Calvin Jackson was born on March 5, 1948, in Buffalo, New York. He grew up in a poor family. They lived in a neighborhood with many other families who also struggled financially. Calvin's early life was challenging because of his surroundings and the lack of resources.

As a teenager, Calvin became addicted to drugs. He faced difficulties in school and dropped out after completing the 10th grade. This decision led him down a path of crime. In October 1965, he was arrested for robbery. He was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison. Calvin served his time at the Elmira Correctional Facility.

After being released on parole in the late 1960s, Calvin moved to New York City. There, he met Valerie Coleman, and they got married. However, he faced challenges in finding stable work. Due to his lack of discipline, he struggled to keep jobs and often took on odd jobs to make ends meet. During this time, he occasionally committed thefts in Manhattan and found himself in prison several times.

In 1970, Calvin was arrested again, this time for drug possession. He was convicted and spent 90 days in jail. Over the next three years, he faced additional arrests for drug possession and theft but received short prison terms each time.

In early 1972, Calvin and his partner started living at the Park Plaza Hotel in Manhattan's West Side, an area known for poverty and crime. Shortly after moving in, Calvin managed to overcome his drug addiction and found work as a porter in the hotel.

Calvin Jackson committed a series of murders in New York City between 1973 and 1974. He targeted single women aged 39 to 79, most of whom lived at the Park Plaza Hotel. His method involved smothering the victims with a pillow during break-ins and then robbing them of their valuables. After killing them, he engaged in sexual acts with their corpses.

On April 10, 1973, he murdered 39-year-old Theresa Jordan in her hotel room. Later, on July 19, he killed 65-year-old Kate Lewisohn in a similar fashion. On April 24, 1974, he broke into the room of 60-year-old Mable Hartmeyer, where he strangled her before committing sexual acts and stealing money. Just five days later, on April 29, he stabbed 79-year-old Yeria Vishnefsky while robbing her.

In June 1974, he continued his crimes, killing 47-year-old Winifred Miller on June 8 by smothering her, and then strangling 71-year-old Blanche Vincent on June 19. On July 1, Jackson murdered 69-year-old Martha Carpenter in her hotel room before stealing her valuables. His last victim was 64-year-old sculptor Eleanor Platt, found dead on August 30.

Jackson's final crime took place on September 12, 1974, when he entered the apartment of 69-year-old Pauline Spanierman, smothered her, and stole several items. Her body was discovered by a maid that morning, which led to a police investigation.

Witnesses described seeing a young black man with a TV leaving the building after the murder. Jackson, known to some residents from the Park Plaza Hotel, was soon arrested. During police questioning, he confessed to Spanierman's murder and admitted to killing ten others.

The police had doubts about his confessions because many crime scenes lacked signs of struggle or burglary. To verify his claims, they exhumed some victims' bodies for more evidence, but the tests were inconclusive. Two women he claimed to have killed were found to be alive. However, some survivors confirmed they had been attacked by a man matching Jackson's description.

Despite lack of concrete evidence, Jackson was charged with nine murders and numerous other crimes. He initially claimed insanity but later recanted his confessions. After three psychiatric evaluations concluded he was sane, he was put on trial in 1976. He was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to four life terms in prison.

After his sentencing, Jackson spent years in various prisons. He became eligible for parole in 1999, but his request was denied. By 2020, he was residing at the Sullivan Correctional Facility and had another parole hearing in March 2021.