His obsession started with a single shoe found in a junkyard when he was five years old. Two decades later, it had turned into a series of murders.
Early Life
Jerome Brudos developed an intense fixation on women's shoes as a young child, reportedly stealing them from his mother and teachers over the years. His mother's efforts to confiscate and discard the shoes he collected coincided with a difficult, strained relationship between them, which some who later studied the case believe contributed to a deep resentment toward women that persisted into adulthood.
Escalating Violence
At 17, Brudos sexually assaulted a woman and served time as a result. He later married and spent time in the military before being discharged following a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Despite his marriage, he continued acting on his fixation, including breaking into at least one woman's home to assault her and steal her shoes — a crime not linked to him until much later.
The Murders
Beginning in 1968, Brudos killed at least four women in Oregon over roughly 18 months: Linda Slawson, an encyclopedia saleswoman who came to his home on business; and three additional victims. He kept items belonging to his victims connected to his fetish. Two other women he targeted managed to escape before he could harm them.
The Arrest
Police, working from evidence connecting Brudos to the missing women, arranged for one intended victim's roommate to contact him and set up a meeting, leading to his arrest. Brudos confessed to the killings during interrogation. A search of his home turned up physical evidence connecting him to all four murders, including photographs and personal items belonging to the victims.
Conviction
Brudos was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, where he remained until his death from natural causes in 2006, having served 37 years. His case has since been referenced in true-crime documentaries and dramatizations, including Netflix's "Mindhunter."
FAQ
How many people did Jerome Brudos kill?
He was linked to at least four murders in Oregon between 1968 and 1969.
What motivated Brudos' crimes?
A lifelong fixation on women's shoes that escalated into violence, compounded by an untreated mental health condition and a difficult family history.
How did Jerome Brudos die?
He died in prison of natural causes in 2006, after serving 37 years of his life sentence.