Jerry Brudos' house

This is the former home of American serial killer Jerry Brudos, aka "the Shoe Fetish Slayer."

It is situated at 707 Edina Lane NE in Salem, Oregon.

He lived at this house until his arrest in May 1969.

Brudos murdered four young women between January 1968 and April 1969. Three of his victims were bludgeoned and strangled to death on this property.

Brudos' first known murder took place on January 26th, 1968.

That Friday, 19-year-old Linda Slawson visited this house while she was selling encyclopedias in Northeast Salem.

After answering the door to the young saleswoman, Brudos discreetly lured her down into his basement while his wife and two children were inside the house. Once there, he struck her with a piece of wood and then strangled her to death.

Following the murder, he dressed Slawson's body in women's underwear and shoes.

Before disposing of her remains in a nearby river, Brudos chopped off her foot and stored it in his basement freezer so that he could put different types of high-heel shoes on it.

In the eighteen months that followed, Brudos brought three more victims back to this address. He also attempted to abduct two other women.

23-year-old Jan Susan Whitney was murdered after her car broke down on November 26th, 1968. Sensing his opportunity, Brudos offered the young woman a ride. Shortly afterwards, he strangled her to death in his car.

On March 27, 1969, he abducted 18-year-old Karen Sprinker at gunpoint and drove her back to 707 Edina Lane. Once they arrived at the house, he forced Sprinker to pose in various clothes in his garage while he took photographs. Brudos took the photograph of Sprinker that is shown in the image above. Later, he strangled her to death.

His last known victim was 22-year-old Linda Salee. On April 23rd, 1969, Brudos abducted Salee at gunpoint and brought her back to his garage, where he eventually murdered her.

Arrest and incarceration

The police narrowed in on Brudos as a suspect in May 1969 after three university students reported that a suspicious "Vietnam veteran" had been calling them and asking them to meet. One of the women who accepted this invitation described him as a large man with red hair and freckles.

This description piqued the interest of investigators, as there were reports that a man with red hair and freckles had recently attempted to abduct two young girls.

Sensing that they might be onto something, the detectives convinced the woman to arrange another meeting with her suitor.

When the man showed up at the rendezvous spot, the police were waiting for him. Although Brudos identified himself using his correct name, the address that he gave turned out to be fake.

After realizing that he was lying, the authorities ran a background check on him and discovered that he had been convicted of sexual crimes in the past.

For a short while afterwards, the police kept Brudos under surveillance. However, they were forced to move in and arrest him after they spotted him loading his belongings into his car.

During questioning, he quickly confessed to his crimes. One month later, he pleaded guilty to three murders and was sentenced to life in prison.

On March 28th, 2006, Brudos died from liver cancer at the age of 67.