United States of America

GARCIA
Dr. Anthony Joseph

Active in 2008 & 2013 in Nebraska

DID YOU KNOW...

Nickname Fact

The killings were dubbed The Creighton Murders

Faking Fact

Garcia feigned sleep during all of his trial and sentencing

Arresting Fact

Police believe Garcia was on his way to commit another murder when arrested

THE DISPATCH

The Beginning

Dr. Anthony Joseph Garcia worked with elderly patients in the Chicago area and was thought of as a professional and gentle man. In reality, he was a cold-blooded killer. Unlike most doctors, though, his target was not his patients, or his colleagues. It was people from his past.

Over the years, Garcia had failed four medical residences, including one Creighton University in Nebraska. It was there that seeds were planted for Garcia’s killing spree. In 1999, Garcia obtained his medical license and began residencies in four different states. In New York, Garcia resigned to avoid disciplinary action. In Nebraska, he was fired from his residency in 2001 for erratic behaviors that included calling the wife of a colleague. In 2003 he left the University of Chicago claiming poor health and depression. On February 27, 2008, Garcia was told by Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners that he did not possess the requirements to get a license because he had not completed his Nebraska residency. Garcia left the institution the next day.

The Murders

Thomas Christopher Hunter and Shirlee Sherman

On March 13, 2008, Dr. Hunter III returned home from work to find his 11-year-old son and the family housekeeper dead. Thomas Hunter was an 11-year-old in sixth grade. Both he and Shirlee Sherman, 57, were stabbed to death. Police immediately said they did not have evidence of a relationship between the killer and the two victims, nor did they have evidence of a domestic case.

Tips poured into police, including information on a man seen in the neighborhood around the time of the stabbings. A police sketch was released, but the suspect remained unidentified.

Mary Helen Brumback and Roger Alan Brumback

On about May 12, 2013 – five years less one day after the first double murder – Garcia went after Dr. Brumback. He entered the nearby home of Dr. Bewtra and, on finding her not at home, left. Garcia made his way to the Brumback residence and attacked the couple.

The Brumbacks were discovered on May 14 by a man who had arrived at the couple’s home to move or buy a piano. Upon finding the front door unlocked, and spotting Roger’s body inside, he called police. Police also found the gun clip the killer left behind. Dr. Brumback was set to retire on June 30, 2013 and move with his wife to West Virginia. His wife Mary was a former lawyer and author. Roger was shot and Mary was stabbed. Both were 65 years old.

Police almost immediately began tying the Brumback murders to the murders of Hunter and Sherman through Creighton University’s pathology department.

Arrest & Trial

Garcia Arrested for Murder

As tips poured in, Homicide detectives heard from a stripper that one of her clients had said he killed “a small boy and an old woman.”

On July 15, 2013, Illinois State Police picked up Garcia in Union County. He was impaired by alcohol and carrying a .45 handgun when arrested. He was immediately charged with four counts of first degree murder, and was eventually extradited to Nebraska to face trial.

Garcia Convicted

Before trial, Garcia exhibited erratic behavior in jail. He attacked guards and was, at times, forced to wear a suicide prevention vest. On May 9, 2014, Garcia was found competent to stand trial after months of psychological evaluation. In November, 2014, Garcia’s attorneys argued that his arrest was improper and there was insufficient evidence.

The arguments failed, so in 2015 his attorneys tried to separate the two sets of murders into two trials. The trial began in late September 2016. On October 26, 2016, Garcia was found guilty on all counts.

Garcia Sentenced to Death

During sentencing, three judges presided over the case. Garcia was in a wheelchair and, for the most part, kept his eyes closed throughout the proceedings.

Judge Gary Randall had to be removed from the court because of back pain. Judge Rick Schreiner stepped in and, along with the other 2 judges, a death sentence was handed down on September 14, 2018.

Garcia’s Location

As of October 25, 2022, Garcia remains at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. For reasons I can’t determine, although his sentence is still Death, his “next Parole Board Review” date is listed as September, 2028.

WHERE IT HAPPENED

An interactive map of where things happened

VIDEOS

Brief videos about murderer Anthony Garcia

Hunt A Killer – That Chapter

Sonya Lwu

THE STATS

Years Between Murders

Failed Residencies

Victims At Each Scene

Convictions of Murder

Statistical table for Dr. Anthony Garcia

Killer Name	GARCIA, Anthony J.
Killer AKA	Creighton Murders
Gender	M
Arrest Date	July 15, 2013
Conviction Date	October 26, 2016
Sentence	Death
Birth Date	June 7, 1973
Status	Alive or Unknown
Height	177
School Degree	Medical degree
School Other	Failed multiple medical residencies
Job Types	Doctor
Labour Type	White
Employment Status	Active
Killer Type	Revenge, Territorial
Psychology	Multiple concerns by medical staff and colleagues, including losing residencies
comment1	Police believe Anthony Garcia committed the murders to get revenge on Dr. Brumback and Dr. Hunter who dismissed Garcia from a Creighton residency program in 2001. Garcia was a student in a pathology program.
Total Dead Victims	4
Victims (Convicted)	4
Victim Gender	Various
Victim Race	White
Victim Age	65, 65, 11, 57
Victim Type	Former employers and those associated with them
Method of Killing	stabbing, shooting
Weapon	knife
Gun Type	.45 handgun
Body - Left, Not Hidden	Yes

Killer Rating

 5/5

RESOURCES

Last updated on 26 October 2022 by E. Kelly Hemingway