Harvey Carignan

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Harvey Louis Carignan (1974 arrest)

American serial killer

Harvey Louis Carignan (born May 18, 1927) is an American serial killer who was active during the 1970s. He is also known as "The Want-Ad Killer" and "Harv the Hammer" due to his method of luring victims through classified ads and his use of a hammer as a weapon.

Early Life

Carignan was born in Fargo, North Dakota. Little is known about his early life, but it is documented that he had a troubled childhood and a history of criminal behavior from a young age.

Criminal Activities

Carignan's criminal activities began in earnest in the 1940s. He was first convicted of rape in 1949 while serving in the United States Army in Anchorage, Alaska. He was sentenced to death, but the sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Carignan was paroled in 1960.

1970s Murders

In the early 1970s, Carignan began a series of brutal murders. He would place classified ads to lure women, offering them jobs or rides. Once he had them in his car, he would attack them with a hammer. His known victims include:

• Mary Ellen O'Toole
• Diane Flynn
• Kathy Schultz

Carignan was eventually apprehended in 1974. During his trial, he was found guilty of multiple counts of murder and sexual assault. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Imprisonment

Carignan is currently serving his sentence at the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Oak Park Heights. He has been the subject of numerous studies and documentaries on criminal behavior and serial killers.

See Also

• List of serial killers in the United States
• Criminal psychology
• Life imprisonment in the United States