Joseph C. Palczynski
Encyclopedia
Joseph C. "Joe" Palczynski (November 11, 1968 - March 21, 2000) was a spree killer
in the suburbs of Baltimore
who in March 2000 terrorized residents in the region by killing four people and taking a family of three as hostages in one of the longest one-man standoffs ever known. The saga ended with two of the hostages escaping and a third being rescued, Palczynski being shot to death by Baltimore County Police, and a woman being sentenced to prison for purchasing the weapons for him.
and bodybuilder who was unemployed at the time of the shootings, had a lengthy record of domestic violence
and related crimes. He had been in and out of prison
, mental institutions, and on parole
or probation
on many occasions.
Palczynski was already wanted for violating his parole at the time of the shootings. Some of his earlier crimes included assault
and battery
, which one time caused one of his ex-girlfriends to miscarry a child the two had conceived, and a standoff in 1992 in Idaho
that lasted 16 hours.
(a suburb to the east of Baltimore), an area not accustomed to violent crime. George and Gloria Shenk, ages 49 and 50, and their neighbor David Meyers, 42, were shot to death as Palczynski kidnapped his estranged girlfriend, Tracy Whitehead, then 20, and made off in his mother's car. The Shenks had been providing a haven for Whitehead, who had been accusing Palczynski of abusing her and had recently left him and planned to move into her own apartment from her parents' house where she had been living.
involving every available law enforcement unit. The officers, using the latest technology and all available equipment, formed a barrier with roadblock
s and other borders, surrounding the area where they believed Palczynski had been. On two separate occasions, Palczynski was able to penetrate the barriers and evade capture. It was believed that he was trying to contact longtime friends Ramona Contrino or Kevin Massengill. Whether he was able to contact either of the two was never proven and neither one would comment if he had. It was later suspected he had sent Contrino flowers and a coded message card saying goodbye. She had later said live on WBAL News
during the hostage negotiation, "We talked about this before, I think I know what you are going to do. I don't want you to do that. Please!"
attempt in Chase
. While Palczynski was unable to steal a vehicle in this attempt (his target vehicle was not the McDonels' car), he later carjacked an 81-year-old woman, who was not injured.
Following the fourth murder, Palczynski took Whitehead to Room 25 of the El Rich motel on the Pulaski Highway, from which during the night she escaped unharmed. It is widely believed she was not held against her will and fled only after spotting a police car. The motel clerk did not notice the man checking in as "John Silver" was Palczynski, but has stated that Whitehead had come out alone on several occasions to buy soda and food, and stated she seemed "chipper" and "happy," not at all scared or frightened. Palczynski saw the story on the news in the motel room, and realized his gun
s were in the vehicle he had just stolen, which police were looking for. He went outside with Whitehead to retrieve them. As they stepped outside, Whitehead saw a police car
, which she ran to, and Palczynski ran into the nearby woods and fled.
, where he kidnapped William Louis Terrell and ordered him to transport him back to eastern Baltimore County. He was believed by investigators to have hitched a ride on a train, though he told Terrell he paid a woman to transport him there. During the kidnapping he ordered Terrell to drive to a shopping center that included a Best Buy
and a Target
, and to purchase food and various survival equipment as well as a battery
-operated television with a wad of cash Palczynski provided. He threatened Terrell that he would 'shoot whoever was around' if Terrell did not comply. Police found Terrell in his pickup truck at 3:30 a.m. on Saturday morning after Palczynski released him. Terrell, who relied on his faith during his ordeal, had been keeping his promise not to call police.
Terrell was one of several people Palczynski had encountered since the first incident who was not harmed.
to the home of Tracy Whitehead's mother Lynn, her boyfriend Andrew McCord and their 12-year-old son, Bradley McCord. For the following 97 hours, Palczynski held the family hostage in their home, ignoring the requests of law enforcement and negotiators and occasionally firing shots.
During the standoff, no one was permitted to enter the neighborhood of the hostage situation, an area that police called a 'kill zone.' All area residents were asked to stay at a shelter that was set up at a nearby elementary school
. Several people who violated the perimeter set up by police were arrested.
