Donald Leroy Evans
Encyclopedia
Donald Leroy Evans was an American
serial killer
who murdered at least three people from 1986 to 1991. He was known for confessing to killing victims at parks and rest areas across 20 states.
for the kidnapping of a 10-year-old girl. He confessed to the killing and led the authorities to the girl's body. He also confessed to killing more than 70 other people in over 20 different states. Most of the murders and rape
s took place at rest stops and public parks. The authorities were originally skeptical of Evans' claims, but two of his descriptions were perfect matches to unsolved cases across Florida
. He successfully escaped the Harrison County Jail, but was recaptured a short time later. In 1993 he was tried and convicted for the kidnapping, rape, strangulation, and murder of 10-year-old Beatrice Routh, and sentenced to death. In 1995, Florida authorities tried and convicted Evans for the strangulation death of Ira Jean Smith.
Evans was stabbed to death in 1999 by a fellow death row
inmate at the Mississippi State Penitentiary.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
who murdered at least three people from 1986 to 1991. He was known for confessing to killing victims at parks and rest areas across 20 states.
Arrest and conviction
In 1991, Evans was arrested in LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
for the kidnapping of a 10-year-old girl. He confessed to the killing and led the authorities to the girl's body. He also confessed to killing more than 70 other people in over 20 different states. Most of the murders and rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
s took place at rest stops and public parks. The authorities were originally skeptical of Evans' claims, but two of his descriptions were perfect matches to unsolved cases across Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He successfully escaped the Harrison County Jail, but was recaptured a short time later. In 1993 he was tried and convicted for the kidnapping, rape, strangulation, and murder of 10-year-old Beatrice Routh, and sentenced to death. In 1995, Florida authorities tried and convicted Evans for the strangulation death of Ira Jean Smith.
Evans was stabbed to death in 1999 by a fellow death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
inmate at the Mississippi State Penitentiary.