True crime Friday: Jack Unterweger - The International Serial Killer

Johann "Jack" Unterweger was an Austrian serial killer. He committed murder in several countries including the United States. He committed crimes in Austria, West Germany, and Czechoslovakia. Unterweger was convicted in 1974, of murdering a friend of his then girlfriend. He went to prison for the murder. While serving his sentence he earned an education and began to write children books. His work gained the attention of the Austria’s literary elite, who took it as evidence that Jack, had been rehabilitated and deserved a second chance at life. Due to public pressure Unterweger was released from prison in 1990. He was a celebrity amongst the elite as a playwright and journalist. Seems people had convinced themselves that he had changed but within months of being released from prison he killed again!

Jack Unterweger's Early Life

Jack Unterweger was born August 16, 1950, in Austria. His mother Theresia Unterweger, was a barmaid, waitress and sex worker. His father Jack Becker was an American soldier whom she had met in Italy. Unterweger's mother was jailed for stealing. She was pregnant with Jack at the time of her arrest. She was eventually released and travelled to Graz where her son Jack was born. After his mother was arrested again in 1953, Unterweger was sent to live with his maternal grandfather. His grandfather was not a good role model for his grandson and that is an understatement. He used Jack to help him steal. He also brought his lovers/sex workers to the house where he often had sex in front of his young grandson. He also abused and neglected Jack. Unterweger was in and out of prison for much of his life. He worked odd jobs but did not make enough money to support himself so he stole money from businesses and also worked as pimp.

The Victims of Johann "Jack" Unterweger

• Margaret Schäfer, 18 Germany
• Blanka Bočková, 30, Czechoslovakia
• Brunhilde Masser, 39, Austria
• Heidi Hammerer, 31, Austria
• Elfriede Schrempf, 35, Austria
• Silvia Zagler, 23, Austria
• Sabine Moitzl, 25, Austria
• Karin Eroglu-Sladky, 25, Austria
• Regina Prem, 32, Austria
• Shannon Exley, United States
• Irene Rodriguez, United States
• Peggy Boot, United States

A Killer Given Free Reign to His Prey

Unterweger was hired in 1991, by an Austrian magazine to write about crime in Los Angeles, California. The article was to showcase the differences between the U.S. and European attitudes towards sex workers. He went on a ride-along in the red-light district of Los Angeles to interview sex workers. While visiting California, Austrian police began an investigation into him for the murders of several sex workers. Jack, as a reporter had access to interview sex workers even though he had been arrested for assaulting sex workers previously. Police took a serious look at Unterweger and kept a watchful eye on him until Jack, flew to the United States. The Austrian police through Interpol discovered that Unterweger and his new girlfriend had flown to America, so they contacted the police in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles police advised that they recently had three sex workers murdered while Unterweger was in the Los Angeles area. In fact, it was the district that he went on a ride along with police.

By this time the Austrian press had lost faith in Unterweger's innocence. There was just too much evidence pointing to his guilt. The police in Graz had gathered enough evidence to arrest Unterweger for the murders of several sex workers. He was arrested by the United States Marshals in Miami, Florida in 1992. Unterweger was send back to Austria in 1992. He was charged with eleven murders, including one in Prague and the three in California. He was found guilty of nine murders. Austrian psychiatrist Dr. Reinhard Haller diagnosed Unterweger with Narcissist Personality Disorder (NPD) and presented his findings to the court in June, 1994. Unterweger was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Lady Justice

Unterweger committed suicide in prison after being convicted of nine murders in June, 1994. Unterweger, after his arrest had requested an appeal of his conviction. Under Austrian law, his guilty verdict was not considered legally binding after his death. The law states that it had not been viewed by the court and confirmed because he committed suicide.

Reference

Jack Unterweger: Biography, Serial Killer, Movie, Crimes & Facts

Jack Unterweger - Wikipedia

Unterweger’s Signature Knot: The “Austrian Jack the Ripper’s” Murder Spree in the Vienna Woods and the Hollywood Hills – The Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies (botstiberbiaas.org)

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