Death Sentence

There was a profound sense of unease regarding Timothy Spencer, as articulated by a prosecuting attorney in Arlington, Virginia, to the jurors during the summer of 1988.

Fast forward to April 27, 1994, in Jarrett, Virginia, a small town located approximately 20 minutes from the North Carolina state line, where one might easily overlook its existence. Just outside Jarrett lies the Greensville Correctional Center, where Warden L.S.B. Wright Jr. observed Timothy Spencer on the night of April 27, 1994. Known as the Southside Strangler, Spencer was secured in the electric chair at the age of 32, having been convicted of the assault and murder of four women in Richmond and Arlington, Virginia, in 1987.

Warden Wright Jr. inquired if Spencer had any final words, to which Spencer replied affirmatively, but then fell silent for approximately 20 seconds. He subsequently nodded to the warden, and the death mask was affixed to Spencer's face as the execution commenced.

Timothy Wilson Spencer was not an ordinary criminal; he was apprehended and convicted through DNA evidence. What rendered Spencer's case remarkable was that he became the first individual in the United States to receive a capital murder conviction based solely on DNA evidence. The question arises: how did Timothy Wilson Spencer arrive at this juncture in his life?

Born in Arlington, Virginia, in 1962, Spencer was raised by his mother alongside his younger brother in a low-income neighborhood, following his father's departure after a divorce, which rendered life for the family quite challenging.Spencer's maternal grandmother played a crucial role in supporting the family. Spencer's younger brother recalled that their lives were well-organized, ensuring that there was always a meal prepared for them. Timothy Spencer was remembered as a reserved child who struggled academically; however, Spencer faced additional challenges that began to surface around the age of nine. By the time he reached twelve, Spencer had developed a troubling habit of using the schoolyard as his personal restroom. Furthermore, Tim Spencer was involved in minor thefts, but a more pressing issue was his alarming cruelty towards animals, with reports of his behavior being deeply unsettling. His younger brother was particularly shocked by Spencer's treatment of animals. Additionally, young Timothy Spencer was linked to incidents of arson. His brother recalled that during their childhood, there was a group of children who wreaked havoc in the neighborhood, and Tim was part of that group. He earned a reputation as a thief and frequently found himself in encounters with law enforcement. When his younger brother attempted to imitate his stealing habits, he was caught by the police. Spencer cautioned his brother against engaging in theft and urged him not to emulate his actions, which marked a significant turning point for his younger sibling. In his twenties, his brother's life took a different direction; in 1984, he was arrested for breaking and entering and subsequently incarcerated.

Spencer was released in 1987 and found himself residing in a halfway house in Richmond, Virginia, designated for nonviolent offenders. He appreciated the privacy of having his own room and enjoyed the freedom from prison, but he cherished his solitude even more. Although Spencer was known for his reserved nature, he sought to establish a friendship with a female staff member at the halfway house. He offered to help her with her car, not out of a desire for companionship, but rather for the potential advantage of having access to her vehicle.

Spencer's plan proved effective, as he had a keen interest in driving, to one of his favorite destinations being the Cloverfield Mall. He would often spend hours in isolation. During these moments, he observed the women who passed by, accompanied solely by his troubling thoughts and unfulfilled longings. When a woman caught his attention, Spencer would quietly follow her, keeping a safe distance as he monitored her actions. His behavior was part of a broader, more ominous story that would instill dread among the residents of Richmond. A troubling series of incidents commenced on September 19th, 1987, when the police received a report from a man in Richmond regarding a vehicle that had been idling in front of his home for an extended duration. A brief inquiry revealed that the car belonged to Debbie Dudley Davis, a 35-year-old accounts manager for a local publication, Style Weekly. An officer was sent to check on Davis at her apartment, and when a neighbor heard the police knocking, they provided a key for entry. Inside, they found Debbie deceased, and the circumstances of her death were chilling. She had been assaulted and strangled. The police surmised that the assailant had accessed her apartment by using a rocking chair from a neighbor to reach and open a window in Davis's kitchen. The motive for the crime remained unclear; Davis was divorced, single, and had no known enemies. She was an enthusiastic reader, enjoyed the music of Bruce Springsteen, She also held a part-time position at a bookstore located in Cloverfield Mall. Her friends and family struggled to comprehend why she became a target less than a month after the discovery of Davis.

The police arrived at a crime scene that bore an unsettling resemblance to previous incidents. They had been summoned to the residence of Dr. Susan Helms, who was found in her bedroom by her husband. Dr. Helms met the same fate as Davis; she was assaulted and strangled. The police conducted a thorough search for evidence, while the community remained on high alert, aware that a murderer was at large and needed to be apprehended. A significant piece of evidence was uncovered at the bookstore where Debbie Dudley Davis was employed: a check written by Dr. Susan Helms, which had been endorsed by Davis. An investigator later remarked to a reporter from Style Weekly, stating, "In all my experience, I never thought anything would astonish me in a homicide investigation, but this truly took me by surprise."

The series of incidents persisted, and in late November 1987, the body of 15-year-old Diane Cho was discovered in her family's apartment. Just one month later, Sue Tucker was also found. In Arlington, a report was filed regarding a missing individual, later identified as Diane, who, along with Sue, was found deceased under circumstances reminiscent of Debbie Davis and Dr. Helms. Since September, there had been a series of four assaults and murders, all exhibiting identical methods. Investigators soon discovered that Diane Cho frequented Cloverfield Mall and had mentioned to a friend that she felt she was being stalked by a man.

One of Diane's acquaintances managed to observe the man and described his gaze as both hollow and frightening. The investigation took a perplexing turn with the similar murder of Sue Tucker in Arlington, which bore an unsettling resemblance to a homicide that occurred in 1984 involving an attorney named Carolyn Ham. A man named Daniel Vasquez confessed to that crime; despite his low IQ, he was convicted.

This raised questions about whether he had an accomplice. As investigators delved deeper, they uncovered a series of assaults that took place from 1983 to 1984 in Arlington, perpetrated by a black male wearing a mask. The manner in which the assailant entered the victims' homes and restrained them showed notable similarities. The police departments of Richmond and Arlington collaborated, and the FBI was brought in to create a profile of the suspect. Investigators in Arlington began to piece together the evidence, recalling Timothy Wilson Spencer, who had been arrested for burglary. The clothing worn by the assailant in Arlington matched that of Spencer.Authorities traced him to a halfway house in connection with the assaults and murders in Richmond, prompting the Richmond police to monitor Spencer closely as they worked to build their case with the District Attorney's office.

The attorney's office found no fingerprints at the crime scenes; however, they did collect other forensic materials. They intended to utilize a novel tool—DNA analysis—which had previously been instrumental in securing convictions for other offenders. At that time, its application as evidence in court was still emerging. The police apprehended Spencer and collected his DNA, which subsequently linked him to four assaults and murders. He faced trial for these offenses and received a death sentence. Spencer was executed in the electric chair in 1994. The heinous crimes he committed in Arlington, Virginia, were appalling. While the origins of his monstrous behavior remain unclear, it is evident that DNA played a crucial role in his capture, highlighting the profound issues associated with Timothy.