United States of America

KAPRAT
Edwin Bernard III

Active from 1991-1993, Florida

DID YOU KNOW...

Nickname Fact

Kaprat was dubbed "The Granny Killer"

Interesting Fact

Crime scene cigarette butts helped tie a serial killer to some of his victims

Fire Fact

Kaprat was also questions about an arson attack on another man

THE DISPATCH

The Beginning

Edwin Bernard “Mike” Kaprat III was a smart but easily-enraged kid prone to violent outbursts. He would bully younger, smaller children, so teachers gave him toy dolls to punch in an effort to redirect his anger. He began drinking by age 12 and grew up into a violent, addicted adult. Kaprat later said his eldest son attempted to murder his younger son and sexually assault his wife, and he was in hiding from his son. His allegations went nowhere.

Kaprat III (hereinafter referred to as Kaprat, for readability) would become known as the Granny Killer.

The Murders

Lee Anthony Bugay

On February 21,1991, Lee Anthony Bugay, 27, was found beaten to death on the beach in the Courtney Campbell Mangroves. Kaprat used Bugay’s credit card to buy gas. He went to New Jersey where he turned himself in on March 9.

Police charged Kaprat with Bugay’s murder. Kaprat was also questioned about an attack on another man found burning near the same causeway the next day. There was insufficient evidence to support his confession to murder, and the charge was not pursued. In August, Kaprat was found guilty of using the dead man’s credit card and was given house arrest. He served it at his parent’s house in Florida. He was charged with violating house arrest and was jailed. He got out on May 7, 1993.

Sophia Francis Garrity

Sophia Frances Garrity was an eighty-year-old widow who lived alone. On August 7, 1993, a fire erupted through her home, killing her. It was ruled accidental. Her home was close to where Kaprat’s sister lived. Kaprat was never charged with her murder.

William & Alice Whitney Attacked

On August 17, William (84) and Alice (83) Whitney were trying to sell their Spring Hill home. They were attacked and beaten by someone pretending to be interested in the sale. Their house was set on fire but did not successfully burn. Both people survived and were hospitalized. Alice’s Alzheimer’s made her of little use to the police, and William had suffered such significant brain injuries he was “little more than a vegetable”.

Ruth Goldsmith

The next day, August 18, Ruth Goldsmith died in a fire and her mobile home was destroyed. She was 70. She lived close to her friend, Lydia Riddell. Kaprat then decided to escalate his attacks. His next two victims reportedly received obscene and harassing phone calls in the days before their deaths. Kaprat also began sexually assaulting his victims.

Lydia Ridell

Lydia M. Riddell, 79, of Brooksville, died in a mobile home fire on September 2, 1993. Police determined she had been bound with duct tape and there was evidence of sexual assault.

Police told media she had received at least three phonecalls from what sounded like the same man, in the week before her death. Kaprat gained access to the home by prying open the door to a utility room, then pried another door open.

Because of the suspicious nature of the fire, police also decided to take a second look at the fatal fire in the same neighborhood that killed Goldsmith.

Lorraine "Alice" Burnham Dawe

On September 26, 1993, widow Lorraine “Alice” Burnham Dawe is found dead in her home. She was wrapped in bed spread, and pillows were placed on top of her body. It looked like a pyre, but had not burned completely. The eighty-seven-year-old had been sexually assaulted and beaten to death. Dawe, a one-time speed skater and athlete, fought hard. Her bloodied dentures were found near her body: she had bitten the assailant in the back. She lived close to Kaprat’s sister.

Kaprat later told police he thought she was having a heart attack after he raped her. He stomped on her neck to put her out of her misery, he said. Authorities knew they were dealing with a serial killer.

Arrest & Trial

Kaprat Arrested

An anonymous tipster, a friend of the Kaprat family, called police. She told them of the Kaprat was the killer. Police began to investigate Kaprat, and put surveillance on him. Warrants for his car, home and person were served, including a warrant for 50 pubic hairs.

He was stopped closed to his parent’s home. He was arrested October 8, 1993 and quickly confessed to multiple murders. He told police he met his victims by doing odd jobs with his father around their homes.

Kaprat was held without bail on 22 counts including 4 murders and the attack on the Whitneys, burglary and arson.

Whitney Dies

Survivor William Whitney, now in Mississippi to be near family, has been suffering as a result of the earlier attack. On November 19, 1993, he died of pneumonia as a direct result of the head injuries received during the beating. His death was classified as a homicide. Kaprat was indicted in his murder on February 28, 1994.

