In the 1960s, the island of Jersey located in the English Channel was a terrifying place for women and children. A real-life boogeyman was hunting them: he was prowling neighborhood streets and waiting for them to be alone and vulnerable. This mystery monster was assailing people in brutal and violent ways. Dubbed "The Beast of Jersey," his ghastly offenses haunted an entire community.
It wasn't until July 1971 that anyone would uncover the identity of the masked culprit responsible for terrorizing Channel Island. Even after Edward Paisnel was unmasked and apprehended, the extent of his actions would remain unknown until after his passing. The shocking details of this notorious perp's offenses against women and children have been compared to some of the most terrifying serial killers in history.
He Wore A Disfigured Mask And Nail-Studded Costume
Edward Paisnel became referred to as "The Beast of Jersey" because he hid behind a ghastly rubber mask so none of his victims could identify him. He also wore a woman’s wig, a nail-studded coat, and matching wristbands.
He slipped on his demented boogeyman attire and prowled the streets as his alter ego, the beast.
For 11 years Edward Paisnel got away with breaking into homes and physically assailing women and children on the island of Jersey in the English Channel. He would go after his victims when he knew they were home alone. He'd sneak into the house and take his victims from their beds.
Victims came forward and described the physical harm they endured at the hands of Paisnel while living in children's homes. One of those victims was even impregnated by Paisnel. There were many reports of "someone" moving around in the crawl spaces at night in the La Preference children's home during the 1960s. There were even reports of the children waking up to find someone staring at them from behind a crude rubber mask.
It wasn't until the 2008 investigation of Haut de la Garenne that a victim recalled Paisnel climbing through the windows at night wearing his mask and gloves to assail the children. One witness confirmed he used chloroform on sleeping children and removed them from their beds to perform his sadistic acts elsewhere.
Paisnel constructed a shrine in which he used to worship Satan as well as to performed various blood rituals prior to seizing his victims. Reportedly, police found his Satanic shrine out in a barn.
It was full of occult symbols, books, and an altar hidden by heavy red curtains that he used for animal sacrifices.
Lyra Radford
