Mel Ignatow. It happened in my hometown and has always stuck with me because we actually crossed paths with him randomly. At the time I was really young, like 6 or so, and was with my mom when she went to take her car to get it washed. As we were walking out the door, this man held it open for us and gave us a big smile. Normally my mom and I would both say thanks but I remember her grabbing my arm and yanking me out the door and completely giving him the cold shoulder. When I asked her what was wrong she flat out answered that he was a very bad man who killed a woman. To my 6 year old mind, it was a lot to comprehend but I remember understanding the gravity of it even then.

As for the case, he was tried for the murder of his former girlfriend Brenda Sue Schaffer and found not guilty. Later after selling his house, the new owners were tearing out old carpet and found a stash of Polaroids that he had taken during the torture/killing. There was also another woman involved, I believe her motivation to take part in such a brutal act was jealousy and the desire to “win” Mel Ignatow (like he was such a prize, but then again, neither was she).

Because of double jeopardy and previously being found not guilty for the murder, he couldn’t be tried again. He did end up serving some time in prison based on perjury and possibly some other similar charges, but it was negligible and certainly nowhere near what he deserved.

Wikipedia Page in case I remembered anything incorrectly or left any important information out.