Who Is Gracious David-West? Serial Killer Sentenced To Death For Strangling 9 Women

Gracious David-West has been sentenced to death by hanging for the strangulations of nine women in Nigeria.

BBC News reported that along with being convicted in the death of the nine women, David-West had confessed to the murders of six other women, but he was not charged due to the lack of evidence.

The 40-year-old would use cheap hotels located on the fringes of Port Harcourt and the center of the city to kill his victims.

David-West was arrested on Sept. 19, while trying to leave Port Harcourt. Police believe the pattern of his murders reflect those of a serial killer. During his crimes, David-West would have sex with his victims and then bind their arms and feet with strips of white sheets.

Before killing the women, he would steal their money, ATM cards, and rob them of any other valuable items.

At the beginning of his case, David-West pleaded guilty, but due to the “gravity of the crime,” the judge ordered a trial.

During the trial, reporters described his unsettling behavior. “He was quick-tempered, always interjected the judge, and tried to defend himself despite having a lawyer,” journalist Alwell Ene revealed.

David-West, who was a member of the mafia-styled street gang, the Greenlanders, also known as Dey Gbam, was reportedly an only child of a polygamous home.

Very little is known about his nine victims other than their names. None of the victims’ families or friends showed up to the trial except for the father of one of the women, who only attended the first day of the hearing.

Investigators suspect David-West was able to lure women to hotels by posing as a military officer and promising them money for their time.