Palczynski presented one demand to officers throughout the ordeal: to speak with Tracy. Police insisted upon denying him this request. Afterwards, they justified this denial by stating it was his only request, and had they granted it he might have killed Whitehead's mother and other hostages while Tracy listened on the phone. Also it was later said that he also wanted to speak with Pat Long, his mother, and Contrino. During this time, Tracy was kept at an undisclosed location, revealed after the standoff to be a room at a Holiday Inn
that was kept under 24-hour police guard.
with Xanax, they put Palczynski to sleep, enabling them to escape through a rear window. They left Bradley, who was sleeping on the kitchen floor, behind with the expectation that police would rescue him. Officers, fearing for the boy's life, burst into the home. There have been many discussions on why the parents would leave the child behind. A documentary aired on British TV station More 4 on April 7, 2010, stated that they believed, as he was a child, if they woke him up he might be upset, make noise and wake up Palczynski who would likely kill them all. They thought it best for the adults to escape and let the police rescue the boy.
According to officers, Palczynski, who had last been seen lying on top of his weapons, had charged at them unarmed. This led officers to fire numerous rounds into Palczynski, killing him. While the events unfolded live on television, viewers did not see the actual killing of Palczynski.
Shortly after the shootings, Constance Ann Waugh, then 48, was charged with illegally purchasing firearms for a person she knew was a convicted felon. Waugh, who did not have a prior criminal record, had been paid by Palczynski a day before the triple shooting to purchase the weapons used in his rampage. She was later sentenced to 16 months in prison. She was also ordered in a civil lawsuit to pay $450,000 to the families of the victims. After she filed for bankruptcy protection, her homeowner's insurance policy paid $100,000, which was split between the three families.
, resulting in a capture of the suspect. He was turned down, however, because he did not call Metro Crime Stoppers, the tipline that offers the rewards. Calling this hotline is required in order to collect any rewards being offered in the capture of a fugitive. Tracy Whitehead won $100,000 in a contest on the Howard Stern show.
Spree killer
A spree killer is someone who embarks on a murderous assault on two or more victims in a short time in multiple locations. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics defines a spree killing as "killings at two or more locations with almost no time break between murders."-Definition:According to the...
in the suburbs of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
who in March 2000 terrorized residents in the region by killing four people and taking a family of three as hostages in one of the longest one-man standoffs ever known. The saga ended with two of the hostages escaping and a third being rescued, Palczynski being shot to death by Baltimore County Police, and a woman being sentenced to prison for purchasing the weapons for him.
Life before the rampage
In the years before his shooting rampage, Palczynski, an electricianElectrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
and bodybuilder who was unemployed at the time of the shootings, had a lengthy record of domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
and related crimes. He had been in and out of prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
, mental institutions, and on parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
or probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
on many occasions.
Palczynski was already wanted for violating his parole at the time of the shootings. Some of his earlier crimes included assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
and battery
Battery (crime)
Battery is a criminal offense involving unlawful physical contact, distinct from assault which is the fear of such contact.In the United States, criminal battery, or simply battery, is the use of force against another, resulting in harmful or offensive contact...
, which one time caused one of his ex-girlfriends to miscarry a child the two had conceived, and a standoff in 1992 in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
that lasted 16 hours.
First three killings
The story came to the public's attention on March 7, 2000, when a triple homicide occurred in the quiet community of Bowley's Quarters near Middle RiverMiddle River, Maryland
Middle River is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 23,958 at the 2000 census...
(a suburb to the east of Baltimore), an area not accustomed to violent crime. George and Gloria Shenk, ages 49 and 50, and their neighbor David Meyers, 42, were shot to death as Palczynski kidnapped his estranged girlfriend, Tracy Whitehead, then 20, and made off in his mother's car. The Shenks had been providing a haven for Whitehead, who had been accusing Palczynski of abusing her and had recently left him and planned to move into her own apartment from her parents' house where she had been living.
