598:(ECMC) to obtain his DNA sample. ECMC stated that there was no DNA sample of Capozzi's on record. This was correct information. It was the DA's Office that incorrectly issued a subpoena for Capozzi's DNA, when the subpoena should have requested the victims' DNA. Medical records and laboratory specimens are maintained under a patient's name (victims, not the alleged perpetrator(s), are the patients). Once the DA's subpoena error was realized, a new subpoena was correctly issued and the victims' DNA samples were located, leading to Capozzi's exoneration. Capozzi maintained his innocence while in prison, and was repeatedly denied parole for over two decades. Capozzi, who has
594:. After the arrest of Sanchez, investigators realized that the crimes were similar and took place in the same area, and that Sanchez and Capozzi closely resembled each other at the time the crimes were committed. A sample of DNA from Sanchez had been linked to the rapes for which Capozzi had been wrongly convicted in 1985. Once police made the realization of Capozzi's innocence, they inquired with the
364:, to strangle and suffocate his victims. Prior to Sanchez's arrest, DNA evidence suggested that the Bike Path Killer was of Hispanic descent, and an FBI profiler stated that the killer frequented sex workers. Sanchez was arrested in both 1991 and 1999 for soliciting prostitution. On one occasion, Sanchez also solicited prostitution from an undercover police officer for $ 25 and was fined $ 75.
507:
Sanchez
Caraballo, the car's owner, he provided a solid alibi for the rape and the investigation was dropped. However, some twenty-five years later, Caraballo was interviewed by Amherst's Bike Path Rapist Task Force and admitted that on the day that the car was identified by the victim he wasn't driving it. Caraballo had lent the car to his nephew, Altemio Sanchez.
479:, although circumstances surrounding the attack on her were similar. On the day that Sanchez confessed to the murders of Yalem, Mazur, and Diver, the Hamburg, New York attack survivor (who desired to remain anonymous) expressed surprise and relief. Denise Foster is a survivor of an attack by Sanchez when she was 17 years old, near railroad tracks in
503:, on July 1, 1985, near where Sanchez worked. Deputy District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III did not ask Sanchez if he killed Herold during questioning prior to his sentencing. District Attorney Frank Clark stated that there was no evidence in Katherine's murder with which to charge Sanchez. Katherine's murder has never been solved.
443:
found at eight crime scenes matches DNA secretly taken from
Sanchez before his arrest. DNA from Sanchez was obtained after police who were members of the Bike Path Task Force acquired it. They acquired silverware, a glass, and a napkin that Sanchez used while at dinner at a Latin American restaurant,
543:
at the time those crimes were committed. The statute of limitations in New York State has since been changed; however, it cannot be applied retroactively for the rapes. There is no statute of limitations, however, on homicides, and therefore, Sanchez was prosecuted for the killings of Yalem, Mazur,
506:
An error in the
Sanchez case file occurred two days after a woman was attacked in 1981, when she told police she spotted the man who had raped her driving away from a local shopping area parking lot, she took down the license plate number and informed the police. When detectives questioned Wilfredo
467:
identifies and describes eight victims and/or survivors of attacks by
Sanchez. The manner in which each was attacked was similar in that they were all strangled with a rope, cord, wire, ligature, or garrote, as well as being beaten, raped, and/or killed. The victims and/or survivors of the attacks
547:
On May 17, 2007, Sanchez pled guilty to the murders of Yalem, Mazur, and Diver in a surprise confession. Sanchez mumbled his confessions in court through tears. In court, Sanchez was represented by
Attorney Andrew C. LoTempio, who denied Sanchez's guilt regarding all of the rapes and murders for
431:
Police
Department; the murder of Majane Mazur (1992) was originally conducted by the Buffalo Police Department; after the murder of Joan Diver (2006) a special task force – the Bike Path Task Force – was created by the Erie County (NY) Sheriff's Office, which included the New York State Police,
352:
Sanchez was involved in the community and was well-liked by his neighbors, some of whom called him "Uncle Al" due to his charisma and interactions with them. When
Sanchez initially began to strangle and kill his victims, it is believed that he used a rope or cord. He also beat and/or raped his
348:
coach. He played golf, enjoyed gardening, and is said to have lived a "regular" life. Sanchez had also registered to run in one of the annual Linda Yalem Safety Run (formerly called the Linda Yalem
Memorial Run) at the University at Buffalo, a run dedicated to the memory of one of his murder
483:. Foster was raped and strangled with a ligature by Sanchez, and the scars from the strangulation she experienced are still visible. Diver was the only one of Sanchez's known victims who was not raped. It is believed she died during the strangulation before Sanchez could rape her.
