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50 Cases: #9 - Florida - Bernard Giles

This post is part of our 50 Cases of America series. View more cases in this series here.


Quick Facts

Nicknames or Aliases:

Offender Status: Alive, in prison

MO: Abduction, rape, shooting

Timespan of Crimes: 1973

Date Apprehended: December 11, 1973

Date of Incarceration: August 13, 1974

Sentence: Life imprisonment

Case Status: Closed

Number of Victims: 5

Victims: 18-year-old Nancy Gerry, 22-year-old Paula Hamric, 17-year-old Carolyn Bennett, 14-year-old Sharon Wilmer, and 14-year-old Kristy Melton

Location of Crimes: Titusville, Florida


Summary of Bernard Giles' Crimes

Bernard Giles targeted young girls who were hitchhikers as his main victims. Once they were in his car, he would drive them to a secluded location and rape them at gunpoint before killing them via gunshot.


Giles was discovered by police after his pistol misfired during the attempted murders of two underage hitchhikers, who managed to escape and go to the police.


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