Capital murder of Ellen Blau
Wichita County District Attorney, Texas · Wichita County District Court · Texas Penal Code § 19.02 · Arrested Feb 14, 1999 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment (consecutive)
Ellen Blau, 21, was a waitress and part-time student at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. On September 19-20, 1985, as she was leaving her evening shift and walking to her vehicle in a parking lot, Wardrip abducted her and forced her at knifepoint to drive to a secluded area. Wardrip strangled her and broke her neck. He drove her abandoned car back to Wichita Falls and left it along with her purse. Her decomposed body was found on October 10, 1985, in a field north of Wichita Falls, identifiable only by dental records. No semen samples were recovered. Wardrip confessed during his 1999 arrest.
SourcesEllen Blau - Wikipedia/Faryion Wardrip; Wardrip v. Lumpkin, No. 18-70016 (5th Cir. 2020); Ellen Blau - Find a Grave; Faryion Wardrip - Reference.org
Offense date May 06, 1986, Wichita Falls, Texas
Murder of Tina Kimbrew (capital murder)
Wichita County District Attorney, Texas · Wichita County District Court · Texas Penal Code § 19.02 · Arrested May 09, 1986 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 35 years in prison (later sentenced to death in 1999)
Tina Elizabeth Kimbrew, 21, was a waitress whom Wardrip had recently befriended. On May 6, 1986, Wardrip went to her apartment and suffocated her with a pillow because she reminded him of his ex-wife. Her body was found on the bathroom floor of her ransacked apartment on May 6, 1986. Wardrip confessed within days, calling police from Galveston, Texas, on May 9, threatening suicide. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 35 years in prison, paroled December 11, 1997 after serving 11 years. Upon arrest in 1999 for the other murders, he was also sentenced to death in connection with this murder.
SourcesFaryion Wardrip - Wikipedia; Faryion Wardrip - Reference.org; Wardrip v. Lumpkin, No. 18-70016 (5th Cir. 2020); District court reinstates Faryion Wardrip death sentence
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
0
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1984–1986
Victim profile
Young women, Acquaintances, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual, Anger or revenge
Range from home
regional
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
some high school
Marital history
Married, Divorced, Married
Children
2
Military discharge
other than honorable
Photographs by Year
Faryion Wardrip
Faryion Wardrip
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.
IN
Salem, Indiana
approx. Mar 1959 – 1978 · Birthplace; raised by parents George and Diana Wardrip
Marion, Indiana
approx. 1975 – 1978 · Adolescent years; attended Marion High School
SC
Fort Jackson, South Carolina
approx. 1978 – 1978 · Basic training with Army National Guard · national guard
TX
Wichita Falls, Texas
1980 – 1986 · Family relocated 1980; married Johnna Jackson March 1983; separated December 1985; residence with wife and two children
Wichita Falls, Texas
1983 – 1985 · Wichita Falls General Hospital; started as janitor, promoted to orderly within 12 months
Wichita Falls, Texas
Dec 1986 – Dec 1997 · Wichita County Jail and then Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility; served 11 years of 35-year sentence for murder of Tina Kimbrew
Olney, Texas
Dec 1997 – Feb 1999 · Parole residence; remarried Glenda Kelley October 15, 1998; worked at door and screen factory; active member Hamilton Street Church of Christ
Olney, Texas
Dec 1997 – Feb 1999 · Door and screen factory worker
Livingston, Texas
Nov 09, 1999 – present · Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Polunsky Unit, death row
US
United States
1978 – 1984 · Army National Guard service, 6 years · national guard
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.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice · TX
Agency case 00999331
Custody of Wardrip on death row at Polunsky Unit since November 9, 1999.
Wichita County District Attorney's Office · TX
Agency case unknown
Prosecuted Wardrip; reopened cold case investigation in 1999 under Barry Macha; secured DNA evidence.
Source: Wikipedia, Murderpedia, NewsChannel 6 Now
Archer County Sheriff's Department · TX
Agency case unknown
Investigated murder of Toni Gibbs in Archer County.
Source: Wikipedia, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
Wichita Falls Police Department · TX
Agency case unknown
Investigated murder of Terry Sims in 1984; reopened cold case investigation in 1999.
Source: Wikipedia, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
Tarrant County District Attorney's Office · TX
Agency case unknown
Prosecuted Wardrip for murder of Debra Taylor in Fort Worth.
Source: 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
Wichita County Sheriff's Department · TX
Agency case unknown
Investigated murders within Wichita County jurisdiction.
Source: Wikipedia, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
Timeline
Mar 06, 1959
Faryion Edward Wardrip born in Salem, Indiana, to George and Diana Wardrip.
1978
Wardrip, age 19, joined the United States Army National Guard.
1980
Wardrip family relocated to Wichita Falls, Texas.
Mar 1983
Wardrip married Johnna Jackson at age 24; began working as janitor at Wichita Falls General Hospital.
1984
Wardrip received less-than-honorable discharge from National Guard.
