True Crime Friday: Sean M. Lannon, American Serial Killer

Sean Lannon was born March 3, 1974. He is an American Serial Killer. He has not earned a moniker yet because this story has not become major news. Serial killers are more understood now so it takes a huge body count to get significant media coverage. He confessed to killing at least sixteen people including his ex-wife. Authorities were only able to verify five victims and that was mainly because he left one of the victims’ vehicles at the Albuquerque International Airport where bodies were found inside of a truck. He had victims in Mexico and New Jersey. His reign of terror was in 2021 between the months of January and March.

The Early Childhood of Sean Lannon

Not much is known about Sean Lannon’s early childhood. From my research of serial killers, they generally do not start killing late in life. They fantasize about murder during formative years before acting upon it generally in their early teens to early twenties. Even though the police were only able to verify five murders, I do believe he probably killed at least the sixteen he claimed and possibly more. Police originally thought Matthew Miller, who was friends with all the victims, had committed the murders since the bodies and body parts were found in his truck located at the airport parking lot. To their shock, he was also a victim. They found video footage from a neighbor’s home showing Lannon driving the victim’s truck and moving furniture.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) states that serial killers seek to have complete control over another human being. They think of themselves as godlike people who can let a person live or die because they are in control of the situation. This is a trait many serial killers demonstrate from an early age. Serial killers will harm animals before moving on to human beings. They have no sympathy, empathy or remorse for the victims and their families.

The Victims of Sean Lannon

• Jennifer Lannon, 39
• Jesten Mata, 40
• Matthew Miller, 21
• Randall Apostolan, 60
• Michael Dabkowski, 66

On March 5, 2021, the bodies of four people were found in a vehicle at the airport parking garage. The authorities identified them as Jennifer Lannon who was Lannon's ex-wife, Matthew Miller, Jesten Mata, and Randal Apostalon, three of whom were reported missing in January. Three days later, Michael Dabkowski was found bludgeoned to death at his home in New Jersey. At the time of his arrest, he was driving the victim’s vehicle. Sean Lannon also claimed to have been sexually abused as a minor by Dabkowski, which is why he killed him because the victim would not confess to sexually assaulting him.

Lady Justice

Sean M. Lannon faced trial first in the State of New Jersey for the murder of Michael Dabkowski. He pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to thirty five years in prison two months later. He then faced charges in New Mexico for the other murders. The authorities said he killed Jennifer Lannon and then dismembered her. He also did the same to Jesten Mata and Michael Miller. He later murdered Randal Apostolan after having the intended victim load the remains of the other victims placed in a pickup truck. Lannon pleaded guilty in May of 2024, to the other murders of the other victims and was given four fifteen-year consecutive sentences for each. As part of the plea agreement, Lannon will serve his thirty-five-year sentence in New Jersey, then be returned to New Mexico to serve the sixty-year combined total sentence.

Reference

• Official confirms man now linked to 5 deaths
• Man Picked Up After Multi-State Manhunt for Quadruple Murder Charged in NJ Slaying
• Samuel Little: Confessions of a Killer — FBI
• FBI — Serial Murder Report
• Wikipedia - Sean Lannon