548:
which he was responsible. LoTempio later said that
Sanchez had a troubled childhood, observed and/or had a traumatic life experience when he was 12 years old, and had deep-seated resentment toward women. LoTempio also said, however, that he was not making excuses for Sanchez.
486:
Sanchez is also a suspect in an ongoing investigation for the murder of a 15-year-old girl in 1985. Katherine Herold was beaten and murdered with the circumstances of her death similar to those of Diver's. Katherine was the daughter of the
Director of the
33:
407:- A nurse, wife of a chemistry professor at University at Buffalo, and mother of four, who was murdered by blunt force trauma on September 29, 2006, the 16th anniversary date of his first murder. Diver's body was found on a bike path in
1169:
302:, during a 31-year span from 1975, though perhaps earlier, to 2006. He was apprehended in 2007 through DNA evidence and sentenced to 75 years-to-life, serving 16 years before dying from apparent suicide in 2023.
455:
states that between 1986 and 1994, Yalem's attacker "was linked to attacks on nine other" women in the area. At the time the newspaper article went to print, police had not yet identified, nor arrested Sanchez.
451:
They submitted the items to the Erie County forensic lab in order to test for DNA samples. The DNA samples matched those previously taken from the Bike Path Killer of Yalem. A newspaper article in
1149:
1174:
853:
Bonfatti, John F.; Thomas, Vanessa (October 2, 2006). "Body found near bike path in Newstead: Volunteers make discovery after police ended search for missing Clarence mother of four".
1184:
1164:
799:
Beebe, Michael (September 23, 2007). "15-year-old's muurder in 1985 has strong similarities to bike path killings: Investigators look for link to Sanchez: Bike Path Killer/Update".
556:
On August 15, 2007, Sanchez was sentenced to 75 years to life in prison. He was sentenced by New York State Supreme Court Justice Christopher J. Burns. He was imprisoned at the
1144:
715:
1199:
1159:
771:
585:
1179:
1139:
471:
In 1992, through investigating the death of Yalem, police tied the DNA of Sanchez, who had not been apprehended, to attacks on six other area women, including one in
463:
from 2007 states that police believed the attacker of Yalem and Diver was connected to "six attacks and possibly a seventh." A 2002 article that was published by
1194:
1134:
631:
1129:
344:
Sanchez was married to Kathleen, and has two adult sons. He was the basketball coach of his sons' team at their school in Cheektowaga, and was the boys'
1019:
1154:
823:
326:
before moving to the Buffalo area. He has one brother and two sisters, and was described by an aunt as being a serious, quiet, and nice kid.
1034:
1068:
957:
723:
523:, arrested Sanchez and charged him with the murders of Yalem, Mazur, and Diver. On January 19, 2007, an Erie County grand jury voted to
572:
Sanchez was found unresponsive in his cell with a self-inflicted cut on his arm. He was taken to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in
982:
651:
472:
433:
665:
Gryta, Matt (March 2, 2007). "Sanchez indictment expected in Diver case: Alleged Bike Path Killer tied by DNA to 3rd victim".
785:
1189:
557:
311:
267:
263:
60:
564:
of New York State. It was said he might be moved to a facility closer to his family if he confessed to further murders.