Dec 21, 1984
Wardrip murdered 20-year-old Terry Sims in Wichita Falls.
Jan 19, 1985
Wardrip murdered 23-year-old Toni Gibbs; her body found February 15, 1985.
Mar 24, 1985
Wardrip murdered 25-year-old Debra Taylor in Fort Worth; body found March 29, 1985.
Sep 20, 1985
Wardrip murdered 21-year-old Ellen Blau; body found October 10, 1985.
Dec 1985
Wardrip's wife Johnna separated from him, taking their two children.
May 06, 1986
Wardrip murdered 21-year-old Tina Kimbrew in Wichita Falls.
May 09, 1986
Wardrip arrested after calling police from Galveston, Texas, confessing to murder of Tina Kimbrew.
Oct 1986
Wardrip's divorce from Johnna Jackson was granted.
Dec 15, 1986
Wardrip pleaded guilty to capital murder of Tina Kimbrew and sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Dec 11, 1997
Wardrip released on parole after serving 11 years of 35-year sentence.
Oct 15, 1998
Wardrip married Glenda Kelley while on parole.
Jan 1999
Wichita Falls Detective John Little reopened cold case investigation into unsolved murders of Terry Sims, Toni Gibbs, and Ellen Blau.
Feb 13, 1999
DNA from coffee cup obtained from Wardrip matched DNA at crime scenes of Terry Sims and Toni Gibbs.
Feb 14, 1999
Wardrip arrested at Wichita County Courthouse on warrants for murders of Terry Sims and Toni Gibbs.
Feb 18, 1999
Wardrip confessed to four murders: Terry Sims, Toni Gibbs, Ellen Blau, and Debra Taylor.
Oct 25, 1999
Wardrip pleaded guilty to capital murder of Terry Sims in Wichita County District Court.
Nov 05, 1999
Jury found Wardrip guilty of capital murder and determined he posed future danger; death sentence recommended.
Nov 09, 1999
Wardrip sentenced to death by lethal injection for capital murder of Terry Sims and three concurrent life sentences for murders of Toni Gibbs, Ellen Blau, and Debra Taylor.
Dec 30, 1999
Wardrip pleaded guilty to capital murders of Gibbs, Blau, and Taylor.
Oct 03, 2001
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Wardrip's death sentence on direct appeal.
Sep 21, 2020
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed federal district court's conditional grant of habeas relief and reinstated death sentence.
Nov 04, 2026
Wardrip, age 67, remains incarcerated on death row at Polunsky Unit, awaiting execution.
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 government record · Texas Department of Criminal Justice ·
TDCJ Inmate Search - Wardrip“WARDRIP,FARYION EDWARD, TDCJ Number: 00999331, Current Facility: POLUNSKY, Maximum Sentence Date: DEATH ROW”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Faryion Wardrip - Wikipedia“Faryion Edward Wardrip (born March 6, 1959) is an American serial killer who sexually assaulted and murdered five women between 1984 and 1986.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Ellen Blau - Wikipedia/Faryion Wardrip“On September 20, 1985, Wardrip abducted 21-year-old Ellen Blau in Wichita Falls, Texas.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Debra Taylor - Wikipedia/Faryion Wardrip“In Fort Worth, he met 25-year-old Debra Sue Taylor (née Huie), in the early morning hours of March 24, 1985 while at a bar on East Lancaster Street.”
News report · Reference.org ·
Faryion Wardrip - Reference.org“On May 6, 1986, Wardrip killed 21-year-old Tina Elizabeth Kimbrew, a waitress he had recently befriended.”
Other government record · Find a Grave ·
Ellen Blau - Find a Grave“Ellen was a waitress and part time student of Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Texas who disappeared on September 19, 1985.”
Other government record · Find a Grave ·
Terry Lee Sims - Find a Grave“Terry Lee Sims (14 May 1964–21 Dec 1984), when Faryion Edward Wardrip saw her, he charged her.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
Faryion Edward Wardrip - Murderpedia“Wichita County District Attorney Barry Macha told APB News that Wardrip admitted that he killed college student Terry Lee Sims in 1984 and three other women in 1985.”
News report · Yahoo News ·
First victim of Wichita Falls serial killer Faryion Wardrip was found 37 years ago today“Terry Sims, a Midwestern State University student and part-time EKG specialist at what was then Bethania Hospital, went to a Christmas party and then to a co-worker's home to study.”
News report · NewsChannel 6 Now ·
District court reinstates Faryion Wardrip death sentence“Wardrip began serving his sentence in December 1986 and was released on parole in December 1997.”
Court record · 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ·
Wardrip v. Lumpkin, No. 18-70016 (5th Cir. 2020)“Wardrip committed five murders in Texas between December 1984 and May 1986, four in Wichita County and one in Tarrant County.”
Other · Radford University Serial Killer Database ·
Faryion Wardrip Psychological Profile“Born in Salem, Indiana to George and Diana Wardrip. Joined Army National Guard in 1978. Married in 1983.”
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