Oregon's Most Notorious Prisoner Dies

Serial killer Jerry Brudos died Tuesday of natural causes at the age of 67.

Jerry Brudos' mug shot, 2000. Photo courtesy: crimelibrary.com

(SALEM) - Serial killer Jerome Brudos died Tuesday of natural causes at the age of 67.

Jerome `Jerry" Brudos pleaded guilty in 1969 to the strangulation murders of Jan Susan Whitney, Karen Elena Sprinker and Linda Dawn Salee. When Brudos`s crimes were revealed, the news shocked the people of Oregon and beyond. He was convicted for murdering three young women in his Salem home, near the State Hospital, and he did it all without ever alerting his wife to the devious acts he performed inside his home-based workshop. His disdain for women was not lost on his victims. He mutilated and cut up the bodies and dumped all three corpses into local rivers.

Oregon did not have the death penalty at the time. He was serving three life sentences when he died. Brudos periodically came up for parole, insisted continually that he was no longer a threat to society, and even going so far as claiming he did not commit the murders. He also tried to diminish his crimes by blaming his mother's abuse and neglect. Brudos never expressed any remorse for the murders, saying only that killing the women had helped him "let off steam."

In August 2003, the parole board members once again denied Brudos the freedom he sought. They made their decision after only a half hour interview with the convicted killer, saying they did not need a full hearing.

A man who could mutilate and murder at least three young women, they decided, was not a likely candidate for responsible citizenship. It was reported that Brudos was considered a model patient, and walked around the prison unsupervised. He was apparently a computer wiz.

He was admitted to prison on June 27th, 1969, totaling less than 37 years that he paid for his crimes. Ann Rule, crime author, predicted in her book that he would serve at least 36 years. Good prediction.