The John Jamelske house, a seemingly ordinary suburban dwelling in DeWitt, New York, hides a dark and disturbing history. This unassuming property became the site of unimaginable horrors, where John Jamelske, a serial kidnapper and rapist, held multiple victims captive in a secret underground bunker for years. But who was John Jamelske, and how did his house become a prison for innocent women and girls?
Who is John Jamelske?
John Thomas Jamelske, born on May 9, 1935, was a man who led a double life. On the surface, he appeared to be an average guy from DeWitt, a suburb of Syracuse, New York. He graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1953 and married Dorothy Richmond, a schoolteacher. Together, they had three sons. Jamelske worked various jobs, including stints at grocery stores and as a handyman and carpenter.
But beneath this facade of normalcy lurked a monster. From 1988 to 2003, Jamelske kidnapped a series of girls and women, holding them captive in a concrete bunker he built beneath his yard. His victims ranged in age from 14 to 53 and came from diverse backgrounds.
John Jamelske Known Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Thomas Jamelske |
| Date of Birth | May 9, 1935 |
| Place of Birth | DeWitt, New York |
| Education | Graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1953 |
| Occupation | Worked at grocery stores, as a handyman, and carpenter |
| Marital Status | Married to Dorothy Richmond (deceased in 1999) |
| Children | Three sons |
| Criminal Activities | Serial kidnapper and rapist |
| Years Active | 1988-2003 |
| Number of Known Victims | 5 |
| Current Status | Incarcerated at Clinton Correctional Facility |
| Sentence | 18 years to life |
| Assets | Over $1 million invested in real estate in California |
Where Does John Jamelske Live Now?
John Jamelske no longer resides in his DeWitt home. Since his arrest in 2003, he’s been behind bars. Currently, the 88-year-old Jamelske is incarcerated at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York. He’s serving a sentence of 18 years to life for his crimes.
In December 2020, Jamelske became eligible for parole after serving nearly 18 years. However, his request for release was denied. Again in October 2023, he was denied parole for a second time. The parole board’s decision was influenced by victim impact statements and a letter written by Jamelske himself.
John Jamelske House
The John Jamelske house, located at 7070 Highbridge Road in Fayetteville, New York, was a three-bedroom single-family home that hid a sinister secret. From the outside, it looked like any other suburban house. But beneath the yard, Jamelske had constructed a concrete bunker that would become a prison for his victims.
This house, which Jamelske shared with his wife Dorothy until she died in 1999, became the centre of a horrifying criminal case that shocked the nation. The property’s seemingly normal exterior belied the nightmarish conditions that existed just below the surface.
Features of John Jamelske House
The John Jamelske house was a study in contrasts. Above ground, it was an unremarkable suburban home. But its most notorious feature lay hidden from view.
Overview of House Design
The main house was a three-bedroom single-family home, typical of many in the area. It had a yard and appeared normal from the outside. However, the property’s true nature was concealed beneath this ordinary facade.
Total Area
While the exact total area of the property isn’t specified in the available information, we know it included the main house, yard, and underground bunker.
Architectural Design and Style
The house itself was likely built in a style common to suburban homes in the area. But the most significant architectural feature was hidden from view – the underground bunker Jamelske constructed to hold his victims.
1. Personal House Touches
While we don’t have information about improvements Jamelske made to the main house, we know he made significant “modifications” to the property:
- Construction of the underground bunker
- Installation of steel doors leading to the bunker
- Creation of a narrow tunnel entrance
- Addition of chains and ankle bracelets in the bunker
- Installation of a small three-rung ladder for entry into the bunker
2. House Amenities
The house had some unusual “amenities,” particularly in the underground bunker:
- Underground concrete bunker (which Jamelske called “the dungeon”)
- Steel doors
- Narrow tunnel entrance
- Chains and ankle bracelets
- Small three-rung ladder
- Writing on the walls, including religious phrases and peace symbols
- A crucifix hung by the door
- Video recording equipment
House Value and Specifications
- Build year: Unknown
- Purchase year: Unknown
- Purchase value: Unknown
- Recent estimated value: Approximately $1.5 million (based on Jamelske’s total assets)
- Area: Three-bedroom house with an underground bunker
- House style: Single-family suburban home
- Full address: 7070 Highbridge Road, Fayetteville, New York
All John Jamelske Houses
We don’t have information about other houses owned by John Jamelske. The house at 7070 Highbridge Road in Fayetteville, New York, is the only property associated with his crimes. However, it’s worth noting that Jamelske had invested over $1 million in real estate in California.
