Danny Rolling
- Born:
- May 26, 1954, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Died:
- October 25, 2006, Starke, Florida, USA (Executed)
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Burglar, Murderer
Early Life and Education
- Born to James and Claudia Rolling.
- Reportedly experienced a difficult childhood with physical and verbal abuse from his father.
- Served in the U.S. Air Force but was discharged.
Criminal Career and Major Events
- Engaged in petty crime, including burglaries and robberies.
- Confessed to the murders of five students in Gainesville, Florida, in August 1990.
- Also confessed to a triple homicide in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1989.
- Dubbed the "Gainesville Ripper" by the media.
Notable Works
- While in prison, wrote a semi-autobiographical book titled "The Making of a Serial Killer: The Real Story of the Gainesville Murders In His Own Words."
Legal Proceedings
- Pleaded guilty to the Gainesville murders in 1994 to avoid the death penalty.
- Was sentenced to death for the five Gainesville murders.
- Later admitted to the Shreveport homicides and received additional life sentences.
- Executed by lethal injection in 2006.
Legacy and Impact
Danny Rolling's crimes terrorized the community of Gainesville, Florida, and left a lasting impact on the victims' families and the public perception of safety in college towns. His case remains a significant part of true crime history, frequently analyzed for its psychological and societal implications. Danny Rolling is a reminder of the dark side of human nature.