This is part two of our conversation about the Ripper Crew, a group of young men who kidnapped, tortured, and murdered women for years in the early 1980s. In this episode we discuss the known victims, describe the interpersonal dynamics of the Ripper Crew and how they got caught, and finally, where all this fits into the national Satanic Panic of the 1980s.

TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, torture, murder

Research sources include:

Fletcher, Jaye Slade. Deadly Thrills. Onyx, 1995.

“A Man Described as ‘Robin the Ripper,’ Suspected Along...” UPI, https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/11/11/A-man-described-as-Robin-the-Ripper-suspected-along/9665405838800/.

“BURIAL ENDS ORDEAL, NOT FRUSTRATION.” Chicago Tribune, https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-04-26-8501250302-story.html.

“DISAPPEARANCES OF YOUNG WOMEN FORMED A PATH.” Chicago Tribune, https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-10-11-8703170164-story.html.

“NEW CLUES UNSETTLE FAMILY IN RITUAL SLAYING.” Chicago Tribune, https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-11-13-9511130163-story.html.

“FindLaw’s Appellate Court of Illinois Case and Opinions.” Findlaw, https://caselaw.findlaw.com/il-court-of-appeals/1333865.html. 

“People v. Kokoraleis.” Justia Law, https://law.justia.com/cases/illinois/supreme-court/1989/65229-7.html. 

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