On this day, Sept. 9, in 1998, California nurse Dana Sue Gray admitted to going on a violent monthlong killing spree to support her shopping habit.
Gray killed three elderly women and went on shopping sprees using their credit cards. Gray was caught after she tried to kill a fourth person.
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Gray attacked Dorinda Hawkins, 57, at an antique store. As Gray was choking her victim with a telephone cord, she urged her to “relax, just relax.” Hawkins was left for dead. Gray took $5 and credit cards from Hawkins’ purse and $20 from the cash register.
Hawkins survived and was able to provide a description of her attacker. Detectives caught Gray by tracing purchases made with the victims’ credit cards and checks.
Gray said she stabbed and strangled the women because she had an “overwhelming need to shop.”
Gray, now 54, remains in prison serving a life sentence.
– Scott McCabe
