Christopher Peterson (serial killer)

Between October 30, 1990, and December 18, 1990, there were a series of murders in northern Indiana in which seven people were killed by assault with a shotgun. A witness at one of the murders provided a description of the killer to police, who made up a drawing of the suspect and distributed it on flyers. The witness's description was of a "clean-shaven, slender, white man with long stringy brown hair." Peterson, from Gary, and at the time was on an unauthorized absence from the Marines, and Antwion McGee, 21, were arrested January 29, 1991, after a robbery and an attempted murder of a restaurant manager at the Southlake Mall near Merrillville. McGee led police to Ronald J. Harris, 21. Harris told police he was with Peterson during two incidents where he alleged Peterson killed two of the victims. McGee also told police that Peterson admitted the killings. ==Trials==

The prosecution involved three defendants, seven murders, several attempted murders, with multiple locations which resulted in multiple trials in multiple venues. Trial of Harris for murder of Dhaliwal Harris was tried in June 1991 for the 13 December 1990 murder of Harchand Dhaliwal. Harris denied he killed Dhaliwal and said Peterson did it. Harris maintained he was merely an innocent bystander. The prosecution stated that Harris had accompanied Peterson during another murder, that of Hammersley. Harris had given a statement to the FBI in which he said he was with Peterson when Hammersley was murdered. But at his trial he denied this was the case. He said he signed the statement because the FBI said he could go home if he signed it. The witness to the Hammersley murder had also identified Harris as the shooter in the Hammersley murder. == Reversal of death sentence and resentencing==

Peterson maintains his innocence. == See also ==