{{Short description|Canadian-American serial killer (1942–2011)}} {{About||the British convicted murderer|Gary Allen case}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox criminal | name = Gary Allen Srery | other_names = Rex Edward Long, David Blackwell, Travis Blackwell, Gary Delorme and others<ref name="Paradis" /> | image = Gary Allen Srery 2009.jpg | caption = Srery in 2009 | birth_name = | birth_date = July 26, 1942 | birth_place = Oak Park, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2011|4|27|1942|7|26}} | death_place = Idaho State Correctional Center, Kuna, Idaho, U.S. | death_cause = | conviction = Petty theft (1961),<ref name="Paradis">Paradis, Danielle (May 17, 2024). [https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/serial-killer-from-the-70s-alberta-rcmp/ Alberta RCMP release 4 names linked with serial killer from the ‘70s]. ''APTN''.</ref> rape, sodomy, kidnapping, oral copulation (1965),<ref name="Edmonton Journal" /> sexual assault (1998),<ref name="Paradis" /> rape (2009) | sentence = Life imprisonment (2009) | victims = 4+ | beginyear = 1961 | endyear = 2007 | country = Canada, United States | states = Alberta, British Columbia, Washington, California, Idaho | imprisoned = }}
'''Gary Allen Srery''' (July 26, 1942 – April 27, 2011) was an American rapist and serial killer who was responsible for murdering at least four women in Calgary, Alberta.<ref name="Judd">Judd, Amy (June 18, 2024). [https://globalnews.ca/news/10573820/optimistic-unsolved-murders-linked-us-serial-killer-gary-srery/ Police ‘optimistic’ more unsolved murders will be linked to U.S. serial killer]. ''Global News''.</ref> Each victim was between the ages of 14 and 20 and were killed between February 1976 and February 1977, but the cases were only grouped together in 2021 through DNA evidence.<ref name="Edmonton Journal" />
In May 2024, Srery was publicly identified as the killer after his identity was revealed through Investigative Genetic Genealogy by genealogists from Convergence Investigative Genetic Genealogy.<ref name="Calgary Herald Slayings">Newsroom Staff (May 16, 2024). [https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/deceased-serial-killer-alberta-police-details Serial killer linked to four Calgary slayings in 1970s, more victims sought across Canada and U.S.]. ''Calgary Herald''.</ref> He could not be charged, however, as he had died in 2011 in Idaho, where he was serving a life sentence for rape.<ref name="Edmonton Journal">Wakefield, Jonny (May 17, 2024). [https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/rcmp-calgary-serial-killer RCMP link Calgary murders to American suspected serial killer who died in prison; believe there are more victims]. ''Edmonton Journal''.</ref> At the time of the murders, Srery was illegally living in Canada while avoiding a rape charge in California.<ref name="u297">{{cite web | last=Musa | first=Amanda | title=DNA helps link killings of 4 young women to an American man who lived in Canada illegally | website=CNN | date=2024-05-17 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/17/americas/gary-allen-srery-alberta-canada-deaths/?dicbo=v2-aQM4ZkO&hpt=ob_blogfooterold | access-date=2024-05-20}}</ref>
==Early life== Srery was born the first of three siblings in Oak Park near Chicago, Illinois, but moved to California with his family in the mid-1950s.<ref name="Edmonton Journal" /> He subsequently married in California, had children, but divorced in 1969.<ref name="Saanich News">Canadian Press (May 17, 2024). [https://www.saanichnews.com/national-news/us-sex-offender-killed-4-girls-women-in-calgary-in-the-1970s-rcmp-7361788 U.S. sex offender killed 4 girls, women in Calgary in the 1970s: RCMP]. ''Saanich News''.</ref>
==Early criminal history== Srery's criminal record in the United States is extensive, particularly for violent and sexual offenses. While little is documented about Srery's early life, his criminal history in the United States shows he was involved in multiple sexual offences starting in the 1960s.<ref name="Edmonton Journal" /> His early criminal activity included a series of convictions for sexual assaults, starting with a forcible rape conviction in 1965.<ref name="Edmonton Journal" /> Over the next several years, he faced additional charges including kidnapping, sexual perversion, and burglary.<ref name="Huff Post">Gillies, Rob (May 17, 2024). [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bc-cn-canada-us-serial-killer_n_6647b2e6e4b06c8b1f73c290 4 Women Killed In The 1970s Linked ToDead Serial Sex Offender]. ''Huffington Post''.</ref> In 1966, Srery was classified as a "mentally disordered sex offender" by the State of California, resulting in his commitment to mental health custody.<ref name="Edmonton Journal" />
Despite periods of incarceration, Srery continued to face legal issues throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. In 1969, he was charged with rape in Los Angeles, though he was acquitted.<ref name="Edmonton Journal" /> Additional charges for drug possession later led to a stint in San Quentin prison.<ref name="Edmonton Journal" /> By 1973, he was charged with both kidnapping and sodomy in Oregon, but was again acquitted.<ref name="Edmonton Journal" />