338:
900:
738:
1104:
595:
488:
1093:
590:
In March 2007, Anthony Capozzi was freed from state prison after serving 22 years for two rapes with a similar
476:
388:
334:
607:
322:
when he was 2 years old. His father died when he was young, and his mother married again. Sanchez lived in
536:
384:
357:
345:
330:
881:
858:
804:
670:
516:
492:
380:
1042:
1124:
1119:
561:
175:
831:
772:"'This man's pure evil and hatred': Bike Path Killer Altemio Sanchez dies while serving sentence"
408:
1076:
931:
622:
introduced legislation that would expedite such lawsuits. This bill is known as Anthony's Law.
329:
Sanchez was a machinist and factory worker who worked afternoon and night shifts at the former
1007:
573:
500:
480:
445:
428:
299:
84:
353:
victims during the attacks, and several of them are thought to have fought hard against him.
294:, of Puerto Rican decent , who is known to have raped and murdered at least three women, and
1064:
615:
540:
520:
243:
696:
496:
591:
432:
Buffalo Police Department, Amherst Police Department; and support assistance from the
427:
Investigations into the murder of Linda Yalem (1990) were originally conducted by the
1113:
603:
599:
415:
The killer acquired the nickname because some of his crimes took place near secluded
319:
291:
184:
475:. Police were unable to connect DNA to a seventh attack on a 17-year-old girl in
372:
Murders for which Sanchez confessed responsibility include those of three women:
885:
862:
808:
745:
674:
619:
315:
64:
1098:
876:
Warner, Gene (September 30, 1992). "DNA testing ties 6th case to fatal rape".
524:
397:- She was known to have been a sex worker, murdered in November 1992 near the
169:
32:
416:
908:
611:
606:
for $ 4.25 million for being wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. Former
361:
119:
323:
96:
652:"'Bike Path Killer' Altemio Sanchez dies while serving life sentence"
535:
Many of the rapes attributed to Sanchez were unprosecuted due to the
398:
333:
plant on Military Road in the Kenmore/Buffalo area. He lived in the
208:
282:(January 19, 1958 – September 22, 2023), also known as the
1038:
737:
Vaughan, Brittany P.; Trahan, Amber M.; Krebs, Kelly A. (n.d.).
295:
212:
180:
576:, where he was pronounced dead on September 22, 2023, aged 65.
1072:
440:
1170:
Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by New York (state)
387:, who was raped and killed on September 29, 1990, along the
1008:
https://www.thereviewgeek.com/where-is-altemio-sanchez-now/
752:. Radford, VA: Department of Psychology, Radford University
983:"'Bike Path Killer' Altemio Sanchez dies at the age of 65"
716:"Bike Path Killer Altemio Sanchez Arrested Five Years Ago"
1020:"'Bike Path Rapist' dies while serving prison sentence"
824:"Hunt for the Bike Path Killer: The Linda Yalem murder"
786:"Suicide and the Serial Killer | Psychology Today"
958:"State Removes Statute Of Limitations For Rape Cases"
495:. Her body was found on the railroad tracks of the
383:(UB), studying communications, and training for the
259:
249:
237:
229:
219:
203:
198:
190:
167:
155:
125:
115:
103:
92:
72:
42:
23:
1035:"State Settles Capozzi Lawsuit For $ 4.25 Million"
1150:American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
697:"The Suspect in 3 Murders and 8 Rapes Blended In"
586:List of wrongful convictions in the United States
539:on the prosecution of rape that was in effect in
1175:Prisoners who died in New York (state) detention
695:Fahim, Kareem; Staba, David (January 18, 2007).
298:at least 9 to 15 girls and women in and around
1185:Puerto Rican people who died in prison custody
1165:People convicted of murder by New York (state)
356:In later years of Sanchez's crimes, he used a
8:
527:Sanchez for the murders of Yalem and Mazur.
