Bio

Monte Ralph Rissell was born in November 28, 1958. He grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. As a child, he faced many challenges in his home life. Information about his early childhood is limited. However, it is known that he displayed troubling behavior from a young age. He committed his first sexual offenses when he was only 14 years old.

During his teenage years, Rissell struggled with authority. He was arrested while still in high school for some of his actions. After his arrest, he was sent to a juvenile institution. While there, he managed to deceive his counselors into believing he was improving. Even so, he continued to engage in criminal activities, including further sexual assaults, during brief escapes and even within the institution’s confines.

By the time he turned 18, Rissell's life took a darker turn. It was then that he committed his first murder. Before he turned 19, he had already been connected to five murders. His violent actions happened close to his apartment complex, marking him as a serious threat in his community.

Rissell’s early life and actions set the stage for his later crimes that shocked many. He was ultimately sentenced to five life sentences in 1978.

Murder Story

On August 4, 1976, Rissell saw 26-year-old Aura Marina Gabor, living in the same apartment complex as Rissell on the 400 block of North Armistead Street in Alexandria. Rissell claimed he grew angry with her after she allowed him to have sex with her and she made it seem like she enjoyed it, so he drowned her in a nearby ravine.

The second murder occurred in March 1977, when Rissell raped and stabbed 22-year-old restaurant manager trainee, Ursula Miltenberger, near the Hamlet Apartments. Her body was found March 6 in a wooded area in Fairfax County.

The third murder victim was 27-year-old Gladys Ross Bradley, a post office clerk and resident of Hamlet Apartments. Sometime in April 1977, Rissell waited outside her house with a steak knife from his mother's kitchen. He raped her twice, then dragged her by her feet to a nearby creek, where he then drowned her. Her body was found April 29, 1977.

The fourth murder victim was 34-year-old Aletha Byrd, a personnel counselor at the department store. Aletha had been missing from her home since April 10, 1977. She was found dead with multiple stab wounds on May 17 in a wooded area.

The fifth and final victim was 24-year-old Jeanette McClelland, a graphics design proofreader at Bru-El Graphics and also a resident of Hamlet Apartments. She was found raped and stabbed 100 times in a culvert near Shirley Highway on May 5, 1977. On May 18, police (who had Rissell under surveillance due to his being a suspect) searched Rissell's car and found Byrd's wallet, keys, and comb. Police later confirmed that Rissell's fingerprints were found on Miltenberger's car. Rissell confessed to killing all five women.

Rissell was charged with abducting, raping and murdering the five women. However, because he pleaded guilty to the murder charges, the abduction and rape charges were dropped. Rissell was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences on October 11, 1977. He was 18 years old at the time of his sentencing.