Police Manhunt
For ten days following the triple shooting, Palczynski was the subject of an intense manhuntManhunt (law enforcement)
In law enforcement, a manhunt is a search for a dangerous fugitive involving the use of all available police units and technology and sometimes help from the public....
involving every available law enforcement unit. The officers, using the latest technology and all available equipment, formed a barrier with roadblock
Roadblock
A roadblock is a temporary installation set up to control or block traffic along a road. The reasons for one could be:*Roadworks*Temporary road closure during special events*Police chase*Robbery*Sobriety checkpoint...
s and other borders, surrounding the area where they believed Palczynski had been. On two separate occasions, Palczynski was able to penetrate the barriers and evade capture. It was believed that he was trying to contact longtime friends Ramona Contrino or Kevin Massengill. Whether he was able to contact either of the two was never proven and neither one would comment if he had. It was later suspected he had sent Contrino flowers and a coded message card saying goodbye. She had later said live on WBAL News
WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station in Baltimore, Maryland. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11. It is one of the flagship stations of Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation, which also owns sister radio stations WBAL and...
during the hostage negotiation, "We talked about this before, I think I know what you are going to do. I don't want you to do that. Please!"
Fourth Killing
During the evening of Wednesday, March 8, Palczynski killed a fourth victim. Jenifer McDonel, 36, the pregnant mother of a 2-year-old boy, was fatally wounded from a ricochet bullet in front of her family during an unsuccessful carjackingCarjacking
Carjacking is a form of hijacking, where the crime is of stealing a motor vehicle and so also armed assault when the vehicle is occupied. Historically, such as in the rash of semi-trailer truck hijackings during the 1960s, the general term hijacking was used for that type of vehicle abduction,...
attempt in Chase
Chase, Maryland
Chase is an unincorporated community in eastern Baltimore County, Maryland, United States.-Geography:Chase is located at . Chase is located on the waterfront of the Gunpowder River, Middle River, Dundee Creek, Saltpeter Creek, and Chesapeake Bay...
. While Palczynski was unable to steal a vehicle in this attempt (his target vehicle was not the McDonels' car), he later carjacked an 81-year-old woman, who was not injured.
Following the fourth murder, Palczynski took Whitehead to Room 25 of the El Rich motel on the Pulaski Highway, from which during the night she escaped unharmed. It is widely believed she was not held against her will and fled only after spotting a police car. The motel clerk did not notice the man checking in as "John Silver" was Palczynski, but has stated that Whitehead had come out alone on several occasions to buy soda and food, and stated she seemed "chipper" and "happy," not at all scared or frightened. Palczynski saw the story on the news in the motel room, and realized his gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
s were in the vehicle he had just stolen, which police were looking for. He went outside with Whitehead to retrieve them. As they stepped outside, Whitehead saw a police car
Police car
A police car is a ground vehicle used by police, to assist with their duties in patrolling and responding to incidents. Typical uses of a police car include transportation for officers to reach the scene of an incident quickly, to transport criminal suspects, or to patrol an area, while providing a...
, which she ran to, and Palczynski ran into the nearby woods and fled.
Hostage siege
Palczynski later held Whitehead's family in the Eastpoint area hostage for several hours, having tied them up and terrorized them before setting them free. He was let into their home by their young son, who did not understand the danger Palczynski posed. Police, through local media and automated phone calls, warned area residents. Palczynski's mother Pat Long, his lawyer all pleaded in the media on multiple occasions for her son to surrender to police.Hostage kidnapped in Virginia
On Friday, March 10, Palczynski fled to VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, where he kidnapped William Louis Terrell and ordered him to transport him back to eastern Baltimore County. He was believed by investigators to have hitched a ride on a train, though he told Terrell he paid a woman to transport him there. During the kidnapping he ordered Terrell to drive to a shopping center that included a Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
and a Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, and to purchase food and various survival equipment as well as a battery
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
-operated television with a wad of cash Palczynski provided. He threatened Terrell that he would 'shoot whoever was around' if Terrell did not comply. Police found Terrell in his pickup truck at 3:30 a.m. on Saturday morning after Palczynski released him. Terrell, who relied on his faith during his ordeal, had been keeping his promise not to call police.
Terrell was one of several people Palczynski had encountered since the first incident who was not harmed.
