MARY B ALVEY
Police artist sketch of "Night Creeper"
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86-year old Mary Alvey was beaten on Sunday, February 15, 1987, inside her home at 709 South Highland Park Avenue. She died several months later.
Alvey was one of three elderly women in the Highland Park neighborhood found brutally beaten in their homes within a 24 hour period. Investigators believe the women were beaten by a man suspected in nearly two dozen attacks that began in February of 1986 and ended in October of 1987. Police believe this suspect is responsible for at least two other deaths, the murders of Allie Collier and Ellen Walker. |
The killer, dubbed "the Night Creeper" by police, is a black man who was in his mid-20's to early 30's at the time of the attacks, approximately 5'9", with stocky build, a medium-length beard and a mustache.
During a 1987 interview with the Chattanooga Times, Lt. Bill Zinkeler, then supervisor of CPD's homicide division, described the suspect this way: "He's a sociopath. He uses more physical force than necessary to complete the crime."
Major Crimes Detectives who originally worked cases involving the Night Creeper say he is extremely violent, someone who enjoys hurting people. And his crimes were well-defined. The attacks typically occurred overnight, between 10:00pm and 4:00am, and happened in the Highland Park neighborhood. All the victims were elderly, on average 80 years old. The man sometimes broke in through a bedroom window. Other times he scammed his way inside the victims' houses, typically ringing the door bell to ask if he could use a phone. He did not take any property that could be traced back to his victims, only cash or small things that would fit in his pockets.
Original Investigating Agency: Chattanooga Police Department
During a 1987 interview with the Chattanooga Times, Lt. Bill Zinkeler, then supervisor of CPD's homicide division, described the suspect this way: "He's a sociopath. He uses more physical force than necessary to complete the crime."
Major Crimes Detectives who originally worked cases involving the Night Creeper say he is extremely violent, someone who enjoys hurting people. And his crimes were well-defined. The attacks typically occurred overnight, between 10:00pm and 4:00am, and happened in the Highland Park neighborhood. All the victims were elderly, on average 80 years old. The man sometimes broke in through a bedroom window. Other times he scammed his way inside the victims' houses, typically ringing the door bell to ask if he could use a phone. He did not take any property that could be traced back to his victims, only cash or small things that would fit in his pockets.
Original Investigating Agency: Chattanooga Police Department
If you have information on this case, please use the form below or call the cold case hotline: 423-209-7470
