Where is the serial killer Richard Rogers now? We discuss the HBO documentary series Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York, which may contain details that some readers will find disturbing.
Like me, you have probably never heard of the serial killer Richard Rogers. A four-part documentary series on HBO brings the shocking true story of the serial killer to the forefront of our schedules and is based on the book Last Call by Elon Green.
The killer set his sights on gay men and operated in New York and New Jersey. The timing of the killings, during the AIDs epidemic, and a backdrop of hate crimes towards the community, is highlighted in the series, making this particular true crime series also a time capsule of a darker, less enlightened age.
The horrific murders and the social climate of the time the series is set in make for harrowing viewing and elevate Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York beyond the normal true crime fare.
If you are a fan of the genre, this will be a must-watch piece of scheduling, and for those of you looking for a little more insight about the show, this article will answer some questions for you, and in particular, where is the serial killer Richard Rogers now?
Who is Richard Rogers, and what did the serial killer do?
Richard Westall Rogers Jr. was a male nurse responsible for a murder spree that targeted gay men in New York and became known as The Last Call Killer. He was born in 1960 and was one of five children. The ruthless killer would pick men up at various bars before murdering them.
The dismembered bodies would then be wrapped in garbage bags and left in various areas across the State’s highways. Four killings that became known as The Last Call killings were all linked to Rogers, but he was only convicted of two of them.
Thomas Mulcahy and Anthony Marrero were the victims that Rogers was found guilty of murdering.
As well as the New York area, he also operated in other states, such as Florida and Pennsylvania.
It would be 2001 before he would be arrested for the horrific crimes.
Where is the serial killer Richard Rogers now?
A sentence was passed down to serial killer Richard Rogers for the two killings and various other charges. He would receive two consecutive life sentences and be incarcerated at New Jersey State Prison, Trenton, New Jersey.
How was Richard Rogers caught?
In May of 2001, Rogers was interviewed by police, claiming they were looking into a credit card fraud case. However, the police were convinced of his involvement with the murders, and Rogers demanded a lawyer. A search of his home would find evidence, including carpet fibers, plastic bags, and drugs that were all evidence used in the case against him.
Videotapes, disturbing photographs, and bizarre written passages in a bible were also found.
However, a new technique involving fingerprinting would supply police with evidence from the garbage bags used in the murders.
Roger’s fingerprints would be found on the bags used to hide the bodies of the murdered men, and this evidence was vital in the investigation.
