He was an American serial rapist and spree killer, most notorious for his violent crimes across New York State during the early 1970s. Known for a terrifying 18-day killing spree, he stabbed four people to death after having already committed multiple rapes. What made his case stand out was the aftermath—three survivors managed to escape and immediately contacted the police, which triggered a massive 12-day manhunt. At the time, it became the largest manhunt in New York State history, drawing intense media attention and law enforcement resources.

Before all the notoriety, his life had been marked by trauma. He once recalled that, as a child, he and his siblings were subjected to frequent physical abuse from their parents. They would use whatever object was within reach—sometimes even bricks—to inflict punishment. He was the son of Robert Omer Garrow and Margaret, growing up with one older sister in what seemed to be a troubled household. Later in life, he got married and had a son, adding a personal dimension to a story otherwise defined by violence and infamy. His name became synonymous with fear during that dark chapter in New York’s criminal history.