New Orleans is a unique ground for the paranormal and mysteries. This figure might not be paranormal but inflicted much terror in their time. Here is the story of the never found Axeman of New Orleans.

The Rising Terror Of The Axeman

When we think of serial killers that got away, those who come to mind are often Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer. These people escaped justice in the dark of the night, committing murders and keeping their towns on the edge of their seats as they eluded police and inflicted pain while terrorising their neighbourhoods. 

It started in May of 1918 in New Orleans before his reign of terror ended in October 1919. A lesser-known serial killer, later named The Axeman of New Orleans, was clever enough to get away with murder as he eluded the authorities to this day. He became one of New Orleans’ unsolved mysteries.

It was rumoured that the Axeman held a grudge against Italian Americans and was racist and might have been pushed out of the grocery business as his victims by the time he decided he had had enough; six were murdered, and six were injured.

The Axeman’s First Victim

The Axeman’s first victims were Italian grocery store owner Mr Joseph DiMaggio, and we aren’t talking about the baseball player and his wife, Mrs Catherine DiMaggio. Someone broke into their house on May 23rd, 1918, and the couple was ransacked. The Axeman slit their throats with a razor before bringing death upon them by bashing their heads with an axe.

His brothers found Joseph DiMaggio alive, but he shortly died in their arms. Catherine DiMaggio died instantly, with the authority’s report stating her throat was cut too deep to imagine otherwise. After all, her head was severed from her body. After the murders, Joseph’s brother Andrew DiMaggio was the main suspect, as the razor used to slit their throats belonged to him. He was later released and not charged.

The Second Victim Couple Of The Axeman

The following two victims were a man, Louis Besumer and his mistress, Harriet Lowe. On June 27th, 1918, the couple was attacked but survived, unlike DiMaggio.

The list of suspects made this case quite interesting. One of them was Louis Besumer’s ex-employee. He was an African-American man who was soon released due to the lack of evidence. He had no charges against him. 

When Harriet Lowe woke up from the attack, she told the officers that she believed Louis Besumer to be a German spy. She thought he tried to kill her so she would remain silent because of what she knew about him. Harriet Lowe’s concern led to Louis Besumer’s arrest.

Two days following the arrest of Louis Besumer, the man was released. It was concluded that the officer in charge of the case did a sloppy job throughout the investigation and was let go. However, in 1918, Louis Besumer was arrested again with charges of murder. Then again, the man was acquitted after only a ten-minute-long deliberation. 

On August 5th, 1918, Harriet Lowe passed after doctors tried to perform surgery to repair the paralysed section of her face.

The Fifth And Sixth Victims Of The Axeman

On August 5th, 1918, Anna Schneider was eight months pregnant and woke up to a dark figure standing over her. She had her head bashed repeatedly. Her scalp was cut open, and her face was covered in blood. 

Anna Schneider survived the attack and was found by her husband when he returned from work. The woman couldn’t remember anything about the event that took place. The officers decided to look at an ex-convict named James Gleason, but like the previous suspects, there was no evidence to hold him.

The sixth victim was Joseph Romano, found with a blow to his head and two deep cuts. Two days later, Romano was pronounced dead from severe head trauma. Authorities also found a bloody axe at the back of Joseph’s yard. 

John Dantonio, the detective who worked on the case, stated the killer resembled a real-life “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.” The profile looked like he was an average law-abiding citizen who had been overcome by an overwhelming desire to kill.

The Seventh, Eighth And Ninth Victim Of The Axeman

Charles Cortimiglia and his wife, Rosie Cortimiglia, along with their infant daughter, were the next victims of the Axeman. The Cortimiglia couple survived the brutal attack, but not their daughter. They were admitted to the hospital to tend their wounds. 

Rosie Cortimiglia blamed the attack on father and son Frank and Jordan. However, Charles Cortimiglia denied the possibility of father and son as attackers. Following the attack and the accusation from his wife, Charles Cortimiglia divorced his wife.

Later, Frank and a man named Lorlando were charged with murder and sentenced to the gallows. In the following year, Rosie retracted her accusations, and both men were released from prison.

Mary Cortimiglia, Charles and Rosie’s infant daughter, passed with one blow to her neck done by an axe. It happened on March 19th, 1919, when the family was attacked.

Strange Claims Regarding The Axeman

Between the ninth and tenth victims, an announcement was made stating that if people played jazz music on March 19th at 00:15, they wouldn’t be killed by the Axeman. Throughout New Orleans, jazz music could be heard. 

But on August 10th, 1919, Steve Boca became the tenth victim. Reminiscent of Anna Schneider, Steve Boca couldn’t remember the attack, only that a dark silhouette stood over him when he woke up.

On September 3rd, 1919, Sarah Laumann became the Axeman’s eleventh victim. Sarah’s body was found in bed with severe blunt trauma and several missing teeth. A bloody axe was also found on her doorstep. Like previous attacks, Sarah could not remember the event that took place.

On October 27th, 1919, Mike Pepitone became the twelfth and final victim of the Axeman. Except this time, the victim did not survive the attack. Mike was struck in the head, splattering blood everywhere, from the covers to a painting of the Virgin Mary. The hit killed him instantly. However, his wife woke up and saw the murderer, holding the axe, fleeing the scene.

The End Of The Axeman Killing Spree

The Axeman of New Orleans, like many other unsolved mysteries and serial killers, inspired popular culture throughout the decades. The legend that person created inspired musicians in 1919 with songs like The Mysterious Axeman’s Jazz (Don’t Scare Me, Papa.)

The Axeman also inspired one episode of American Horror Story, The Walking Dead video game Saints And Sinners. In 2022, a book by Bryce Moore called Don’t Go To Sleep, inspired by the actual victim’s experiences, was released. It contains the locations, the names, and depictions of the murders.

In conclusion, The Axeman of New Orleans remains one of American history’s most elusive and mysterious serial killers. The killer terrorised the city from May 1918 to October 1919, targeting Italian Americans and leaving a trail of brutal murders and injuries. 

Despite being one of the most hunted criminals of his time, the Axeman was never caught, leaving law enforcement and historians to speculate on his identity and motives. The killer’s signature weapon, an axe, and his apparent fascination with jazz music have added to his mystique. 

Even after over a century, the Axeman’s legacy still captivates true crime enthusiasts and remains one of Louisiana’s most unsolved mysteries.

Paula