The Underground Bunker
The most notorious feature of the John Jamelske house was the underground bunker where he held his victims captive. This concrete structure, hidden beneath the yard, was a testament to the depths of Jamelske’s depravity.
Bunker Layout
The bunker was accessed through a complex entry system. Behind a storage shelf in the basement, there was a steel door. This door led to an 8-foot-long tunnel that had to be traversed on hands and knees. At the end of this tunnel was another steel door, which finally opened into the main chamber of the bunker.
Bunker Dimensions
The main chamber of the bunker was 8 feet high, 24 feet long, and 12 feet wide. The entry point was a small box located just under the top of the room. To enter, a person had to turn around and step down into the room using a small three-rung ladder.
Bunker Features
Inside the bunker, Jamelske had created a horrifying environment for his victims. He would chain them using an ankle bracelet connected to a longer chain. The walls were covered with writing, including religious phrases and numerous peace symbols. A crucifix hung by the door, next to the phrase “PEACE TO ALL WHO ENTER HERE.” Other disturbing phrases like “HATE” and “READY TO RUCUSS [sic], SO BRING ON THE PAIN” were written in deep crimson.
Victim Experiences
Jamelske’s victims endured unimaginable horrors in this underground prison. They would wake up naked and chained in the dungeon-like room. Jamelske controlled every aspect of their lives – when they ate, when they slept, and when they bathed. He even controlled the lighting in the bunker. His victims were forced to have sex with him daily and were made to keep a calendar log of the sexual acts they were forced to endure.
The Discovery
The John Jamelske house and its horrifying secret were finally discovered in 2003. Jamelske’s final victim, a 16-year-old African American runaway from Syracuse, managed to make a phone call to a family member when Jamelske briefly left her unattended. This led to Jamelske’s arrest and the revelation of his years of criminal activity.
The Aftermath
After Jamelske’s arrest, the house became a crime scene. Police found the residence systematically filled with miscellaneous items of little or no value, including newspapers, magazines, beer bottles, and receipts spanning two decades.
The discovery of the bunker and the extent of Jamelske’s crimes shocked the community and the nation. The case was described by Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick as “without question” the strangest he had ever prosecuted.
Legal Proceedings
Jamelske pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree kidnapping. As part of his plea agreement, his assets were to be sold off and divided among his victims. He is currently serving a term of 18 years to life.
Impact on Victims
The impact of Jamelske’s crimes on his victims has been profound and long-lasting. Attorney Charles Bonner, representing one of the victims, stated that Jamelske “stole their very souls, and he cannot give that back.” The victims continue to suffer tremendous mental health fallout from their time in captivity.
Conclusion
The John Jamelske house stands as a chilling reminder of the evil that can lurk behind an ordinary facade. What appeared to be a typical suburban home concealed a dungeon of horrors where multiple victims suffered unspeakable abuse. The case of John Jamelske and his house of horrors continues to shock and disturb, serving as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the often-hidden nature of predatory behaviour.
The story of the John Jamelske house is not just about a building or a criminal case. It’s a narrative that forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about the potential for evil in our communities and the vulnerability of those at society’s margins. It underscores the need for robust support systems for at-risk individuals and the importance of taking all reports of abuse seriously.
Today, the house at 7070 Highbridge Road stands as a silent witness to the atrocities committed within its walls and beneath its yard. It serves as a grim reminder of a dark chapter in the history of DeWitt, New York, and a cautionary tale about the monsters that may live among us.