Joe Metheny

Joe Metheny, born Joseph Roy Metheny, was an American murderer and suspected serial killer from the Baltimore, Maryland area.

Joe Metheny, born Joseph Roy Metheny, was an American murderer and suspected serial killer from the Baltimore, Maryland area. He was convicted of two murders and a kidnapping, and he claimed to have killed more people, but only two killings were supported by sufficient evidence in court. Metheny became notorious for unproven claims that he butchered victims and sold their remains as hamburgers from a roadside stand.

Background

Joseph Roy Metheny was born on March 2, 1955. He became known for crimes committed in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Public accounts describe him as a murderer and suspected serial killer who preyed on vulnerable women.

Criminal case

Metheny was arrested in 1996 after police connected him to multiple disappearances and deaths. He was ultimately convicted of two murders and kidnapping, while broader claims about additional victims remained unproven. The two murders for which he was convicted were those of Kimberly Spicer and Cathy Magaziner.

Claims and notoriety

Metheny became notorious for claiming that he butchered victims and sold their remains as hamburgers from a roadside stand. These claims made the case widely reported, but the verified legal outcome was limited to the convictions supported by evidence. No court finding confirmed the cannibalism or burger-selling allegations; they appear in reports based on Metheny’s own statements and later retellings.

Death

Metheny was found dead in his cell at the Western Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland, on August 5, 2017. He was 62 years old at the time of his death. He was serving two life sentences for his convictions.