Benjamin Atkins

Benjamin Atkins
Mugshot
Born	(1968-08-26)August 26, 1968 Detroit, Michigan
Died
Cause of death	HIV
Other names	Woodward Corridor Killer
Criminal penalty	11 terms of life imprisonment
Killings
Victims	11
Span of killings	December 14, 1991–August 21, 1992
Country	United States
State(s)	Michigan

Benjamin (Tony) Atkins (August 26, 1968 – September 17, 1997), also known as the Woodward Corridor Killer, was an American serial killer who killed 11 women in Detroit, Michigan during a period of nine months between December 1991 and August 1992.

All the victims were found in vacant buildings, all were raped and strangled. The majority of the women were murdered in Highland Park. Many of the victims were working as prostitutes. Atkins said he was motivated by a hatred of prostitution. During his trial, it was revealed that Atkins himself was raped at age 10 and witnessed his mother engage in prostitution.

Atkins was sentenced to eleven life sentences. However, on September 17, 1997, he died of an infection caused by HIV.

Victims

• Darlene Saunders, 35, attacked, raped, and sodomized in October 1991 in Highland Park. She survived.
• Debbie Ann Friday, 30, found raped, strangled, and sodomized on December 14, 1991 in Highland Park.
• Bertha Jean Mason, 26, found strangled, raped, and sodomized on December 30, 1991 in Detroit.
• Patricia Cannon George, 36, found strangled, raped, and sodomized on January 3, 1992 in Detroit.
• Vickie Truelove, 39, found sodomized, strangled, and raped, on January 25, 1992 in Detroit.
• Valerie Chalk, 34, found repeatedly sodomized, raped, and strangled, on February 17, 1992 at Monterey Motel, Room 68, Highland Park.
• Juanita Hardy, 23, found raped and strangled at Monterey Motel, Room 35, February 17, 1992.
• Unknown female's body found raped and strangled at Monterey Motel, Room 18, February 17, 1992.
• Brenda Mitchell, 38, found raped and strangled on April 9, 1992 in Highland Park.
• Vicki Beasley-Brown, 43, found raped and strangled on April 15, 1992 in Highland Park.
• Joanne O'Rourke, 40, found repeatedly raped, strangled on June 15, 1992 in Highland Park.
• Ocinena Waymer, 22, found beaten, raped, sodomized, and strangled on August 21, 1992 in Highland Park.