March 17th, 2000: Standoff
On Friday, March 17, Palczynski once again surprised investigators when he penetrated a barrier and fled to nearby DundalkDundalk, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,306 people, 24,772 households, and 16,968 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,689.5 people per square mile . There were 26,385 housing units at an average density of 1,985.9 per square mile...
to the home of Tracy Whitehead's mother Lynn, her boyfriend Andrew McCord and their 12-year-old son, Bradley McCord. For the following 97 hours, Palczynski held the family hostage in their home, ignoring the requests of law enforcement and negotiators and occasionally firing shots.
During the standoff, no one was permitted to enter the neighborhood of the hostage situation, an area that police called a 'kill zone.' All area residents were asked to stay at a shelter that was set up at a nearby elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
. Several people who violated the perimeter set up by police were arrested.
Palczynski presented one demand to officers throughout the ordeal: to speak with Tracy. Police insisted upon denying him this request. Afterwards, they justified this denial by stating it was his only request, and had they granted it he might have killed Whitehead's mother and other hostages while Tracy listened on the phone. Also it was later said that he also wanted to speak with Pat Long, his mother, and Contrino. During this time, Tracy was kept at an undisclosed location, revealed after the standoff to be a room at a Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn is a brand of hotels, formally a economy motel chain, forming part of the British InterContinental Hotels Group . It is one of the world's largest hotel chains with 238,440 bedrooms and 1,301 hotels globally. There are currently 5 hotels in the pipeline...
that was kept under 24-hour police guard.
shot by police, hostages freed
On the evening of Tuesday, March 21, the adult hostages took matters into their own hands. Having laced a glass of iced teaIced tea
Iced tea is a form of cold tea, often served in a glass with ice. It may or may not be sweetened. Iced tea is also a popular packaged drink. It can be mixed with flavored syrup, with common flavors including lemon, peach, raspberry, lime, passion fruit, and cherry...
with Xanax, they put Palczynski to sleep, enabling them to escape through a rear window. They left Bradley, who was sleeping on the kitchen floor, behind with the expectation that police would rescue him. Officers, fearing for the boy's life, burst into the home. There have been many discussions on why the parents would leave the child behind. A documentary aired on British TV station More 4 on April 7, 2010, stated that they believed, as he was a child, if they woke him up he might be upset, make noise and wake up Palczynski who would likely kill them all. They thought it best for the adults to escape and let the police rescue the boy.
According to officers, Palczynski, who had last been seen lying on top of his weapons, had charged at them unarmed. This led officers to fire numerous rounds into Palczynski, killing him. While the events unfolded live on television, viewers did not see the actual killing of Palczynski.
Aftermath of Palczynski's death
Following the death of Palczynski, an investigation revealed that he had been shot 27 times by officers. An autopsy found no traces of any drugs or alcohol other than the Xanax used to knock him out. While serious doubts lingered in the minds of the public on shooting an unarmed man, the shooting was determined by police to be justified.Shortly after the shootings, Constance Ann Waugh, then 48, was charged with illegally purchasing firearms for a person she knew was a convicted felon. Waugh, who did not have a prior criminal record, had been paid by Palczynski a day before the triple shooting to purchase the weapons used in his rampage. She was later sentenced to 16 months in prison. She was also ordered in a civil lawsuit to pay $450,000 to the families of the victims. After she filed for bankruptcy protection, her homeowner's insurance policy paid $100,000, which was split between the three families.
Reward collection attempt in Palczynski's apprehension
After the siege, McCord attempted to collect a $10,000 reward offered in the apprehension of Palczynski, claiming he was the first to call 9119-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
, resulting in a capture of the suspect. He was turned down, however, because he did not call Metro Crime Stoppers, the tipline that offers the rewards. Calling this hotline is required in order to collect any rewards being offered in the capture of a fugitive. Tracy Whitehead won $100,000 in a contest on the Howard Stern show.
Hostages' lawsuit against police
The former hostages also filed a lawsuit against police, alleging that the department failed to protect them. Police stated they had offered various forms of protection to the family, which they all turned down. These included having an officer stay in their house, having a police unit parked in front of their house, and increasing patrols to their neighborhood during the crisis.External links
- Locations of Palczynski-related events on Google Street ViewGoogle Street ViewGoogle Street View is a technology featured in Google Maps and Google Earth that provides panoramic views from various positions along many streets in the world...