Philadelphia Man Convicted of Torture Murders

A jury Friday found Gary Heidnik guilty of first-degree murder, kidnaping and rape for holding six women captive and killing two of them in his basement torture chamber.

The case focused on whether Heidnik knew right from wrong when he raped and killed women he lured to his North Philadelphia home. The defense argued he is schizophrenic and not responsible for his actions.

Heidnik, 44, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, six counts of kidnaping, five counts of rape, four counts of aggravated assault and one count of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. He was acquitted of one count on the final charge.

Judge Lynne Abraham set the start of a penalty hearing for this morning. Prosecutors have said they would seek the death penalty.

Pittsburgh Jury

Jurors began deliberating Wednesday afternoon. The jury had been selected in Pittsburgh because of the publicity about the case in eastern Pennsylvania.

“Thank God it was guilty of first-degree,” said Teresa Lomax, sister of Sandra Lindsay, one of the women who died in Heidnik’s house.

Heidnik’s attorney, A. Charles Peruto Jr., had argued Heidnik was insane, a “fruitcake” who suffered from schizophrenia first diagnosed in 1963.

“This man conducted repeated sadistic acts on six defenseless persons,” Assistant Dist. Atty. Charles Gallagher had said. “What he did was premeditated, deliberate murder. He knew what he was doing and he knew it was wrong.”

The lawyers had not disagreed over whether Heidnik lured women to his home from November, 1986, to March, 1987, keeping them half-naked and in chains in the basement where he raped them and killed two.

He was arrested when a woman escaped from his car and alerted authorities.

“A person who holds women captive in chains, and kills two of them, and feeds them dog food and human flesh, is insane,” Peruto said. “What was his purpose? To raise 10 babies from 10 different women in his basement. Does that make sense?”

Gallagher had challenged defense medical witnesses who claimed Heidnik was mentally ill.

“This man knew what he was doing, and he knew it was wrong. He repeatedly raped these girls for his own sadistic sexual pleasure,” Gallagher said.