About
American-Scottish serial killer known for being convicted of murdering seven people in southern Scotland. He was nicknamed the "the Beast of Birkenshaw."
Before Fame
As a teenager, he was a petty thief and committed a series of sexual attacks which put him in prison for nine years.
Trivia
He is suspected to have killed two more people than the seven he was convicted of. He conducted his own defense in a sensational trial. He was convicted and hanged at Glasgow's Barlinnie Prison. He was the third-to-last criminal to be executed in Scotland.
Family Life
He was born in New York to Scottish parents. They moved to Detroit, Michigan, and later to Birkenshaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Associated With
He was an inspiration for the portrayal of Hannibal Lecter, played by Scottish actor Brian Cox, in the movie Manhunters.
