On January 14, 1958 (some sources say January 13), Peter Manuel is arrested in Glasgow, Scotland, after a series of attacks over two years that left between seven and 15 people dead.
Manuel, born in America to British parents, established himself as a career criminal early in life. He received his first burglary conviction at age 12. By the time he was 15, he had moved on to assault. Later, Manuel received an eight-year sentence for a sexual attack.
Prison did not rehabilitate Manuel; not long after his release, he killed a 19-year-old woman in Scotland by bludgeoning her to death during a burglary. He was arrested and charged for another burglary, but while awaiting trial in September 1957, Manuel killed a woman, her daughter and her sister. The woman’s husband was charged with the attack.
On New Year’s Day 1958, he broke into a house and killed an entire family. He was caught when the police traced the serial numbers on banknotes that had been paid to the slain man just before the holiday and found that Manuel had used those bills to pay for drinks at a local pub.
Manuel was convicted and executed by hanging on July 11, 1958.
