John Eichinger

John Charles Eichinger (born February 18, 1972) is an American serial killer who was convicted of killing three women and one child from 1999 to 2005 in Pennsylvania, United States, crimes he committed after two of the victims had rejected his romantic advances. He was handed three death sentences for the later murders and one life sentence for the first and is currently awaiting execution.

Early life John Charles Eichinger was born on February 18, 1972, in Malvern, Pennsylvania, as one of four brothers. He attended the Upper Merion Area High School in King of Prussia, where he was part of a large group of friends who would play Dungeons & Dragons in their spare time. Through this activity, he became acquainted with Jennifer Still and Heather Greaves, developing a romantic interest in both women. After graduation, he found work as a clerk at a local Acme supermarket, where he worked alongside Heather Greaves. He was noted for playing in local chess tournaments in his spare time.

Murders On July 6, 1999, Eichinger, donning a pair of rubber gloves and carrying a large knife under his jacket, went to Jennifer Still's home in Bridgeport to confess his feelings towards her. To his dismay, she rejected his advances, stating that she would not leave her fiancé. Enraged by her rejection, Eichinger pulled out the knife and repeatedly stabbed her, ultimately cutting her throat before leaving the house.

Arrest, trial, and imprisonment As the killings heavily resembled Jennifer Still's murder years prior, authorities looked into whether the four victims had any connections. After learning that Jennifer Still and Heather Greaves had been mutual friends with each other and with Eichinger, Detective Richard Nilsen was dispatched to interrogate him at his workplace in Somers Point.

Eichinger agreed to be interviewed, initially making false statements about his whereabouts and denying any involvement. These claims were contested by the prosecutors, who pointed that the defendant had no prior history of mental illness, had planned his crimes in advance and the murders of Lisa and Avery were done to get rid of witnesses. Since his incarceration, he has attempted to appeal his sentence on multiple occasions. Still, each time, his appeals have been denied. In 2008, Eichinger's death warrant was signed by Governor Ed Rendell.

A notice of execution was signed on January 9, 2023, by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Acting Secretary George Little. The notice set March 7, 2023, as Eichinger's execution date, but it was not carried out, as a result of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's announcement of a moratorium on executions on February 16, 2023.

In the media and culture Eichinger's crimes were covered in two separate crime documentary series, both aired on Investigation Discovery: Homicide City as an episode titled Deadly Circle of Friends and In Ice Cold Blood as an episode titled Dungeons, Dragons and Death.