Alive Killers

Danny Johnson became one of Columbus, Ohio's most notorious domestic killers after murdering his girlfriend, 46-year-old Cathleen "Kit Kat" Howatt, at a homeless encampment near the Scioto River in April 2016. The killing followed a violent altercation witnessed by nearby residents who had become accustomed to Johnson's abuse of Howatt. Following a jury trial in 2017, Johnson was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 15 years.

Darren Vickers is a British man convicted of the 1997 murder of eight-year-old Jamie Lavis in Greater Manchester, England. At the time, he worked as a bus driver, a role that placed him in a position of routine contact with the public, including children. The case gained significant attention due to the abuse of that position and the circumstances of the child’s disappearance. Vickers was later arrested, convicted, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

David Berkowitz, known as the “Son of Sam,” is an American serial killer responsible for a series of shootings in New York City between 1976 and 1977. His crimes created widespread fear and led to one of the largest manhunts in the city’s history. Berkowitz gained notoriety for sending letters to police and media, claiming responsibility for the attacks. He was later arrested, confessed, and sentenced to multiple life terms.

David Camm became one of the most controversial figures in American criminal justice after being accused of murdering his wife, Kimberly "Kim" Camm, and their two children, Brad and Jill, in Georgetown, Indiana, on September 28, 2000. A former Indiana State Trooper, Camm returned home from a basketball game to discover his family shot to death inside the garage of the family residence. Investigators quickly focused on him as the primary suspect, leading to a case that would dominate headlines for more than a decade. Although convicted twice and sentenced to prison, both convictions were later overturned. Prosecutors repeatedly argued that Camm had murdered his family, while the defense maintained he was the victim of a flawed investigation that ignored evidence pointing to another offender. After a third trial in 2013, Camm was acquitted of all charges. The case remains one of the most famous wrongful conviction cases in modern American history and continues to generate debate about forensic evidence, tunnel vision in investigations, and prosecutorial misconduct.

David Eisenhauer is an American convicted murderer who killed 13-year-old Nicole Lovell in Blacksburg, Virginia, in January 2016. Eisenhauer was an 18-year-old freshman engineering student at Virginia Tech when he developed an online relationship with Lovell, a seventh-grade student. They communicated through social-media and messaging applications before meeting in person. On January 27, 2016, Eisenhauer lured Lovell from her family's apartment by arranging what he described as a secret date. He abducted her and took her to a wooded area in North Carolina, where she was stabbed to death. Lovell's body was discovered several days later near the Virginia-North Carolina border. A medical examiner determined that she had suffered 14 stab wounds, including a fatal wound to her neck. (cbsnews.com) Eisenhauer was arrested two days after Lovell disappeared. Investigators found evidence connecting him to the crime, including Lovell's blood in his vehicle and DNA evidence. (washingtonpost.com) During his 2018 trial, Eisenhauer unexpectedly pleaded no contest to first-degree murder, abduction and concealing a body. A no-contest plea does not formally admit guilt but has the same effect as a guilty plea for sentencing. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison, followed by 25 years of probation.

David Carl Kinney became known in true crime and financial crime reporting after being convicted of murdering his longtime friend Brad McGarry in a case prosecutors described as motivated by greed, deception, and financial manipulation. Investigators alleged Kinney killed McGarry to gain control over money, property, and personal assets while attempting to conceal the crime through elaborate fraud and identity-related schemes. The case attracted widespread attention because of the calculated nature of the killing and the extensive efforts allegedly used to cover up McGarry’s disappearance after the murder. Prosecutors argued Kinney continued exploiting the victim’s identity, finances, and personal accounts after the killing, turning the case into both a homicide investigation and a major fraud prosecution. The combination of betrayal, financial exploitation, and post-murder deception made the case particularly disturbing to investigators and the public.

David Tronnes became one of Florida's most notorious domestic killers after murdering his wife, Shanti Cooper-Tronnes, inside their Orlando home in 2018. Prosecutors alleged Tronnes killed Shanti after their marriage deteriorated amid financial disputes and his obsession with renovating their home for profit. He then attempted to disguise the homicide as an accidental fall during construction work. Following a lengthy investigation and trial, Tronnes was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

Dennis Rader, known as the BTK Killer (Bind, Torture, Kill), is an American serial killer who murdered ten victims in Kansas between 1974 and 1991. He targeted individuals in their homes, carrying out controlled and methodical attacks. Rader evaded capture for decades while maintaining a normal public life. His case gained notoriety due to his communication with media and law enforcement, and his eventual capture in 2005 following a forensic breakthrough.