Gerard John Schaefer was born on March 25, 1946, in Wisconsin. He was the oldest of three children in a family that often faced conflicts. His father was a traveling salesman, and his parents' marriage was turbulent, which affected Schaefer deeply. Growing up, he felt that his father was overly critical and favored his sister, which led to feelings of inadequacy and anger.

As a teenager, Schaefer began developing disturbing fantasies about hurting women. These fantasies evolved over time, and he started engaging in self-harm and other troubling behaviors. He also became known as a "peeping tom" and had a habit of cross-dressing. Despite these issues, he managed to perform well in school, participating in the varsity football team and excelling in golf.

After graduating from high school in 1964, Schaefer briefly worked as a fishing guide before enrolling at Broward Community College, where he initially studied social studies before switching to education. He later transferred to Florida Atlantic University with aspirations of becoming a teacher.

In 1968, Schaefer married Martha Louise Fogg, but the marriage quickly deteriorated due to his erratic behavior and constant demands. They divorced in 1970. Schaefer then briefly dated another woman, but that relationship also ended quickly.

Schaefer's teaching career was short-lived. He worked as a student teacher but was fired from multiple positions due to his refusal to follow instructions and his attempts to impose his personal views on students. In 1971, after his teaching career ended, he joined the Wilton Manors police department, despite lying about his previous work experience.

Gerard John Schaefer, a former police officer, committed a series of brutal crimes in the early 1970s. He used his position to lure victims, often young girls, under the guise of offering them help or a ride. Schaefer would then abduct, torture, and kill them. His first confirmed victims were Nancy Trotter and Paula Sue Wells, whom he kidnapped in 1972. They managed to escape and reported him, leading to his arrest.

Despite being out on bail, Schaefer continued his murderous spree. In September 1972, he abducted Susan Place and Georgia Jessup. Their bodies were found months later, showing signs of severe violence. Schaefer's killing methods often included binding his victims to trees, torturing them, and then killing them by various means, including strangulation.

Schaefer was eventually convicted of the murders of Place and Jessup in 1973 and sentenced to life in prison. Over time, evidence linked him to other disappearances and murders, suggesting he may have killed as many as 28 young women. His crimes were characterized by their brutality and sadistic nature.

While in prison, Schaefer was found dead in 1995, having been stabbed multiple times by Vincent Faustino Rivera, a fellow inmate.