The 5-Foot-2-Inch Killer With a Purple Hearse

Donald 'Pee Wee' Gaskins, a diminutive yet ferocious figure in the annals of American crime, was a serial killer whose brutality and cunning left a trail of death across the South. Known for his small stature but immense cruelty, Gaskins is a chilling example of evil lurking in unexpected places. Here are 10 disturbing facts about his life and crimes that reveal the depths of his malevolence.

1. The Pint-Sized Predator: Only 5-foot-2-inches Tall

Standing at just 5 feet, 2 inches tall, Donald Gaskins was often underestimated due to his size. Despite his small frame, Gaskins harbored a vicious nature making him one of the most prolific serial killers in South Carolina's history. His nickname "Pee Wee" masked the terrifying predator beneath.

2. From Reform School to Serial Killer: Gaskins' Troubled Youth

Gaskins' life of crime began early. After dropping out of school at age 11, he formed the "Trouble Trio," engaging in petty theft and violent assaults. His violent tendencies only escalated, leading to reform school and eventually a career in murder.

3. The Hearse-Driving Murderer

Gaskins' vehicle of choice was a purple hearse, an eerie foreshadowing of the gruesome activities he conducted. He used the hearse to transport his victims' bodies to his own makeshift graveyard, where he would dispose of them with chilling efficiency.

4. Gaskins' Grisly Graveyard

Authorities discovered multiple graves scattered around Gaskins' property, leading to the exhumation of several victims, including teenagers and children. He referred to his burial sites as his "private graveyard," a grim testament to his methodical approach to murder.

5. Racist Motivations for Murder

Driven by his vehement opposition to interracial relationships, Gaskins brutally killed pregnant Doreen Dempsey and her two-year-old daughter. Gaskins believed the father of Dempsey's children was Black, which he claimed was intolerable to him.

6. The Man Who Killed Then Sat Down for Coffee and Cake

Gaskins' cold-bloodedness is epitomized by the murder of his niece, Janice Kirby. After killing her and her friend for allegedly being involved in drugs, Gaskins calmly returned home to enjoy coffee and cake with his family, her body hidden in the trunk of his car throughout the gathering.

7. Poisonous Coca-Cola^®: One of Gaskins' Gruesome Weapons

Among his many horrific methods, Gaskins once laced a Coca-Cola bottle with acid used to develop photos, which he gave to a young woman named Martha Ann Dicks, whom he blamed for his niece's drug addiction, resulting in her agonizing death. This brutal act highlights his sadistic style for committing murder.

8. How Many Murders — 15 or 100? The Confession Dilemma

Gaskins confessed to 15 murders, leading authorities to the graves of 13 victims. However, in his book "Final Truth," he claimed to have killed more than 100 people, especially female hitchhikers. This claim has been met with skepticism due to inconsistencies with forensic evidence.

9. He Blew Someone Up While in Jail

Even behind bars, Gaskins' cruelty knew no bounds. He orchestrated the murder of fellow inmate Rudolph Tyner with a homemade explosive disguised as an intercom, demonstrating his relentless pursuit of violence and retribution.

10. His Final Night: Suicide Attempt and Execution

On the night before his execution in 1991, Gaskins attempted suicide by swallowing and regurgitating a razor. Despite his efforts, he was saved by prison officials and executed in the electric chair just after 1 a.m. on September 6, 1991. His final words were, "I'll let my lawyers talk for me. I'm ready to go," as reported by Oxygen True Crime.

Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins may have been small in stature, but his capacity for evil was boundless. His life and crimes serve as a dark reminder of the horrific potential that can lie beneath an unassuming exterior, and the world is a safer place now that he is no longer in it.

References: Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins Is One of the South's Most Prolific Serial Killers | Pee Wee Gaskins: Prospect's Notorious Serial Killer