515:On January 15, 2007, a police task force in
632:List of serial killers in the United States
1145:American people who died in prison custody
1069:"After 22 years in prison, man exonerated"
31:
20:
1200:Serial killers who died in prison custody
690:
688:
686:
684:
932:"Indictment - Altemio Sanchez Case Docs"
739:"Altemio C. Sanchez: "Bike Path Rapist""
1180:Puerto Rican people convicted of murder
1140:American people of Puerto Rican descent
643:
1160:People from San Sebastián, Puerto Rico
901:"On the trail of the bike path rapist"
318:. His family moved to the continental
899:Morrison, Keith (September 5, 2007).
7:
1195:Serial killers from New York (state)
956:Goodman, Emily Jane (June 5, 2006).
83:Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital,
1135:American people convicted of murder
822:Springer, John (November 4, 2002).
468:were between 14 and 44 years old.
225:1975 – September 29, 2006
14:
1130:American people convicted of rape
1100:The Sentencing of Sanchez (Video)
714:Brown, Scott (January 17, 2012).
461:McClatchy – Tribune Business News
145:
1094:Dateline NBC report on the case
434:Federal Bureau of Investigation
141:
1033:Brown, Scott (June 28, 2010).
930:Fish, Gavin (April 26, 2022).
602:, and his attorney, settled a
580:Exoneration of Anthony Capozzi
401:rail line in downtown Buffalo.
1:
1155:People from Buffalo, New York
830:. Amherst, NY. Archived from
803:. Washington, DC. McClatchy.
722:. Buffalo, NY. Archived from
558:Clinton Correctional Facility
459:Another newspaper article in
264:Clinton Correctional Facility
552:Sentencing and imprisonment
1216:
596:Erie County Medical Center
583:
194:75 years to life in prison
489:Buffalo Museum of Science
273:
163:
30:
750:Serial Killers Timelines
389:Ellicott Creek Bike Path
16:Serial killer and rapist
608:New York State Assembly
448:, on January 13, 2007.
368:Murders and confessions
537:statute of limitations
385:New York City Marathon
346:Little League Baseball
331:American Brass Company
1022:. September 22, 2023.
801:Tribune Business News
774:. September 25, 2023.
726:on December 23, 2013.
654:. September 22, 2023.
493:Buffalo State College
411:, on October 1, 2006.
381:University at Buffalo
379:- A sophomore at the
339:Cheektowaga, New York
107:The Bike Path Killer,
1190:Puerto Rican rapists
989:. September 22, 2023
911:on November 11, 2020
562:Adirondack Mountains
310:Sanchez was born in
176:Second degree murder
144: 1980;
109:The Bike Path Rapist
1045:on February 9, 2013
987:WKBW 7 News Buffalo
491:and a professor at
268:Dannemora, New York
221:Span of crimes
93:Cause of death
701:The New York Times
409:Newstead, New York
280:Altemio C. Sanchez
260:Imprisoned at
76:September 22, 2023
47:Altemio C. Sanchez
1079:on April 8, 2007.
1067:(April 3, 2007).
