True Crime Friday: Melvin David Rees, The Sex Beast Serial Killer
Melvin David Rees (1928 – October 26, 1995) was an American serial killer. Melvin Rees month and day of birth is unknown. Melvin David Rees committed murders between 1957 and 1959. After his conviction for the killings, Rees confessed to two other murders, and authorities believed he was involved in many more murders than he admitted. Rees dated Hollywood actress and dancer Pat Barrington. He was also a prominent Jazz musician in Washington, D.C.
The Early Childhood of Melvin David Rees
Not much is known about his childhood. Although rumor has it he was born in the UK. Rumor also has it that he was disowned and sent away to live in America in his early childhood years. He attended Edwards Military Institute in Salemsburg, NC. He also attended Woodward School for Boys in Washington, DC before graduating from Hyattsville High School in Maryland.Melvin Rees serviced in the army in October, 1946. He was a military musician in Europe until his discharge in 1953. When Rees returned home from service he enrolled and was accepted into the University of Maryland. Rees was considered by many to be a talented musician. His skills with the instruments like the saxophone, piano, and clarinet were exceptional. Rees dropped out of college so that he could pursue a music career. He travelled around Washington, D.C. playing at local jazz clubs. Rees married student Elaine Rachmaninoff from the University of Maryland. The marriage lasted roughly five years. They had a child together named Phillip. After the divorce, Rees was living in Maryland in 1960 with actress and dancer Pat Barrington. The couple eventually moved to West Memphis, Arkansas, where Rees had taken a temporary job in a piano shop. Rees was arrested for murder on June 24, 1960.
The Victims of Melvin David Rees
- Margaret Harold
The Jackson Family:
- Carroll Jackson
- Mildred Jackson
- Janet Jackson
- Susan Jackson
Suspected of Killing The University of Maryland Students:
- Mary Shomette
- Michael Ann Ryan
- Mary Fellers
- Shelby Venable
Police Receive a Valuable Tip
Police stated that Carroll Jackson had been dumped over the body of his eighteen-month-old daughter Janet Jackson. The child had been dumped alive in the ditch before her father in which she suffocated under the weight of her father’s body. The bodies of Mildred and Susan Jackson were discovered in a forest. They both had been tortured and sexually assaulted.Glenn Moser a friend of Rees sent a letter to the Fredericksburg authorities, suggesting that they look in to the musician. Moser explained he had many conversations with Rees in which he said disturbing things such as whether murder could be considered acceptable. Rees, under the influence of drugs confided to Moser that he considered murder to just be another part of the "human experience" in which he wanted to participate. Rees believed only individual decisions make murder right or wrong. Per Moser this discussion took place the day before the Jacksons family was murdered. When Moser heard of the killing he immediately suspected Rees.
Authorities decided to follow the lead and question Rees. After running a background check, police discovered that he had attended the University of Maryland and dated Wanda Tipton, who was questioned in the Margaret Harold investigation by police. Tipton eventually admitted to having a relationship with Rees. She had lied about the relationship when first questioned by the authorities.
Lady Justice
Rees was convicted by the state of Maryland regarding Harold's murder. He sentenced to life in prison without parole. It is suspected that Rees’ murdered teenagers Mary Shomette, Michael Ann Ryan, Mary Fellers, and Shelby Venable who were all found raped and killed in separate events. Rees was never charged those murders because of lack of evidence. Rees was sentenced to life in prison in Maryland and sentenced to death in Virginia in 1961. Rees death sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1972. Melvin David Rees died in prison in 1995.Reference
Killer: Melvin Rees - The Sex Beast profiled on Killer. CloudMelvin Rees - Wikipedia
Necrophilia Drove Jazz Player to Murder | True Crime | by Lisa Marie Fuqua | True Crime Addiction | Medium