Timothy Wilson Spencer

The Southside Strangler

  Active for 4 years
(1984-1987) in United States

5

CONFIRMED
VICTIMS

5

POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
  1. Summary
  2. Serial Killer Profile
  3. Serial Killer Type
  4. General Information
  5. Characteristics
  6. Childhood
  7. Cognitive Ability
  8. Incarceration
  9. Death
  10. 13 Timeline Events
  11. Serial Killers Active During Spree
  12. Boolean Statistical Questions
  13. 14 Books About Timothy Wilson Spencer
  14. 10 External References
  15. Internal References

Timothy Wilson Spencer an American serial killer and burglar known as The Southside Strangler, The Southside Slayer and The Southside rapist . Spencer raped and murdered four women in Virginia from 1987 to 1988, with one murder in 1984. Spencer was the first person in the United States to be convicted of a capital crime through DNA testing. David Vasquez who was wrongfully convicted of Spencer's 1984 victim, became the first to be exonerated following conviction through DNA testing. In 1994, Timothy Wilson Spencer was executed in the electric chair at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia.

Timothy Wilson Spencer Serial Killer Profile

Serial Killer Timothy Wilson Spencer (aka) The Southside Strangler, was active for 4 years between 1984-1987, known to have ( 5 confirmed / 5 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United States

Timothy Wilson Spencer was born on March 17th 1962 He had at least one brother, Travis Spencer. His father, a man who Timothy had been told was dead when in fact he was still alive.

He never married. He had no children mentioned.

Prior to his spree he had killed, commited crimes, served time in jail, and served time in prison. He was known to abuse alcohol and drugs.

In 1984 (Age 21/22) Timothy Wilson Spencer started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to rob, strangle, rape, and murder his victims. He was known to kill at the home of the victim. At least one victim was tied, bound, or otherwise restrained during the crime. At the time of his crimes he was living with himself, alone at a South Richmond halfway house.

He was arrested on January 20th 1988 (Age 25), convicted on September 8th 1988 (Age 26), sentenced to death by electrocution at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, US. He was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime. Timothy Wilson Spencer was executed on April 27th 1994 (Age 32).

Timothy Wilson Spencer died on April 27th 1994 (Age 32), cause of death: capital punishment, executed by electrocution via electric chair at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, US.

Profile Completeness: 84%
serial killers by profile completeness

Timothy Wilson Spencer has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 4 years ago.

Timothy Wilson Spencer a known:

Timothy Wilson Spencer
Serial Killer Profile:

Updated: 2020-03-06 Collected by Killer.Cloud
General Information
Name: Timothy Wilson Spencer
Nickname: The Southside Strangler
Victims: 5 - 5
Years Active: 1984 - 1987
Ages Active: 21/22 - 24/25
Active Countries: United States
Convicted Of: murder
Life Span: 1962 - 1994
Characteristics
Ethnic Group: African American
Gender: Male
Sexual Preference: heterosexual
Astrological Sign: Pisces
Feb 18 - Mar 20
Birth Month: March
Marital Status: never married
Children: no children mentioned
Living With: himself, alone at a South Richmond halfway house
Childhood Information
D.O.B.: Mar 17, 1962
Given Name: Timothy
Birth Location: N/A
Birth Order: N/A
Siblings: at least one brother, Travis Spencer
Raised By: N/A
Birth Category: N/A
Mother: N/A
Father: a man who Timothy had been told was dead when in fact he was still alive

Cognitive Ability
IQ: N/A
Highest School: N/A
Highest Degree:

Incarceration
Arrested: Jan 20, 1988 (Age 25)
Convicted: Sep 8, 1988 (Age 26)
Sentence: death by electrocution
Prison Location: Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, US
Executed: Apr 27, 1994 (Age 32)
Previous Crimes: TRUE
Previous Jail: TRUE
Previous Prison: TRUE

Death Information
Death Date: Apr 27, 1994 (Age 32)
Manner of Death: capital punishment
Cause of Death: executed by electrocution via electric chair
Death Location: Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, US
Killed In Prison: FALSE
Suicide: FALSE
13 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Timothy Wilson Spencer

The 13 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Timothy Wilson Spencer. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.

Date Event Description
Mar 17 1962birth of Timothy Wilson Spencer  #19620317
Mar 17 1982
(Age 20)
20th Birthday
1984
(Age 21/22)
Timothy Wilson Spencer started his serial killing spree. #1984
1987
(Age 24/25)
Timothy Wilson Spencer ended his serial killing spree. #1987
Jan 20 1988
(Age 25)
Timothy Wilson Spencer arrested. #19880120
Jul 11 1988
(Age 26)
murder trial started #19880711
Location: a court in Arlington, Virginia, US

Timothy Wilson Spencer went on trial for the rape, burglary and murder of Susan Tucker.

Jul 16 1988
(Age 26)
found guilty of capital murder #19880716
Location: a court in Arlington, Virginia, US

Timothy Wilson Spencer was found guilty of the capital murder of Susan Tucker. This was the first case in the country in which a person was found guilty of a capital murder and received the death penalty… based on DNA evidence.

Sep 08 1988
(Age 26)
Timothy Wilson Spencer was convictedand sentenced to death by electrocution at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, US.  #19880908
Sep 22 1988
(Age 26)
found guilty of capital murder #19880922
Location: Richmond, Virginia, US

Timothy Wilson Spencer was found guilty of the capital murder of Debbie Dudley Davis.

Nov 04 1988
(Age 26)
sentenced to second death sentence #19881104
Location: a court in Richmond, Virginia, US

Timothy Wilson Spencer was sentenced to death by electrocution for the capital murder of Debbie Dudley Davis.

