Ronald Shelton (October 1, 1961 – September 25, 2018), better known as The West Side Rapist, was an American convicted serial rapist. He was convicted of raping over 30 women in Cleveland, Ohio, over a 6-year period.[5] He may have raped up to 50 women.[6] Shelton was caught on video using an ATM with his victims' bank cards.[7]
He was the subject of the book Unfinished Murder: The Pursuit of a Serial Rapist by James Neff.[8]
Crimes
Shelton's modus operandi was to break into victims' homes wearing something to obscure his face.[1] He would initially tell victims he was going to rob them, but then rape them.[1] He would insist victims not look at him and threaten them if they reported him to police.[1] His language and pattern of sexual assaults helped link his crimes.[6]
Trial
Timothy J. McGinty prosecuted the case in 1989.[9] Shelton was found guilty of 220 charges, including 49 rapes of over 30 women in Cleveland, Ohio.[5][1] Richard McMonagle sentenced him to between 1,554 and 3,195 years in prison.[4] He received the longest sentence in Ohio's history.[7][1][10]
Death
On September 25, 2018, at 4.30pm Shelton, aged 56, jumped from the top of a prison building, suffering a skull fracture upon impact with the concrete below. He was pronounced dead at 8:15 pm at nearby MetroHealth Medical Center. Investigators did not immediately[clarification needed] suspect foul play.[11]
