Episode 617: Jerry Brudos: The Shoe Fetish Slayer (Part 1)

Jerry Brudos' upbringing in a troubled environment, marked by abuse and neglect, profoundly shaped his perception of sex and women, leading to his disturbed behavior.

Brudos experienced an unstable and abusive home environment growing up

Henry Brudos struggled with steady employment, often taking up farming and other odd jobs but with little success, leading the family to move frequently. Eileen, his mother, was cold and distant, especially towards Jerry. She openly favored his brother Larry, causing Jerry to feel unwanted and emotionally neglected. This lack of affection was compounded by Eileen's abusive treatment towards Jerry, whom she regarded as an egotistical disappointment for being a boy rather than the girl she had hoped for.

His mother's disdain and lack of affection

The situation worsened when Jerry was discharged from the army and returned home to find that his mother had given the spare bedroom to Larry, banishing Jerry to live in an old shed. This action highlighted Eileen’s blatant favoritism and emotional neglect. She never hid her disappointment in Jerry's birth and upbringing, taking out most of her anger on him. This hostile and disdainful treatment by his mother would haunt Jerry and shape his attitudes towards women.

Brudos' early fascination with women's shoes and undergarments developed into a disturbing fetish

Jerry Brudos' obsession with women's shoes began at a tender age of five when he found a pair of high-heeled shoes in a junkyard, a sharp contrast to his mother's plain footwear. He brought them home, unaware of why his mother was so angry upon discovering them. After hiding and then being caught playing with them again, his mother burned the shoes and locked him in his bedroom, reactions that only served to deepen his fixations.

In school, Brudos' compulsion drove him to steal his female teacher’s shoes, hiding them with the intention to take them home, though they were later found and returned. His mother’s harsh punishment did not quell his curiosity but instead rein ...

Brudos married a much younger woman, Ralphine, when he was 24 and she was only 17

Jerry Brudos, who developed a hatred and disgust for women by his early 20s, met Ralphine Schwindler, then a 17-year-old, at a radio station in Corvallis. Ralphine's simple nature and affections stood out as exceptions in Brudos' view of women. She laughed at his jokes and cared for him in a nurturing way, which he hadn't experienced before. Despite disapproval from her parents—who questioned the intentions of a 24-year-old with their teenage daughter—Ralphine was attracted to Jerry's perceived sophistication and the thrill of her parents' disapproval. Ralphine's willingness to fall in line with Jerry's decisions regarding their outings further deepened his control over her.

After Ralphine became pregnant, Jerry quickly proposed, and she accepted, seemingly happy to be with someone who appeared more mature than boys her age. Ralphine was probably drawn to Jerry's sophistication and the excitement of going against her parents' wishes.

Brudos' controlling and abusive behaviors toward Ralphine escalated over time

Jerry Brudos' possessive and controlling nature soon surfaced. Ash Kelley mentions that Jerry insisted on both he and Ralphine being nude in their home, a requirement that even extended to their toddler child, until Ralphine convinced Jerry to stop as it was inappropriate for their growing daughter. Ralphine was also coerced into participating in Jerry's voyeuristic photography sessions. She felt uneasy posing in revealing ways and using props like nylon stockings and high-heeled shoes, with some photographs needing to be developed outside, which added to her discomfort. Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley emphasize that the lack of consent in these situations highlighted an unhealthy dynamic.

Brudos' darker impulses put a severe strain on the marriage

Despite Ralphine's initial perception of their relationship improving following the birth of their son Jason, with Brudos appearing more engaged and attentive, these moments of seeming normalcy were fleeting. Jerry was notably uninterested and distant with his daughter, ignoring her needs for attention and pushing her away.

Ralphine ...

Brudos had a long history of sexual assault and violent behavior, starting in his teenage years

From a young age, Brudos exhibited disturbing behavior that escalated over time. At 16, he assaulted a neighbor at knifepoint, forcing her to undress while taking pictures of her. Despite the victim recognizing him, she was too afraid to report the crime due to Brudos' threats.

Brudos' violent tendencies were further illustrated during another incident in which he claimed not to remember clearly, where a girl ended up with a broken nose. Brudos was diagnosed with adjustment reaction of adolescents with sexual deviation fetishism. Despite being convicted for his actions, he was permitted to return to school during the day, retreating to the hospital at night. After nine months, he was deemed no longer a threat and was discharged into his parents' care.

Jerry Brudos, plagued by stress, would take walks, during which he would stalk and assault women, stealing their shoes or clothing items, and leave them. His obsession with shoes and undergarments manifested early; he was known to steal women's underwear from their laundry, and his bedroom searches revealed a hidden stash of stolen clothing and photographs of women posing under duress.

Brudos escalated to murder, killing multiple women in horrific ways

Brudos' aggression eventually escalated to murder. He lured and killed Linda Slauson, a 19-year-old door-to-door encyclopedia saleswoman, by striking her with wood and then choking her to death. He dressed and undressed her corpse in various garments, sexually assaulting her dead body, and photographing her in these degrading states. Brudos kept fragments of her body as grotesque "trophies," including her foot stored in a freezer and her remains dumped in the Willamette River. He later claimed to investigators that he believed she was still alive when disposed.

Jan Whitney also fell victim to Brudos' macabre compulsions. He lured her under the pretense of needing tools for a car repair, then strangled ...

The case of notorious criminal Brudos eventually came to a close with his arrest and subsequent conviction. His violations came to light following the disappearance of Jan Whitney, which uncovered the grim reality of his actions.

Brudos' crimes were finally uncovered after the disappearance of Jan Whitney

Jan Whitney’s disappearance marked a turning point in the investigation into Brudos' crimes. Whitney's car was found abandoned, prompting a missing persons investigation. During the course of this investigation, authorities discovered evidence linking Brudos to the crime, notably including photographs he had taken.

Brudos confessed to his crimes when confronted by the police

Confronted by the evidence against him, Brudos originally tried to deflect blame and claimed innocence. He initially denied any wrongdoing before admitting that his temper got the best of him. When Brudos' mother, Eileen, found suspicious items in his bedroom, he tried to shift responsibility, claiming that another boy had taken the pictures and that he was merely forced to develop them.

Despite these attempts at deflection, the truth about Brudos' crimes surfaced. He eventually admitted to the murders and sexual assaults. Brudos’ disturbing behaviors and the possessions found in his home served to further corroborate the allegations against him.

Brudos was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for his heinous acts

Following the irrefutable evidence and his confession, ...