Bag murders

While examining the clothing left on the body parts, it was determined that all of them had been bought from leather stores in Greenwich Village, on the west side of Lower Manhattan, a popular gathering place for homosexuals due to the abundance of gay bars and similar institutions.[2] At his trial, prosecutors brought before the court a witness named Richard Ryan, who claimed that Bateson had told him shortly before Verrill's murder that he had also killed three other men: 29-year-old Ronald Cabeau, 41-year-old Donald McNiven and 53-year-old John Beardsley.[5] Following their conversation, Friedkin decided to adapt Gerald Walker's 1970 novel Cruising, taking inspiration from the recent murders to serve as plot elements.[6] Friedkin later claimed that while interviewing Bateson, he got him to partially admit responsibility in the murders, particularly about one gay man whose body he had dismembered, the remains stuffed in a garbage bag and then thrown into the East River.[8] His articles caused a public outcry in the state, attracting the attention of various human rights organizations and serving as an important step for the gay liberation movement.
New Yorkseries of murdersNew York CityHudson Rivergay communityleather storesGreenwich VillageLower ManhattanPaul Batesongay barsgay menWilliam FriedkinThe ExorcistGerald WalkerCruisingeponymous filmAl PacinoEast RiverArthur BellThe Village Voicegay liberationEd Kochcrime thrillerMindhunterList of serial killers in the United StatesList of unsolved murdersList of fugitives from justice who disappearedInside EditionEsquireThe New York Times