Andrew Kokoraleis was one of two brothers involved in one of the most brutal and disturbing serial killer cases in U.S. history. He grew up in Illinois and was raised in a Greek Orthodox family alongside his brother, Thomas Kokoraleis. Little is publicly known about Andrew’s early life prior to his criminal involvement, but court and psychological records revealed a man who functioned as a follower rather than a mastermind. He reportedly had low intellectual ability and was described by his defense attorney as not being the "prime mover" in the group's sadistic acts.

Andrew, along with his brother and two other men — Edward Spreitzer and Robin Gecht — formed what would come to be known as the Ripper Crew, a satanic cult-like gang of rapists, torturers, and murderers. Their crimes were fueled by sexual sadism, extreme violence, and ritualistic mutilation of women. While the ringleader was believed to be Gecht, Andrew Kokoraleis became deeply involved in the gruesome rituals that led to the deaths of numerous victims.

The Ripper Crew is suspected to have killed at least 17 women across Illinois between 1981 and 1982. The crimes were characterized by ritualistic torture, abduction, rape, mutilation — especially the amputation of breasts — and often, murder.

Their first known victim was Linda Sutton, who was abducted on May 23, 1981. Her mutilated body was found ten days later with her left breast removed. The crew struck again almost a year later on May 15, 1982, kidnapping Lorraine Borowski on her way to work. Her remains were found five months later in a cemetery. In the following months, several more women — including Shui Mak, Sandra Delaware, and Rose Davis — were abducted, tortured, and mutilated in a similarly horrific fashion.

The group also attempted to kill Angel York, who survived and provided a vague description of her attackers. They even committed a random drive-by shooting that killed Rafael Tirado, marking their only known male murder victim.

Eventually, the surviving victim Beverley Washington, who was left for dead after being mutilated and dumped near train tracks, identified Robin Gecht’s van, helping lead authorities to the group. Investigators unraveled a trail of sadistic violence, and members of the gang were arrested in late 1982. Andrew Kokoraleis was taken into custody on November 7, 1982, and soon confessed along with Spreitzer to a series of murders.

Andrew was convicted in 1985 for the murder of Rose Davis and sentenced to life in prison without parole. However, he was later convicted again in 1987 for the murder of Lorraine Borowski and sentenced to death.

Andrew Kokoraleis was executed by lethal injection on March 17, 1999, at Tamms Correctional Center. He was the last person executed in Illinois before the state abolished the death penalty in 2011. His final words expressed remorse and a plea for spiritual repentance.

Despite the heinous nature of his crimes, Andrew’s execution stirred public debate due to the Orthodox Church’s involvement and anti-death penalty activism. His brother, Thomas Kokoraleis, was also convicted and later released in 2019.