I think researching new and unknown stories are far more fascinating to me as it gives me insight on lesser known murders. For example, everyone knows Ted Bundy, but who knew Dean Corll? So in reference to that, we have a story I have never heard of. The “Smiley Face” killer. However, this is not an accurate depiction because it is not just a singular killer, but a mob of men who committed some disturbing crimes.

The first reported incident of these smiley face killers was in the year of 1997, in the wonderful state of New York. Patrick McNeil was our victim’s name who unfortunately suffered a horrific fate when he was found dead in the east river. It took the police over a month to find his body. It was recorded that night that he stumbled out of the bar drunk and was never heard of again. Of course stumbling out of a bar drunk, especially, in New York is no biggie and committing a stupid act right after, is also nothing new to the city. However, to wash up dead, after being declared missing for over a month is not typical of a New York citizen. The police report came up as an “accidental” drowning. Soon enough, too many coincidences appeared, and that is how the smiley face killer origin began.

Another incident occurred in 2009, so a relatively new case. This time a man by the name of William Hurley was assaulted in Boston, Massachusetts, on the night of October 8th. According to this article explaining the weird string of drowning victims, “While on the phone with Mahoney (his girlfriend), Hurley warned that his cellphone battery was low; when she asked for his location, someone in the background yelled, “99 Nashua street” before the line went dead” (Rolling Stone). This is eery as someone who is a complete stranger shouts out that statement and the line just goes dead. About a week later, Hurley’s body was found in the Charles river and ultimately ruled as another accidental drowning.

However, there was evidence presented to steer the police in a different directions of an accidental drowning. The first clue was the blunt force trauma that Hurley had suffered. Second clue was the fact that was Hurley was drugged by GHB. Also known as the “first date” drug. These cases are so bizarre and fascinating that it even led to its own show called “Smiley Faced Killers: The hunt for Justice.”

I just wanted to bring light to this unbeknownst topic as I feel there are a lot of cases are murders that fly under the radar and are never brought into intention, even though some are very serious and have many casualties. For this blog, there will be analysis on the serial killer’s behavior or patterns as these killers are unknown and yet to be found. Also there are multiple so it’s very hard to decipher what each person may have psychologically wrong with them. Next blog, which may or may not be the final one, will be based on the most notorious serial killer of all time, Ted Bundy. I saved hum for last or near last, because he’s the one i know most about through movies, crime shows, and articles covering his case.

Sources

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/smiley-face-murder-serial-killer-drowning-death-882042/