July 1974. Paul John Knowles escapes from a Florida jail and begins a violent journey across the United States—leaving a trail of robbery, abduction, sexual assault, and murder in his wake.
Young, handsome, and outwardly charming, Knowles could appear polished, intelligent, and trustworthy. His looks and ability to win people over earned him the name the Casanova Killer, but the romantic nickname concealed a ruthless predator who targeted women, men, children, and families with little apparent pattern.
Over the next several months, Knowles moved from state to state, stealing cars, changing identities, and killing those who crossed his path. Authorities ultimately linked him to at least 18 deaths, although Knowles claimed he had murdered as many as 35 people. The true number may never be known.
His victims included strangers who offered him kindness, people he encountered while traveling, and those who simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even as police closed in, Knowles appeared determined to control the story of his crimes, recording confessions and attempting to turn his killing spree into a path toward notoriety.
In November 1974, his cross-country rampage finally ended after a civilian captured him following a car crash. But Knowles would never stand trial. Weeks later, while accompanying law-enforcement officers in search of evidence, he was shot and killed after allegedly attempting to escape.
Was Paul John Knowles driven by rage, a desperate hunger for fame, or the thrill of moving through America as an unidentified killer?
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
