Harvey Glatman was one of the 20th century’s most notorious serial murderers. In the late 1950s, he was active and earned the moniker “The Glamour Girl Slayer.” He pretended to be a photographer and enticed struggling young models by guaranteeing them successful careers. He then executed them with ruthlessness. Harvey was reared in Colorado after being born in the Bronx. As a child, he exhibited evidence of abnormality. Additionally, he indulged in sadistic self-pleasure, which frequently caused his mother concern. Psychologists believed Harvey would “grow out of” his behavior and asserted he was undergoing a phase. Harvey, however, demonstrated their error. In 1957, Judith Dull was his first victim. He began working as a photographer and enticed Judith by claiming he could secure a modeling position for her in a pulp fiction magazine. Then, he invited her to his apartment, bound her, sexually assaulted her, strangled her, and dumped her corpse in a desert. In 1958, he was apprehended during a kidnapping and tried for three homicides. In September 1959, he was put to death in the gas chamber at ‘San Quentin State Prison.’
Childhood and the Roots of Problems
Harvey Glatman was born in the Bronx to a Jewish household on December 10, 1927. After a few years, the family relocated to Colorado, where he enrolled in education. Albert Glatman, his father, was a milliner and had a small shop in the Bronx and, later, in Colorado, which provided greater business opportunities. Ophelia, his mother, was the first to observe her son’s strange behavior.
Harvey’s parents were aware that something was amiss with him ever since he was a child. He was an extremely slender, antisocial child who had no interest in the activities that his peers enjoyed. Harvey exhibited extreme mood swings and a violent tendency as a child. Instead of finding a better solution to his son’s unusual behavior, his strict father resorted to harsh punishments, which further disturbed young Harvey’s psyche.
Several years passed, but Harvey’s problems remained unresolved. He chuckled in both bizarre and tragic circumstances. His poor attention span hindered his academics even further. His parents were soon forced to place him under house detention. According to his neighbors, he was an introverted and timid youth.
As he became an adolescent, the situation deteriorated, as he was frequently bullied at school. Harvey’s depression was exacerbated by the ridicule he received for his frail physique and crooked teeth. The taunting caused him to develop low self-esteem and make him uncomfortable around females. He was incapable of conversing with women without hesitating and getting cold feet.
When he was 11 years old, his parents discovered he frequently engaged in autoerotic asphyxia, a sadistic activity in which a person binds a rope around his neck and then masturbates for self-gratification. When Harvey’s parents learned of this, they became concerned for his health and moved to Colorado, believing that a change of oxygen would perform a miracle. However, Harvey was unaffected.
His behavior remained unchanged. Soon after, he was taken to the family psychologist, who believed Harvey was going through a “phase” of maturation and would soon “grow out of it.” As Harvey entered high school, however, his actions became crueler.
Harvey Glatman’s Crimes
By the time he was a senior in high school, his behavior had intensified. He began breaking into homes to pilfer property. During one of his early burglaries, he obtained and carried a firearm. These offenses primarily went unnoticed. Soon after, Harvey began to stalk women on the street, pinpoint their residences, and then break into them.
He bound the women and threatened them with a pistol. Strangely, his prior motivations did not include rape or murder. He would simply compel them to lie down with him on the bed. He desired to discover what it was like to be with a woman. He did, however, stroke their bodies and engage in masturbation. He also photographed them during his performances. Due to his crimes, his mother frequently observed him out at night. Frequently, he handled the situation by informing her that he was involved in extracurricular activities at school.
In May 1945, he was discovered breaking into a house red-handed. His pocket contained a pistol and a rope, and he was subsequently interrogated. He disclosed the burglaries to the police but concealed the sexual assaults. While awaiting his burglary trial, he intended to assault another woman. He abducted and assaulted Norene Laurel.
Nonetheless, this crime was reported. Norene immediately reported the assault to the local police station. She was forced to examine a volume of mugshots and immediately recognized Harvey. When he was 17 years old, he was sentenced to one year in ‘Colorado State Prison.’
Within eight months, Harvey was granted parole for his excellent conduct in prison. After his release from prison, his mother took him to a psychiatrist, who informed her that his behavior stemmed from a dread of the opposite sex. Harvey was advised to enroll in dance courses. Due to his notoriety in Colorado, he was also deported from the state.
Harvey Glatman’s Murders
The next few years of Harvey Glatman’s existence were spent moving to different locations and committing various crimes. Throughout the majority of the early to mid-1950s, he committed misdemeanors such as larceny and sexual assaults. The majority of the decade was spent in prison.
He moved to Los Angeles in January 1957 and began working as a photographer. However, his insane fantasies soon took over. He began wandering the streets of Los Angeles in search of victims. He devised a method for luring his victims.
He promised Judith Dull, a model he met through a modeling agency, that he would assist her in launching her modeling career. He brought her to his apartment, bound her with a rope, took photographs of her, and assaulted her sexually. He strangled her to death and then dumped her corpse in the desert.
He met Shirley Ann Bridgeford through the ‘Patty Sullivan Lonely Hearts Club.’ He dated her while using the alias “George Williams” to meet her. He then forced her to undress, sexually violated her, took a number of photographs, and killed her before dumping her body near ‘Anza State Park.’
Ruth Mercado was his third victim, whom he encountered under the alias “Frank Wilson.” She, too, was assaulted sexually, photographed, and murdered.
Arrest & Execution
In October 1958, Harvey Glatman was apprehended for the abduction of Lorraine Vigil, a young model. A patrolman noticed him in the act and arrested him immediately. Harvey confessed to all three homicides he had committed while in custody and was subsequently tried.
He was given a death sentence. On September 18, 1959, he was put to death in the gas chamber at ‘San Quentin State Prison.’
Estimated Net Worth
Harvey is one of the wealthiest and most well-known criminals. Harvey Glatman has a net worth of $5 million, according to our analysis of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.