# True crime question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-crime-question/792522 "2017-07-31T18:11:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ecks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-crime-question/792522/1 "2017-07-31T18:11:43Z")
Years ago- probably during the late 80s or early 90s, I read a magazine article about the hunt for a serial killer. They eventually caught a man they were certain was the killer, but didn’t have enough evidence to try him. Instead, they arrested him on a lesser charge, locked him up, and when he had served his time… they didn’t release him. He knew he was being illegally held, and could get out just by asking, but he didn’t. That is where the story ended- the guy went to jail, the murders ended, and he could just walk out if he wanted, but he didn’t. At the time, I thought it was interesting. Now, I’m doubtful such a solution is even possible. It’s been a long time, so maybe I’m misremembering. Has anyone heard of something like this? Could this even be done? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-crime-question/792522/2 "2017-07-31T21:35:43Z")
In some states [a convicted sex offender can be kept in prison after their sentence ends](http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=124081&page=1) if the authorities determine that he’s still a threat to society. Is that what you’re thinking of? ---
**Author:** ![mattm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@mattm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattm)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-crime-question/792522/3 "2017-07-31T22:16:25Z")
Ridgeway came to the attention of police because of an arrest (prostitution?) but he was ultimately convicted of approximately 50 counts of murder. Is suspected of a great many more possibly over a hundred. I can’t recall all the details at this moment but I know he was under suspicion for quite a while before he was actually arrested. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-crime-question/792522/4 "2017-08-01T01:27:07Z")
In countries where they take the rule of law seriously, they try not to keep you in prison without a solid legal basis for doing so. On the occasions that they stuff up and _do_ imprison somebody without lawful justification, they fork out large amounts in compensation. So, no, this isn’t a plausible way of handlings someone who is suspected of a grave crime but has been convicted only of a lesser one. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-crime-question/792522/5 "2017-08-01T15:02:37Z")
It sounds slightly like the Boston Strangler case in which the killer confessed to the murders but was tried and convicted on rape charges that were not a part of the killings. He later escaped prison but turned himself in after three days. However this was during the sixties and he was sentenced to life in prison and he was murdered in prison six years later. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-crime-question/792522/6 "2017-08-01T15:46:51Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > It sounds slightly like the Boston Strangler case in which the killer confessed to the murders but was tried and convicted on rape charges that were not a part of the killings. He later escaped prison but turned himself in after three days. > However this was during the sixties and he was sentenced to life in prison and he was murdered in prison six years later. Was he tried? I thought he plea bargained. He recanted his confession to the Boston Strangler crimes, but it had no bearing on his prison term, because he didn’t plea bargain for the Strangler crimes.