The Prolific Murders of Earle Nelson
The Dark Strangler terrorized North America for 18 months, leaving over 20 deaths in his wake
In the era before serial killers were pillars in the news, one of North America’s most terrible and prolific killers was a man named Earle Nelson.
Rough Beginnings
He was born Earle Leonard Farrel in San Francisco, California, on May 12, 1897. His parents, James C Farrel and Fannie Nelson, died of syphilis before the boy was two years old. Earle found a home with his maternal grandparents, Lars and Mary “Jennie” Nelson, who were raising their own five children. The family lived at 3525 20th Street, in San Francisco.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
04 Nov 1927, Fri • Page 1
Lars and Jennie were Pentecostals who raised children to believe sex outside of the marriage bed, even the thought of it, meant sure damnation.
Earle’s childhood was marred by illness and near brushes with death. Earle almost died from diphtheria at age nine. When he was ten, he was hit by a streetcar while riding his bicycle. He sustained an injury to his temple and remained unconscious for six days. Earle recovered physically…