574:Amherst, New York
501:Kenmore, New York
481:Buffalo, New York
477:Hamburg, New York
446:Amherst, New York
429:Amherst, New York
300:Buffalo, New York
277:
276:
99:by exsanguination
85:Amherst, New York
1207:
1101:
1081:
1080:
1075:. Archived from
1065:Associated Press
1061:
1055:
1054:
1052:
1050:
1041:. Archived from
1030:
1024:
1023:
1016:
1010:
1005:
999:
998:
996:
994:
979:
973:
972:
970:
968:
953:
947:
946:
944:
942:
927:
921:
920:
918:
916:
907:. Archived from
896:
890:
889:
873:
867:
866:
850:
844:
843:
841:
839:
834:on July 21, 2018
819:
813:
812:
796:
790:
789:
782:
776:
775:
768:
762:
761:
759:
757:
743:
734:
728:
727:
711:
705:
704:
692:
679:
678:
662:
656:
655:
648:
453:The Buffalo News
337:neighborhood of
284:Bike Path Rapist
255:January 15, 2007
251:Date apprehended
240:
191:Criminal penalty
172:
149:
147:
143:
131:Kathleen Sanchez
104:Other names
79:
57:January 19, 1958
56:
54:
35:
21:
1215:
1214:
1210:
1209:
1208:
1206:
1205:
1204:
1110:
1109:
1099:
1090:
1085:
1084:
1071:. Buffalo, NY:
1063:
1062:
1058:
1048:
1046:
1032:
1031:
1027:
1018:
1017:
1013:
1006:
1002:
992:
990:
981:
980:
976:
966:
964:
955:
954:
950:
940:
938:
929:
928:
924:
914:
912:
898:
897:
893:
875:
874:
870:
852:
851:
847:
837:
835:
821:
820:
816:
798:
797:
793:
784:
783:
779:
770:
769:
765:
755:
753:
741:
736:
735:
731:
713:
712:
708:
694:
693:
682:
664:
663:
659:
650:
649:
645:
640:
628:
588:
582:
570:
554:
533:
513:
425:
370:
308:
252:
238:
222:
183:
179:
168:
151:
148: 2007)
139:
135:
132:
116:Criminal status
110:
108:
88:
81:
77:
68:
58:
52:
50:
49:
48:
38:
37:Altemio Sanchez
26:
25:Altemio Sanchez
17:
12:
11:
5:
1213:
1211:
1203:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1172:
1167:
1162:
1157:
1152:
1147:
1142:
1137:
1132:
1127:
1122:
1112:
1111:
1108:
1107:
1096:
1089:
1088:External links
1086:
1083:
1082:
1056:
1025:
1011:
1000:
974:
962:Gotham Gazette
948:
922:
891:
868:
845:
814:
791:
777:
763:
729:
706:
680:
657:
642:
641:
639:
636:
635:
634:
627:
624:
618:State Senator
592:modus operandi
581:
578:
569:
566:
553:
550:
532:
529:
512:
509:
424:
423:Investigations
421:
413:
412:
402:
392:
369:
366:
335:Cleveland Hill
307:
304:
275:
274:
271:
270:
261:
257:
256:
253:
250:
247:
246:
241:
235:
234:
231:
227:
226:
223:
220:
217:
216:
205:
201:
200:
196:
195:
192:
188:
187:
173:
165:
164:
161:
160:
157:
153:
152:
137:
133:
130:
129:
127:
123:
122:
117:
113:
112:
105:
101:
100:
94:
90:
89:
82:
80:(aged 65)
74:
70:
69:
59:
46:
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1212:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1153:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1138:
1136:
1133:
1131:
1128:
1126:
1123:
1121:
1118:
1117:
1115:
1106:
1102:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1091:
1087:
1078:
1074:
1070:
1066:
1060:
1057:
1044:
1040:
1036:
1029:
1026:
1021:
1015:
1012:
1009:
1004:
1001:
993:September 23,
988:
984:
978:
975:
963:
959:
952:
949:
937:
933:
926:
923:
910:
906:
902:
895:
892:
887:
883:
879:
872:
869:
864:
860:
856:
849:
846:
833:
829:
825:
818:
815:
810:
806:
802:
795:
792:
787:
781:
778:
773:
767:
764:
751:
747:
740:
733:
730:
