The Chilling Story of Steven Brian Pennell: Delaware’s Only Serial Killer and the Route 40 Murders

In the quiet state of Delaware, a terrifying chapter of history unfolded between 1987 and 1988. A man named Steven Brian Pennell, a husband, father, and electrician by day, transformed into a monster by night. Known as the “Route 40 Killer,” Pennell preyed on vulnerable women, leaving a trail of torture and death. His crimes shocked the nation and marked Delaware’s first encounter with a serial killer.

This is the story of how a seemingly ordinary man hid a dark secret—and how forensic science, FBI profiling, and brave undercover work finally brought him to justice.

Who Was Steven Brian Pennell?

Steven Brian Pennell was born on November 22, 1957, in Wilmington, Delaware. As a child, he appeared shy and polite, even showing an interest in law enforcement. He often chatted with a neighbor who was a police officer, asking questions about crime-solving.

By high school, Pennell stood 6’5” and was seen as a “gentle giant.” He studied criminology briefly but failed to join the police force due to failing a physical test. Instead, he became an electrician. Married with two stepchildren, Pennell lived in a trailer near Route 40, a highway that would later become his hunting ground.

The Double Life

To outsiders, Pennell seemed like a devoted family man. He coached kids’ sports teams, played Santa Claus during holidays, and drove neighbors to school. But behind closed doors, his life was crumbling. He struggled to hold jobs, accumulated debt, and abused his wife, even breaking her arm during an argument.




By 1987, Pennell’s rage and instability reached a boiling point. He began taking late-night drives along Route 40, searching for victims.

The Route 40 Murders: A Timeline of Terror

Pennell’s crimes followed a horrifying pattern. He targeted women—many of them sex workers—using his blue Ford van to abduct them. Once inside, he subjected them to unspeakable torture with tools like hammers, pliers, and knives. Here’s how his killing spree unfolded:

• Shirley Ellis (November 29, 1987)

Ellis, a 35-year-old mother, was found beaten and strangled near an industrial park. She had been carrying a Thanksgiving meal for a hospital patient when Pennell abducted her. Duct tape fragments in her hair hinted at her ordeal.

• Catherine DiMauro (June 28, 1988)

DiMauro’s naked body was discovered at a construction site. Like Ellis, she showed signs of torture, but blue carpet fibers covered her body—a clue that would later crack the case.

• Margaret Lynn Finner (August 22, 1988)

Finner vanished after entering a blue van. Her remains were found months later near a canal.

• Kathleen Meyer (September 10, 1988)

Meyer was last seen entering Pennell’s van. Her body was never found.

• Michelle Gordon (September 20, 1988)

Gordon’s mutilated body washed ashore days after her abduction.

How Police Caught the Route 40 Killer

Delaware police faced immense pressure to stop the killings. They partnered with the FBI’s Behavioral Sciences Unit (BSU), led by profiler John E. Douglas. The BSU described the killer as a “sexual sadist” who enjoyed inflicting pain.

The Undercover Sting

In July 1988, police launched “Operation Roadrunner,” using female officers as decoys along Route 40. One officer, Renee Lano, encountered Pennell’s van. Pretending to show interest, she collected blue fibers from his van—fibers that matched those on DiMauro’s body.

Forensic Breakthrough

The blue carpet fibers were Pennell’s downfall. After linking them to his van, police bugged his vehicle and found torture tools inside. Surveillance tracked his late-night drives, and on November 29, 1988—exactly one year after Ellis’ murder—he was arrested.

Trial, Execution, and Legacy

Pennell was convicted of two murders in 1991 but pleaded no contest to others to avoid the death penalty. However, he later requested execution, saying, “I don’t deserve to live.” He was lethally injected on March 14, 1992.




His blue van, once a mobile torture chamber, became a symbol of forensic triumph. The case revolutionized Delaware’s approach to violent crime and highlighted the importance of FBI profiling.

The End of a Nightmare

Steven Brian Pennell’s crimes left scars on Delaware’s history, but his capture showcased the power of forensic science and interagency teamwork. Today, his case serves as a grim reminder of the darkness that can hide behind a “normal” facade—and the relentless pursuit of justice that brings it to light.

FAQs About Steven Brian Pennell

Why was Steven Pennell called the “Route 40 Killer”?

Pennell targeted victims along Delaware’s Route 40 highway, using his van to abduct them during late-night drives.

How did blue carpet fibers help catch him?

Fibers from his van’s custom carpet matched those found on victim Catherine DiMauro, directly linking him to the crime.

Why did Pennell target sex workers?

Experts believe he saw them as vulnerable and less likely to be reported missing quickly, giving him time to hide evidence.

Did Pennell ever confess to his crimes?

No. He pleaded no contest to avoid trial but never revealed where Kathleen Meyer’s body was hidden.

What role did the FBI play in the case?

The FBI’s Behavioral Sciences Unit created a profile of the killer and advised police on using undercover decoys.

How did Pennell’s family react to his arrest?

His wife filed for divorce and testified against him. She described years of abuse but claimed she knew nothing about the murders.

Were there any survivors of Pennell’s attacks?

No known survivors, though some women reported narrow escapes from a man in a blue van.

What tools did Pennell use to torture his victims?

Police found pliers, knives, handcuffs, and a whip in his van—tools he likely used to inflict pain before killing.

Why wasn’t Pennell charged with all five murders initially?

Limited evidence delayed charges, but DNA and fiber matches later tied him to additional victims.

How did Pennell’s crimes affect Delaware?

The case led to improved police training, better support for sex workers, and heightened awareness of domestic violence.

What was Pennell’s motive?

Psychologists suggest he was a sexual sadist who gained pleasure from others’ pain, possibly fueled by personal failures and rage.

How was Pennell executed?

He received a lethal injection in 1992, becoming the first person executed in Delaware in decades.

Did Pennell show remorse?

No. He remained cold and detached, even requesting execution to “end the circus.”

What happened to Pennell’s van?

It was used as evidence and later destroyed to prevent it from becoming a macabre relic.

Are there other unsolved cases linked to Pennell?

Some speculate he may have had earlier victims, but no confirmed cases exist beyond the five attributed to him.