John Frederick Thanos (March 28, 1949 – May 17, 1994) was an American spree killer who was convicted in 1992 of the murders of three teenagers: Gregory Taylor, Billy Winebrenner, and Melody Pistorio. He was executed for the murders in 1994, becoming the first person to be executed in Maryland since 1961. Early life Thanos was born in Dundalk, Maryland to John Steven and Patty Thanos. Steven was described as a mentally ill WW2 veteran who severely abused John Thanos and even drugged his wife. Thanos was expelled from school and spent many years in and out of prison for various crimes he committed. Criminal history In October 1969, Thanos assaulted and raped a woman in Rosedale, Maryland. He was charged for the offense and was sentenced to twenty-one years in prison. At his trial, he threatened the judge, and later attempted to break out of prison in 1971. He succeeded in escaping but was recaptured shortly afterwards. Thanos was released from prison in April 1986, however, he returned only a month later after he committed an armed robbery at a convenience store. He was sentenced to a further eight years in prison. On April 15, 1990, Thanos was accidentally released early due to a mistake by a prison official who was later fired. Upon his release, Thanos went to work as a bricklayer and then as a chicken processor in Salisbury. In the summer of 1990, he exposed himself to a woman who gave him a ride. The woman charged him for the offense and Thanos feared he would be returned to prison. Thanos would later reveal in a videotaped confession that he embarked on a crime spree because he was worried his parole was going to be revoked. Murder spree On August 29, 1990, Thanos quit his job and purchased a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle. He sawed the barrel down so he could fit the weapon in a black doctor's bag which he carried around with him. That same night, he robbed a cab driver at gunpoint and forced him into the trunk of the vehicle, threatening to kill him if he refused to comply with his demands. On August 31, Thanos encountered 18-year-old Greg Taylor while hitchhiking. Holding him at gunpoint while in his car, Thanos ordered Taylor to drive to a wooded area along a deserted logging road, where he intended to tie him to a