Bio

Joseph John Savino III was born in 1958 in Mt. Vernon, New York. He grew up in a neighborhood that had a strong Italian influence. His mother worked as a beautician, and he attended Catholic school from kindergarten through 8th grade. During his time in school, he claimed that he and some other boys were sexually molested by several priests. This traumatic experience had a lasting impact on him and many of his peers, some of whom later died from heroin overdoses or ended up in prison.

As he got older, Joseph began to get into trouble. He noticed that some of the priests at his school were concerned about his behavior because they feared he might reveal what they had done. He stated that, at times, they even paid him to keep quiet. While in school, he started engaging in sexual activities with men in exchange for money.

At the age of 21, after spending two years in prison for robbery, Savino met Thomas McWaters, who gave him a job. During this period, Joseph developed a heroin addiction, and his relationship with McWaters became more complicated. McWaters began paying him for sex, which Joseph used to support his drug habit. He had known McWaters for about seven years prior to moving in with him when he was paroled to Virginia in 1988.

Life in Virginia was difficult for Joseph, as he struggled with his addiction. While living with McWaters, he found himself becoming more involved in substance use, particularly cocaine. The relationship between the two men, which started off beneficial for Joseph, became strained, leading to conflict.

Murder Story

On November 29, 1988, Joseph John Savino III killed his 64-year-old male lover, Thomas McWaters, in their home in Bedford County, Virginia. That evening, the two had an argument. Savino, feeling overwhelmed, went downstairs and decided to "eliminate the problem." He picked up a hammer and returned to McWaters, striking him multiple times. Savino then believed McWaters was still alive, so he went downstairs again to retrieve knives and stabbed him in the neck and back.

After the murder, Savino left the scene and took some cash from McWaters before driving to Roanoke to buy cocaine. The next day, police arrested him for failing to appear on earlier drug charges. Upon questioning, he started to confess to the murder. Savino was charged with capital murder and robbery soon after.

In April 1989, he pleaded guilty to capital murder and was sentenced to death. Savino's defense team argued that police coerced him into confessing and that they failed to provide effective legal support. Despite multiple appeals, his conviction and death sentence were upheld.

Savino was executed by lethal injection on July 17, 1996, at the age of 37.