In the summer of 1974, a handsome drifter named Paul John Knowles embarked on a killing spree across America that left at least 18 people dead. Knowles, a petty thief with a history of violence against women, had recently been paroled from prison and was on his way to California to marry his fiancée when she rejected him. Enraged and heartbroken, he escaped from jail after getting into a bar fight. That night, he began killing.

Knowles was not your typical serial killer. He had no real victim profile, killing men, women, and children of all ages. He was charming and charismatic, able to talk his way into people's homes and lives. And he was obsessed with fame, keeping a detailed diary of his crimes and giving interviews to the media after his capture.

This podcast examines the life and crimes of Paul John Knowles, the “Casanova Killer.” It will explore his turbulent childhood, the failed romance that turned him into a killer, and the four-month murder spree that terrorized the nation. Listeners will hear from Knowles himself, through his audiotaped confessions, as well as from the people who knew him, including the journalist who had a brief affair with him and the lawyer who represented him.