Gary Ray Bowles

Gary Ray Bowles (January 25, 1962 – August 22, 2019) was an American serial killer who was executed in 2019 for the murders of six men in 1994. He is sometimes referred to as The I-95 Killer since most of his victims lived close to the Interstate 95 highway. He was executed by lethal injection for his crimes in 2019. His father Frank, who worked as a coal miner, died from black lung disease six months before Bowles was born, and his mother Frances remarried several times. Bowles was abused by his second stepfather, a violent alcoholic who also abused Bowles' mother and older brother. The abuse continued until, at the age of 13, Bowles fought back and severely injured his stepfather. He left home soon thereafter, angered by his mother's decision to remain in the marriage.

Murders On March 15, 1994, in Daytona Beach, Florida, Bowles killed his first known victim, John Hardy Roberts, age 59, who had offered him a temporary place to live. Bowles beat and strangled him to death, and then stole his credit card which he later used in Kingsland, Georgia, and Nashville, Tennessee. 39-year-old David Jarman in Wheaton, Maryland, 72-year-old Milton Bradley in Savannah, Georgia, 47-year-old Alverson Carter Jr. in Atlanta, Georgia, and 37-year-old Albert Morris in Hilliard, Florida. His typical modus operandi was to prostitute himself to his victims before beating and strangling them, and stealing their credit cards.

While on the run, Bowles was put on the FBI's list of the country's 10 Most Wanted Fugitives for his four known victims. On November 22, 1994, Bowles was arrested for the murder of Walter Jamelle "Jay" Hinton in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and confessed to all six murders. In August 1997, while sitting on death row for the slaying of Hinton, Bowles pleaded guilty to beating and strangling Roberts in 1994. He was given a new sentencing hearing, and in 1999 again received the death penalty.

Bowles was executed by lethal injection on August 22, 2019, at Florida State Prison near Raiford. Bowles ate three cheeseburgers, french fries, and bacon as a last meal.

He was the last person executed in Florida until the execution of Donald Dillbeck on February 23, 2023.

Victims March 15, 1994: John Hardy Roberts, age 59 April 14, 1994: David Alan Jarman, 39 May 4, 1994: Milton Joseph Bradley, 72 May 13, 1994: Alverson Carter Jr., 47 May 18, 1994: Albert Morris, 37 November 16, 1994: Walter "Jay" Hinton, 42