Steven Washington

Steven Washington Jr. (July 27, 1948 – March 18, 2004) was an American serial killer who was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of three elderly women in St. Petersburg, Florida. Dubbed the Window-Screen Rapist by the press, Washington's crimes were committed between August and December 1963 when he was only 15 years old, which makes him one of the youngest serial killers in history. He died in prison in 2004.

Biography Steven Washington Jr. was born in St. Petersburg on July 27, 1948. Little is known about his upbringing, but in October 1963, due to Florida's child marriage laws, he married a 15-year-old girl named Gwendolyn, with whom he fathered one daughter.

Murders On August 28, 1963, Washington attacked a 52-year-old woman during a home invasion. He choked, sexually assaulted, and beat her, but ultimately decided not to kill her.

On September 25, Washington invaded a third home, this time belonging to 75-year-old Austria native Mary Pawliw, by climbing through an open window. He sexually assaulted, beat, choked, and strangled her to death. Washington strangled Pawliw with such force that a bone was broken in her neck. By the time of this killing, authorities began to investigate if the attacks were committed by the same person.

On December 30, Washington entered the home of 80-year-old Eva Miller by climbing through an open window. As he had done prior, he raped, beat, and strangled Miller to death. Neighbors called police shortly after reporting hearing Miller crying. The next day, her body was found. By this attack, police had already come to the conclusion that all of the attacks were related, and one newspaper, The Tampa Tribune, nicknamed the attacker the "window-screen rapist/murderer". Not long after, he confessed, though claimed he was suffering from insanity. In November, Washington pleaded guilty to the murders, and the following month was sentenced to serve three life sentences. In 1969, he was denied a retrial. In 1970, Washington attempted to appeal his convictions through a federal court. However, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied reviewing his case.

On March 18, 2004, Washington died at age 55.