On this day, Oct. 13, in 1976, Joseph “the Shoemaker” Kallinger was found guilty of using his 13-year-old son to help kill and torture unsuspecting families.
Kallinger was adopted by sadistic parents. His mother would hold his open hand over a flame until his skin smoldered.
Recommended Stories
Kallinger became a Philadelphia shoemaker and had seven children.
In 1972, Kallinger drowned his 14-year-old son with the help of another son, Michael.
Kallinger and Michael went on a six-week crime spree through Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. They pretended to be salesmen to gain entry into homes and sexually assaulted two families and murdered two of their victims.
Kallinger was sentenced to life. His son was sentenced to a juvenile facility until he was 21.
Kallinger died in 1996.
– Scott McCabe