Jan 17 1989
(Age 26)
convicted of capital murder #19890117
Location: Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, Manchester Courthouse, Richmond, Virginia, US

Timothy Wilson Spencer was convicted of the capital murder of Dr. Susan Hellams.

Mar 17 1992
(Age 30)
30th Birthday
Apr 27 1994
(Age 32)
Timothy Wilson Spencerwas executed.cause of death:capital punishment,executed by electrocution via electric chairat Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, US. #19940427
Back to top Serial Killers Active During

The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Timothy Wilson Spencer (1984-1987).

Serial Killers By Active Year


32 / 40
ANSWERED
Serial Killer
Boolean Questions:
Killer
Question
Killer
Answer
Total
Answered
drug abuse TRUE 226
alcohol abuse TRUE 226
previous crimes TRUE 367
previous jail TRUE 352
previous prision TRUE 336
previous killed TRUE 208
kill at victims home TRUE 323
rape TRUE 453
bound TRUE 406
strangle TRUE 443
robbed TRUE 418
suicide FALSE 225
killed in prison FALSE 218
xyy FALSE 81
physically defect FALSE 300
speach defect FALSE 300
head injury FALSE 299
psychologist FALSE 258
forensic hospital FALSE 257
kill at killers home FALSE 320
used weapon FALSE 453
used gun FALSE 451
torture FALSE 426
stalk FALSE 418
blindfold FALSE 363
sex with body FALSE 430
mutilated FALSE 447
ate part of body FALSE 451
drank blood FALSE 442
posed body FALSE 365
totem body part FALSE 365
totem personal item FALSE 354


Books that Mention Timothy Wilson Spencer

Book: Serial Killer Stranglers (mentions serial killer Timothy Wilson Spencer)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Book: Serial Killer Rapists (mentions serial killer Timothy Wilson Spencer)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Book: Postmortem (mentions serial killer Timothy Wilson Spencer)
Patricia Cornwell
Postmortem
Book: Journey Into Darkness (mentions serial killer Timothy Wilson Spencer)
John E. Douglas
Journey Into Darkness
Book: The Last Victim (mentions serial killer Timothy Wilson Spencer)
Jason Moss
The Last Victim
Book: Signature Killers (mentions serial killer Timothy Wilson Spencer)
Robert D. Keppel
Signature Killers
Book: Stalking Justice (mentions serial killer Timothy Wilson Spencer)
Paul Mones
Stalking Justice
Book: Blood Evidence (mentions serial killer Timothy Wilson Spencer)
Henry C. Lee
Blood Evidence

14 Books that mention Serial Killer
Timothy Wilson Spencer

ISBN10 Book Title Killers
1733630600 Serial Killer Stranglers 164
1733630619 Serial Killer Rapists 266
1439187517 Postmortem 1
1439107815 Journey Into Darkness 3
0759528306 The Last Victim 25
0671001302 Signature Killers 6
0671002015 Stalking Justice 1
0738206024 Blood Evidence 1
1576071944 Forensic Science 2
1438132131 Evidence 1
0761804501 Good Murders and Bad Murd... 1
0788188836 Postconviction DNA Testin... 1
0788143514 Financial Investigations 1
1523916311 Southside Strangler 1

Timothy Wilson Spencer (March 17, 1962 – April 27, 1994), also known as the "Southside Strangler", was a serial killer who committed three rapes and murders in Richmond, Virginia and one in Arlington, Virginia in the fall of 1987. In addition, he is believed to have committed at least one previous murder, in 1984, for which a different man, David Vasquez, was wrongfully convicted. He was known to police as a prolific home burglar.

Wikipedia
External References
  1. Q7807614 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Dec 11, 2018.
  2. Timothy Wilson Spencer on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Dec 12, 2018.
  3. Juan Ignacio Blanco, Timothy Wilson SPENCER on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Dec 12, 2018.
  4. Peter Baker, In grim distinction, Va. killer is first to die based on DNA testing on www.washingtonpost.com, Retrieved on Dec 12, 2018.
  5. Murderer Put to Death In Virginia on www.nytimes.com, Retrieved on Dec 12, 2018.
  6. Spencer v. Virginia, 385 S.E.2d 850, Vol. 238 on scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu, Retrieved on Dec 12, 2018.
  7. SPENCER v. MURRAY, 1993, 5 F.3d 758 on law.resource.org, Retrieved on Mar 6, 2020.
  8. Laurie McClellan, The Arlington Serial Killer Who Changed History on www.arlingtonmagazine.com, Retrieved on Mar 6, 2020.
  9. Spencer v. Murray, 5 F.3d 758 (4th Cir. 1993) on law.justia.com, Retrieved on Mar 6, 2020.
  10. Dana Priest, RAPIST-SLAYER IN VIRGINIA GIVEN 2ND DEATH SENTENCE on www.washingtonpost.com, Retrieved on Mar 6, 2020.
Internal References

Timothy Wilson Spencer is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database

  1. #29 of 38[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in March
  2. #29 of 40[ Page 2 ] of Pisces Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  3. #156 of 250[ Page 11 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  4. #182 of 327[ Page 13 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
  5. #190 of 651[ Page 13 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
  6. #192 of 307[ Page 13 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
  7. #321 of 651[ Page 22 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
  8. #382 of 651[ Page 26 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  9. #562 of 651[ Page 38 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
Statistics:
Serial Killers Statistics, charts Timothy Wilson Spencer is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Sexual Preference, Mannor of Death, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
Years Active: