Arthur Gary Bishop: Serial Child Killer

Arthur Gary Bishop was born in 1951 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He grew up in Hinckley, a tiny farming town with a population of just 696 as of the 2010 census. The Bishop family was part of this predominantly Mormon community. Arthur, the eldest of six sons, was an exemplary youth. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and graduated from high school with honors.

Following his graduation, Bishop embarked on a two-year Mormon church mission to the Philippines. Upon his return, he attended Brigham Young University on a scholarship, where he earned an accounting degree.

The First Signs of Trouble

After college, Bishop found employment at a used car dealership. However, his seemingly promising future took a dark turn in February 1978 when he was arrested and charged with embezzlement. He had stolen over $8,000 from his employer.

In court, Bishop appeared remorseful. Given his clean record and apparent contrition, the judge issued a five-year suspended sentence, contingent on Bishop repaying the stolen money. However, Bishop shocked everyone by fleeing town, abandoning his debt, and cutting off all contact with family and friends. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was eventually excommunicated from the Mormon church.

A New Identity and Sinister Intentions

By October 1978, Bishop had relocated to Salt Lake City and was living under several aliases, one of which was Roger Downs. To his neighbors, he appeared to be a model citizen, devoted to his faith and dedicated to mentoring young boys. He even signed up for the Big Brother program, ostensibly to help guide the next generation.

However, Bishop’s true intentions were far more sinister. Under the guise of mentorship, he began a horrifying series of crimes that would leave a trail of devastation in his wake.

The Disappearance of Alonzo Daniels

On October 14, 1979, four-year-old Alonzo Daniels vanished while playing outside his family’s apartment. Unbeknownst to the frantic searchers, Bishop had lured the child to his apartment with the promise of candy. When Alonzo began crying as Bishop attempted to undress him, Bishop panicked and struck the boy with a hammer. He then drowned Alonzo in the bathtub.

Bishop managed to evade suspicion during the police investigation, as they were unaware of his true identity and the outstanding warrant for his arrest.

A Disturbing Pattern Emerges

Over the next year, Bishop adopted between 15 and 20 puppies from nearby shelters, all of which he killed when they reminded him of Alonzo’s cries. He later explained that he would become frustrated with their whining and kill them by various means, finding the act “stimulating.”

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The Murders Continue

Kim Peterson
On November 8, 1980, Bishop met 11-year-old Kim Peterson at a roller skating rink. Under the pretense of buying Kim’s old skates, Bishop lured the boy to Cedar Fort. There, he shot Kim three times and buried his body near Alonzo’s.

Danny Davis
On October 20, 1981, Bishop abducted 4-year-old Danny Davis from a grocery store. He took Danny to his apartment, where he smothered the child when he began to cry.

Troy Ward
On June 22, 1983, Bishop lured 6-year-old Troy Ward from his home on the boy’s birthday. He took Troy to his basement, where he restrained and killed him with a rubber mallet.

Graham Cunningham
Just weeks after Troy’s murder, on July 14, 1983, Bishop abducted 13-year-old Graham Cunningham. He lured Graham to his home with the promise of a skateboard in exchange for posing for photos. Fearing Graham would tell someone, Bishop killed him with a hammer and drowned him in the bathtub.

The Investigation and Capture

As the disappearances mounted, investigators began to notice a pattern. They discovered that Bishop had a reputation for being overly familiar with young boys. When questioned, Bishop unexpectedly confessed to killing all five missing boys.

Trial and Sentencing

Bishop was charged with five counts of capital murder and kidnapping, two counts of forcible sexual assault, and one count of sexually abusing a minor. At trial, his defense attorneys attempted to argue for a manslaughter conviction, citing emotional deficits and the influence of pornography.

After six weeks of testimony, the jury found Bishop guilty on all counts. During the penalty phase, Bishop’s taped confession was played, causing some jurors to weep as they heard him mimic the dying pleas of his victims.

Execution and Final Statement

Bishop was sentenced to death and chose lethal injection over firing squad. After initially appealing his conviction, he eventually resigned himself to his fate. On June 10, 1988, Bishop was executed. His final words included an apology to his victims’ families, expressing profound sorrow for his actions.

The case of Arthur Gary Bishop serves as a chilling reminder of how appearances can be deceiving, and how a seemingly upstanding citizen can harbor dark and deadly secrets.