For Phila., a dubious recognition
GARY HEIDNIK is Philadelphia's most infamous murderer. Between November 1986 and March 1987, he tortured and raped six young women in the basement of his home on North Marshall Street, in Franklinville. He kept the young sex slaves captive in a dirt hole, tethered to chains.
GARY HEIDNIK is Philadelphia's most infamous murderer.
Between November 1986 and March 1987, he tortured and raped six young women in the basement of his home on North Marshall Street, in Franklinville. He kept the young sex slaves captive in a dirt hole, tethered to chains.
Heidnik, 43, killed two of the women - Sandra Lindsay and Deborah Dudley. He cooked Lindsay's body parts and mixed them with dog food to feed his prisoners. He dumped Dudley's body in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
His first captive, Josefina Rivera, was able to gain Heidnik's trust and broke free to call police on March 25, 1987. Police rescued the three remaining women from Heidnik's basement.
Heidnik was convicted of murder and multiple other crimes and sentenced to die. He was executed July 6, 1999, by injection. The serial killer in Silence of the Lambs, Buffalo Bill, was partially based on Heidnik.
Rivera hasn't seen the other victims since the Heidnik trial.
- Barbara Laker