Welcome, True Crime enthusiasts, to a chilling case that transformed a joyous occasion into a nightmare. This is the story of the Queens Creeper, a serial killer who terrorized New York City in the early 1970s.
The First Victim: Arti Kouamani
Arti and Demitro Kouamani, a young couple with three small children, had traveled from their Toronto home to New York City for a family reunion. Eager to reunite with relatives and share quality time, they rented a ground-floor apartment in Jamaica, Queens, to stay with Demitro’s parents.
Arti, a 23-year-old Greek-Canadian, had met Demetrius, a Greek immigrant and carpenter, in Toronto. They fell in love, got married, and started a family, blissfully unaware that a brutal act of violence would soon shatter their happiness.
The Night of the Attack
After a tiring day on September 19th, 1970, the couple retired early to bed. Unbeknownst to them, a criminal named Joseph Baldi was lurking outside. Baldi, a career criminal, had targeted the Kouamani apartment after noticing a slightly ajar window.
Seizing the opportunity, he quietly entered their dark bedroom as Arti and Demitro slept. Baldi hoped to find valuables to steal without waking them. However, Arti sensed his presence and opened her eyes to find a shadowy figure standing over her.
Terrified, she screamed and tried to push him away, reaching for her still-asleep husband. Panicking, Baldi realized he had to silence Arti before she alerted the entire house. Drawing a knife he had brought, he stabbed her in the throat, causing a sharp pain and a gush of blood.
The Aftermath
Arti, stumbling out of bed, staggered towards the door in an attempt to seek help. She managed to wake Demetrius, who witnessed her bleeding profusely and grasped the gravity of the situation. Demetrius’s screams for help brought his parents and children rushing to the scene.
They found Arti on the floor, gasping for breath. They called for an ambulance and tried to stem the bleeding, but it was too late. Arti had lost too much blood, and her life slipped away. Rushed to Mary Immaculate Hospital, she was pronounced dead on arrival.
In the darkness, Baldi had escaped, leaving behind a trail of blood and a shattered family. The room revealed missing jewelry and money, pointing to a motive of silencing a witness. The police launched an extensive manhunt, but with no leads, witnesses, fingerprints, or clues, Baly vanished without a trace, leaving the Kouamani family haunted by a mystery.
The Investigation Stalls
For nearly two years, the Arti case remained a mystery. The police lacked leads, suspects, and motives, with the killer leaving no trace except the victim’s blood. The Kouamani family clung to hope for eventual justice, but their suffering was not isolated.
The Second Victim: Camille Perniola
On the night of March 19th, 1972, the killer targeted another ground-floor apartment in Jamaica, Queens. Inside, Camille Perniola, a 17-year-old high school student, and her 7-year-old brother Marco slept in separate beds.
Camille, a bright and popular girl with a promising future, became the killer’s next prey. Baldi approached her bed, raised his knife, and plunged it into her chest, taking her life instantly. Showing no concern for Camille’s life or the impact on her family, Baldi rifled through her room, taking jewelry and money before escaping through the window.
The Grim Discovery
The following day, Armando Perniola, Camille and Marco’s father, discovered the horrifying sight when he went to wake them up. Opening the door, he found his daughter, his pride and joy, lying dead in her bed, covered in blood, while his son remained asleep, oblivious to the tragedy that had unfolded.
The Third Victim: Clara Toriello
Less than four weeks after Camille’s death, Baldi struck again in the same Queens neighborhood. This time, his target was Clara Toriello, a 21-year-old blonde secretary engaged to marry a New York City police officer.
On the morning of April 13th, around 7 a.m., Clara’s sister entered her room to wake her for work. A scream echoed through the apartment as she discovered Clara’s lifeless body on the bed, covered in blood. Clara had suffered four stab wounds to the neck and back, the force of which pierced her heart and lungs.
The Queens Creeper: A Community in Fear
News of the third murder sent shockwaves through the borough. The perpetrator, dubbed the “Queens Creeper” by the media, became the most feared and hated figure in Queens. More than 50 detectives were assigned to the case, yet they faced a daunting challenge with no leads, clues, or suspects.
The people of Queens lived in constant fear and paranoia:
- Women avoided going out alone, especially at night
- Backyards featured big dogs trained to bark at strangers
- Doors and windows were locked
- Alarms and cameras were installed
- Guns and pepper spray were purchased
Sleeping with one eye open, listening for any indication of an intruder, became the norm. Some even relocated, hoping to escape the nightmare.
The Fourth Victim: Debbie Janosko
On June 18th, 1972, the Daily News headline screamed, “Night Prowler Kills Fourth Queens Girl.” John and Angelene Janosko were peacefully sleeping in their ground-floor apartment in Jamaica, Queens, when they were jolted awake by a piercing scream from their daughter Debbie, 15.
Rushing to her aid, they found her sitting upright in bed, clutching her chest, blood spilling from a deep wound in her heart. With terror and pain in her eyes, she uttered her last words: “He stabbed me. He put his hand in through the window.” Then she collapsed, losing consciousness and never waking up again.
The Capture of Joseph Baldi
On June 21st, 1972, a stroke of luck occurred. Two detectives patrolling the neighborhood noticed a tall, skinny man lurking in the shadows. He matched the sketch provided by several girls who had reported seeing him following them. The detectives decided to approach him and ask questions.
This man was Joseph Baldi, a living nightmare:
- 31 years old, appearing much older with a gaunt face, sunken eyes, and greasy hair
- Living on welfare in a rundown rooming house just blocks away from where Janosko and two other women had been killed
- Low IQ of 79
- History of mental illness and violence
- In and out of psychiatric hospitals since 1962
- Diagnosed with schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder
- Extensive criminal record including charges of assault, robbery, and rape
The System’s Failure
The investigation uncovered a shocking scandal. Joseph Baldi, a dangerous individual, should not have been on the streets but rather confined in a secure facility. However, a series of bureaucratic blunders and miscommunications had allowed him to evade proper containment.
Read more: Hawaii Serial Killer: Disturbing Case of Eugene Barrett
The Trial and Aftermath
Despite his attorney’s filing appeals arguing that Baldi was too mentally ill to understand his actions, their efforts proved futile. The appeals failed one by one, and Baldi remained locked up in his cell.
In 1997, Baldi had an opportunity for parole. However, he chose silence, sitting with a blank expression, seemingly indifferent. The parole board deemed his release incompatible with the welfare and safety of the community.
Conclusion
Joseph Baldi, the Queen’s Creeper, drew his last breath in 2009, ending a reign of terror that had lasted for decades. His case serves as a chilling reminder of the importance of mental health care and the potential consequences of systemic failures in our criminal justice system.
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