725:
721:
717:
710:
707:
702:
698:
691:
689:
687:
685:
681:
676:
672:
668:
661:
658:
653:
647:
644:
637:
633:
630:
629:
625:
623:
621:
617:
613:
609:
605:
604:civil lawsuit
601:
600:schizophrenia
597:
593:
587:
579:
577:
575:
567:
565:
563:
559:
551:
549:
545:
542:
538:
530:
528:
526:
522:
518:
510:
508:
504:
502:
499:rail line in
498:
494:
490:
484:
482:
478:
474:
473:Delaware Park
469:
466:
462:
457:
454:
449:
447:
442:
437:
435:
430:
422:
420:
418:
410:
406:
403:
400:
396:
393:
390:
386:
382:
378:
375:
374:
373:
367:
365:
363:
359:
354:
350:
347:
342:
340:
336:
332:
327:
325:
321:
320:United States
317:
313:
312:San Sebastián
305:
303:
301:
297:
293:
292:serial killer
289:
285:
281:
272:
269:
265:
262:
258:
254:
248:
245:
242:
236:
233:United States
232:
228:
224:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
197:
193:
189:
186:
182:
177:
174:
171:
170:Conviction(s)
166:
162:
158:
154:
128:
124:
121:
118:
114:
106:
102:
98:
95:
91:
86:
75:
71:
66:
62:
61:San Sebastián
45:
41:
34:
29:
22:
19:
1077:the original
1059:
1047:. Retrieved
1043:the original
1028:
1014:
1003:
991:. Retrieved
986:
977:
965:. Retrieved
961:
951:
939:. Retrieved
935:
925:
913:. Retrieved
909:the original
904:
894:
878:Buffalo News
877:
871:
855:Buffalo News
854:
848:
838:December 22,
836:. Retrieved
832:the original
827:
817:
800:
794:
780:
766:
754:. Retrieved
749:
746:Aamodt, Mike
732:
724:the original
719:
709:
700:
667:Buffalo News
666:
660:
646:
589:
571:
555:
546:
534:
514:
505:
485:
470:
464:
460:
458:
452:
450:
438:
426:
414:
404:
395:Majane Mazur
394:
376:
371:
355:
351:
343:
328:
309:
287:
283:
279:
278:
185:Solicitation
78:(2023-09-22)
18:
1125:2023 deaths
1120:1958 births
620:Dale Volker
544:and Diver.
531:Prosecution
517:Erie County
439:Police say
377:Linda Yalem
360:, wire, or
316:Puerto Rico
286:(and later
65:Puerto Rico
1114:Categories
936:Gavin Fish
638:References
584:See also:
417:bike paths
405:Joan Diver
306:Background
211:), 9–15+ (
178:(3 counts)
53:1958-01-19
886:380722131
863:381801410
809:462285476
675:381840026
444:Solé, in
349:victims.
290:), was a
1049:June 29,
967:June 19,
915:June 19,
905:NBC News
882:ProQuest
859:ProQuest
828:Court TV
805:ProQuest
671:ProQuest
626:See also
616:New York
612:Sam Hoyt
541:New York
521:New York
465:Court TV
358:ligature
244:New York
239:State(s)
156:Children
120:Deceased
111:Uncle Al
1105:YouTube
941:July 9,
756:May 15,
748:(ed.).
610:Member
560:in the
436:(FBI).
362:garrote
324:Florida
230:Country
204:Victims
199:Details
150:
138:
134:
97:Suicide
884:
861:
807:
673:
525:indict
511:Arrest
399:Amtrak
288:Killer
209:Murder
126:Spouse
87:, U.S.
67:, U.S.
744:. In
742:(PDF)
568:Death
296:raped
140:(
136:
1051:2010
1039:WGRZ
995:2023
969:2021
943:2022
917:2021
840:2013
758:2020
720:WGRZ
614:and
213:Rape
181:Rape
146:div.
73:Died
43:Born
1103:on
1073:CNN
497:CSX
441:DNA
207:3 (
1116::
1037:.
985:.
960:.
934:.
903:.
880:.
857:.
826:.
718:.
699:.
683:^
669:.
519:,
419:.
341:.
314:,
266:,
142:m.
63:,
1053:.
997:.
971:.
945:.
919:.
888:.
865:.
842:.
811:.
788:.
760:.
703:.
677:.
391:,
215:)
159:3
55:)
51:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