Kaprat Guilty of Ridell Murder

On October 27, 1993, the Grand Jury inducted Kaprat on 20 counts of criminal conduct. Kaprat, dubbed “The Granny Killer” by USA Today, pleaded not guilty. On January 2, 1995, just as jury selection was beginning, Kaprat tried to kill himself, but failed. The trials for the murders of Ridell and Dawe were planned to run separately and consecutively, very close together. He only stood trial twice. The trial for Ridell is first. On January 12, 1995, Kaprat was found guilty of murdering Riddell. The jury recommended death.

Kaprat Guilty of Dawe

Kaprat went immediately to trial on Dawe’s murder. On January 20, the jury finds Kaprat guilty of murdering Dawe. The jury again recommend death. The court agreed with both juries and sentenced him to two death sentences on February 28. Since Kaprat was facing 2 death sentences, the remaining trials were held.

Kaprat’s Death

Kaprat Murdered In Prison

Kaprat had quickly taken well to prison. He was playing the stock market and reading paperbacks by contraband candlelight.

Kaprat was stabbed to death in prison on April 19, 1995. The two inmates responsible for Kaprat’s death also murdered cop killer Charles Street at the same time. Kaprat’s father said “he died a free man.” He was glad his son died without handcuffs or restraints. Unlike all of the killer’s victims.

WHERE IT HAPPENED

An interactive map of where things happened

BOOKS

Books including Edwin “Mike” Bernard Kaprat III

The Killers Among Us: Examination Of Serial Murder And Its Investigations by Steven A. Egger

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pearson; 2 edition (July 24 2001)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0130179159
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0130179159

Explicit in detail, yet sensitive in perspective, this book describes and analyzes the phenomenon of serial murder and its investigations. It provides a clear explanation of what is known about this horrific violence, what we think is known, and what we simply do not know. Also presented are detailed case studies of seven infamous serial killers—Henry Lee Lucas, John Wayne Gacy, Kenneth Bianchi, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Joseph Miller, and Jerry Marcus—and an exploration of the history and challenges related to the investigation of serial murder. A four-part organization overviews and describes the six myths of serial murder; presents detailed case studies of seven infamous serial killers; focuses upon the investigation of serial murder; and considers the future of serial murder and its investigation. For criminal investigators, criminologists, crime writers, and anyone interested in the phenomenon of serial murder.

Street Sense for Seniors by Louis R. Mizell

Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Language: English
ISBN: 0425143643
ISBN13: 9780425143643
Release Date: September 1994

Personal Safety expert Mizell gives invaluable tips for senior citizens on protecting themselves from crime. Seniors learn to how to avoid crimes on the street, on the road, at the ATM, and elsewhere; recognize con games; protect themselves and loved ones at hospitals and nursing homes; keep homes secure; and more.

VIDEOS & PODCASTS

Videos and podcasts about Edwin Kaprat III

Three Sisters Crime Squad podcast about serial killer Edwin Kaprat

I said God Damn! podcast about Kaprat’s murders

THE STATS

Years of Activity

Years from Arrest to Death

Murder Convictions

Statistical table for Edwin Kaprat III

Killer Name	KAPRAT, Edwin Bernard (Mike) III
Killer AKA	Granny Killer
Gender	M
Arrest Date	October 8, 1993
Conviction Date	January 12, 1995
Sentence	Death sentence; death sentence
Birth Location	New York, USA
Birth Date	September 21, 1964
Death Date	April 19, 1995
Deceased	Yes
Killed in Prison	Yes
Cause of Death	Stabbed
School Grade	quit school age 16
Caused Problems in School	had anger issues and teachers didn't know how to handle him
Job Types	odd jobs, welder
Labour Type	Blue
Sexual Preference	Straight
Marital Status	Divorced/Separated
Number of Children	2 sons
Killer Type	Sexual/Sadistic, Spree, Organized, Territorial
Drug Abuse	yes
Alcohol Abuse	yes
Psychology	rage uncontrolled expressed as early as 10 years old
Fire Setting	yes, set victims' homes or bodies on fire
comment1	also suspected in a number of other deaths some of which were later attributed to other people
Total Dead Victims	6
Victims (Suspected)	1
Victims (Confessed)	5
Victims (Convicted)	2
Victim Gender	Various
Victim Race	White
Victim Age	27, 80, 84, 70, 79, 87
Victim Type	widows, elderly
Victim Type 2	stranger
Method of Killing	strangulation
Sex Assault	Yes
Stalking	Yes
Body - Left, Not Hidden	Yes
Previous Crimes	burglary, criminal mischief, attempted murder, arson

Killer Rating

 3/5

RESOURCES

Last updated on 26 June 2022 by E. Kelly Hemingway