SERIAL KILLER, ANDRE CRAWFORD

When Andre Crawford confessed to murdering seven women, those who knew him were shocked, “You would never expect it,” said Englewood resident, Quincy Ray, “This is a man who’d ask if he could shovel your snow.” The surprise at Crawford’s arrest and consequent confession became even more frightening when it was revealed that Crawford was present at community meetings where police and residents discussed the South Side killings he was responsible for. Crawford also volunteered for Operation Safe Passage, where men escorted children through dangerous neighborhoods to school.

Crawford would eventually be charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder, 11 counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of attempted murder. In custody, he confessed on videotape to seven murders he was genetically connected to and three others authorities had not linked him to. He was also convicted of beating a twelfth woman almost to death with a piece of wood.

In a three-day confession, Crawford revealed, “I was glad I was caught, because I was like a shark in a pool.” He would lure prostitutes to abandoned buildings where he would exchange drugs for sex, often becoming violent when the woman demanded the drugs before any intimacy. On at least one occasion, Crawford practiced necrophilia. Studies on necrophilia suggest that the sexual attraction to corpses can arguably be caused by these antecedents.

1. The necrophile develops poor self-esteem in part to a significant loss - Crawford confessed to a childhood fill of abuse and neglect from his mother.
2. He is very fearful of rejection by women and he desires a sexual partner who is incapable of rejecting him – Crawford’s choice of prostitutes and the transaction of drugs for sex would almost ensure he would not be rejected.

Andre Crawford’s trial took place in December 2009 and with family members of the victims in the courtroom. Crawford’s lawyer, Debra Seaton tried to paint a picture of neglect and abuse. Alice Washington, a consultant for the defense said most of the allegations in her report came from Crawford and were uncorroborated by evidence. Reports showed Crawford and his sister were placed in foster care as infants after authorities found them alone. His mother later admitted that she left them unattended for long periods of time. Washington also found a history of violence, incest and mental illness in Crawford’s extended family.

The prosecution played snippets of Crawford’s video confession where he admitted to murdering the women because of their trickery. He said he told his one surviving victim, Claudia Robinson he wanted to rape her to teach her a lesson.

Psychologist, John Fabian, in testifying for the defense, thought, “In Crawford’s case, he hated his mother and was very hostile towards her and to woman in general and in due course took this out on the women.”

Katrina Martin, a recovering drug addict, testified that she had known Crawford in the time when she was prostituting herself swapping drugs for sex. Then, she lived with a man who allowed crack users to get high in the apartment. Crawford was a regular there, alongside, Patricia Dunns, Tommie Dennis, Sonja Brandon, Constance Bailey, Sheryl Johnson and Shaquanta Langley, who would become six of Crawford’s victims. Martin said that Crawford expressed his loathing of the women, stating, “They need to be strangled and have their heads beaten in.”

In his confession, Crawford calmly recounted the murder of his first victim, Patricia Dunn. They agreed on swapping cocaine for sex but the transaction soured when Dunn wanted the cocaine before having sex. This angered Crawford who struck her in the head and face with pliers and then sexually assaulted her as she lay dying.

"I didn't feel comfortable continuing to rape her there by the puddle of blood, so I dragged her to a drier area," Crawford said.

Relatives of Dunn and the other victims gasped aloud and cried as Crawford explained that he took a nice walk to cool off before returning to the scene to have sex with Dunn’s corpse.

The verdict came on December 18. To the dismay of the victim’s families, Crawford was sentenced to life imprisonment, escaping the death penalty as a unanimous verdict was required in order to impose it. The jurors were divided on Crawford's sentence with some shaking their heads and grimacing as the verdict was read. A female juror put her hands to her face and another one burst into tears.

The deliberations had gone on for nearly six hours with two jurors against the death penalty refusing to discuss the matter further.

Juror Kimberly Hayward said the deliberations were very confrontational, “Everyone was arguing over everyone else.” Fellow juror, James Aldworth said a man and a woman were against the death penalty with the woman holding out due to religious beliefs and the man basing his decision on the abuse Crawford allegedly suffered as a child. Aldworth, who like Hayward voted for the death penalty, said. "The ones for the death penalty were just so disappointed."

Crawford showed no reaction as the verdict was read. Family members of the victims softly cried and began to leave the courtroom as the judge finished with the case.

Claudia Robinson, the only woman to survive Crawford's attacks denounced the jury for failing to provide justice. Robinson, who suffers from the injuries received from Crawford said, “I waited 12 years for justice and this is what I get?”

After the verdict, nearly three dozen victims' relatives formed a prayer circle in the courthouse lobby.

"We pray to God for strength to carry on," said Tyrone Cotton, brother of victim Cheryl Cross.  "Despite the verdict, we carry on. We have life within ourselves. Our sisters, our mothers, our aunts live within us."