In 1974, Srery attacked a woman who was hitchhiking in the San Fernando Valley and sexually assaulted her in his car.<ref name="Signal">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-signal-gary-allen-srery/147577438/|title=Man Charged With Rape |date=17 July 1974 |newspaper=The Signal|access-date=1 November 2024|location=Santa Clarita, California |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com|ref=none}}</ref> Subsequently, he was caught by the police, and faced a rape charge in Los Angeles but was released on bail. Shortly after, he failed to appear in court and fled the United States, reportedly crossing into Canada illegally.<ref name="Oldale">Oldale, Christian (May 17, 2024). [https://rdnewsnow.com/2024/05/17/alberta-rcmp-link-four-calgary-homicides-to-serial-killer/ Alberta RCMP link four Calgary homicides to serial killer]. ''RDNewsNow''.</ref> The lack of digital records and limited cross-border data-sharing at the time allowed him to remain illegally in Canada.<ref name="Rodriquez">Rodriquez, Michael (May 18, 2024). [https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/serial-killer Calgary serial-killer flew under the radar in Western Canada for two decades. How did he go undetected?]. ''Calgary Herald''.</ref> While in Canada, Srery lived as a drifter, primarily residing in Alberta and British Columbia, and worked in casual or under-the-table jobs, often as a cook or a salesman.<ref name="Rodriquez" /><ref name="Saanich News" /> Srery's mobility, use of aliases, switches of vehicles and an ever-changing appearance allowed him to avoid scrutiny from law enforcement during his time in Canada.<ref name="Saanich News" />
==Murders== * '''Eva Dvorak''' and '''Patricia McQueen''', both 14, were murdered on February 14, 1976. Their bodies were discovered the next morning under the Happy Valley Overpass on Highway 1, west of Calgary.<ref name="The Globe and Mail">{{cite news |last1=Pruden |first1=Jana G. |title=Death comes to Happy Valley: Half a century after his first known murders, a serial killer is unmasked |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-happy-valley-gary-allen-srery-serial-killer/ |work=The Globe and Mail |date=8 June 2024 |language=en-CA}}</ref> It was later determined they had been asphyxiated.<ref name="The Globe and Mail"/> Both girls were local to Calgary, Alberta and went to school at Ian Bazalgette Junior High School.<ref name="Saanich News" /> They had been last seen strolling through downtown Calgary on the evening of their murders.<ref name="Echo" /> It is reported that Eva's mother was devastated by the death of her daughter Eva, which happened just a few years after the death of her husband in 1972.<ref name="Wilhelm">Wilhelm, Steven (May 20, 2024). [https://calgaryherald.com/news/sister-of-eva-dvorak-victim-serial-killer-gary-srery Sisters of serial killer victim Eva Dvorak horrified but relieved to fully learn what happened]. ''Calgary Herald''</ref> Patricia, or Patsy as she was known, was one of 11 children and was said by her family to have been "full of life, adventure and curiosity" prior to her death.<ref name="Echo">No Author (May 17, 2024). [https://www.oyenecho.com/articles/alberta-rcmp-link-four-historical-homicides-to-deceased-serial-killer Alberta RCMP link four historical homicides to deceased serial killer]. ''Oyen Echo''.</ref> * '''Melissa Ann Rehorek''', 20, was murdered in September 1976. She was found in a ditch along a gravel road. She had been strangled and signs of a struggle were present on her body.<ref name="iurbh">[https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-melissa-rehorek-and-barba/147641598/ Melissa Rehorek and Barbara MacLean]. ''Calgary Herald''. May 15, 2011.</ref> * '''Barbara Jean MacLean''', 19, was murdered in February 1977. She left the Highlander Hotel after an argument with her boyfriend, and the next day her body was found. She was fully clothed but signs of a sexual assault were present.<ref name="iurbh"/>
==Later criminal history and deportation to the United States== Srery continued living in Canada until his arrest in 1998 in New Westminster, British Columbia, for a violent sexual assault.<ref name="Judd"/><ref name="BBC">Yousif, Nadine (May 17, 2024). [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-69030467 Canada police say dead US rapist was a serial killer]. ''BBC News''.</ref> He was subsequently imprisoned in Canada, and upon completion of his sentence in 2003, he was deported to the United States.<ref name="Judd"/><ref name="BBC"/>
Srery was eventually incarcerated in Idaho for another violent rape in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.<ref name="BBC"/> He had met the victim, who was on crutches, at a local bar and together travelled back to her house. Once they entered the home, he violently attacked her for several hours and her life was only spared when her boyfriend came home around 5 AM that morning and Srery subsequently escaped.<ref name="KXLY">Site Staff (June 19, 2008). [https://www.kxly.com/news/registered-sex-offender-arrested-for-rape/article_60f9b446-d418-5869-bfa9-2739decf6277.html Registered Sex Offender Arrested For Rape]. ''KXLY''.</ref> The victim was said to have been significantly injured, suffering a stroke with limited mobility on her left side as a result. She would ultimately testify against him in trial for the assault, stating at a pivotal moment, "You damaged me... and I can't be repaired."<ref name="Spokesman">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-gary-allen-srery/147577544/|title=Man gets life sentence for rape |date=16 October 2009 |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review|access-date=1 November 2024|location=Spokane, Washington |page=A7 |via=Newspapers.com|ref=none}}</ref>
He remained in prison in Idaho, serving a life sentence, until his death from natural causes in 2011.<ref name="u297"/>
==See also== * List of serial killers by country
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Srery, Gary Allen}} Category:1942 births Category:2011 deaths Category:20th-century American criminals Category:21st-century American murderers Category:American people convicted of rape Category:American people who died in prison custody Category:American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment Category:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Idaho Category:Serial killers who died in prison custody Category:Prisoners and detainees of Canada Category:Prisoners who died in Idaho detention Category:Violence against women in Canada Category:People deported from Canada Category:Serial killers from Illinois Category:People from Oak Park, Illinois