Photo: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation · Public domain
Born in United States · Nationality American — Crime / criminal cases / serial murders
Documented profile covering 9 controversies, including “Plea agreement: five murders, testimony against Bittaker and sentence of 45 years to life” and “Before 1979: previous rape conviction”.
Profile No. 2504 · Updated on 13 October 2026
§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology
Case · 8 documented stages
1980
Norris pleaded guilty to five murders and agreed to testify for the prosecution against Bittaker in exchange for a sentence of 45 years to life.
Last verified: 15 September 2026
June 1979
After attempting to rape a woman who escaped, Norris told Bittaker what had happened; according to his testimony, the two men then decided to act together in their crimes.
Last verified: 15 September 2026
24 June 1979
Norris directly participated in the abduction, rapes and murder of Lucinda Schaefer, then pleaded guilty to her murder under his agreement with the prosecution.
Last verified: 15 September 2026
4 July 1979
Norris participated in Andrea Hall's abduction and abuse and pleaded guilty to her murder; his testimony described Bittaker's role in the killing.
Last verified: 15 September 2026
2–3 September 1979
Norris participated in Jacqueline Gilliam's abduction and abuse and pleaded guilty to her murder; he subsequently helped police locate her remains.
Last verified: 15 September 2026
2–3 September 1979
Norris participated in Leah Lamp's abduction and murder, notably striking her while Bittaker strangled her, and subsequently pleaded guilty to her murder.
Last verified: 15 September 2026
31 October 1979
Norris assaulted Shirley Ledford and then strangled her on Bittaker's instructions, according to his own testimony; he pleaded guilty to her murder.
Last verified: 15 September 2026
27–30 September 1979
Norris participated in two attempted abductions: one woman escaped the pair on 27 September, and Jan Malin resisted the attack on 30 September, with Norris driving the van during their escape.
Last verified: 15 September 2026
avant 1979
The California Supreme Court states that Roy Norris had already been convicted of rape before beginning his criminal association with Bittaker in prison.
Last verified: 15 September 2026
Documented biographical or institutional milestones (elections, appointments, foundings, acquisitions…). These are not controversies and are not counted as such.
Roy Norris died of natural causes in a California prison hospital in February 2020 while serving his sentence for the five murders.
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