Sebastian Shaw: Profile of a Serial Killer

Sebastian Alexander Shaw, an American serial killer and rapist, was born in Vietnam and terrorized the city of Portland, Oregon in the early 1990s. During his killing spree between 1991 and 1992, Shaw committed at least three murders that shocked the community and sparked a massive investigation. Shaw’s case is similar to many other serial killer cases in that he had been on police radar at least once over the course of his killing spree. If he had been investigated sooner, the lives of at least three people would have been saved.

Early Life

Born under the name Chau Quang Ho, Sebastian Shaw was born in Phuoc Tuy, Vietnam. When he was young, he moved to Oregon with his father, Van, who had remarried and had two more children with his new wife. During 4th grade, Chau’s teacher reported that he had temper tantrums, but little is known about whether or not this was a persistent issue. Chau enjoyed high school, but struggled with some issues and once tried to overdose on aspirin, which his aunt believed was a suicide attempt.

Shaw eventually accused his father of child abuse, which caused even more issues at home instead of solving them. According to Radford University’s Dept. of Psychology, when Shaw was just 17-years-old his father became enraged during an argument and then beat him badly with a piece of wood. This is when the young man left home, choosing to move to California to live with his aunt and cousin. From here, he joined the military, but his career was a short-lived one. He was discharged from the Marine Corp. just a small handful of years after he enlisted.

Signs of Trouble

The first notable incident involving Shaw’s behavioral issues as an adult arose when he was 23-years-old. A coworker at a cable company that hired him just a year prior began accusing him of inappropriate conduct. She reported his behavior to their supervisors at least two times, which angered Shaw. He retaliated by harassing her further, and by making threats that warned her against reporting him or rejecting him. This was the final straw at this place of employment. Sebastian Shaw was fired from the cable company for his conduct.

First Known Victim

Angered by losing his job (which he only lost because of his disturbing behavior), Shaw sought out a stranger on which to take out his rage. Jay Rickbeil — of Oregon– was a 40-year-old quadriplegic who suffered from cerebral palsy. He’s been described as an overly-trusting and friendly person, and a new-age believer who enjoyed talking to strangers about spirituality and his beliefs. He was a well-liked individual, who’s life came to a crashing halt in the dark, early-morning hours of July 2, 1991. Sebastian Shaw gained access to the man’s apartment and slit his throat as he slept. He had just been fire from his job that very night.

Two More Victims

Approximately two weeks following the random murder of Jay Rickbeil, Sebastian Shaw viciously murdered two more people. This double-slaying came on the night that Shaw got into an argument with two of his new coworkers at a job that had just hired him as a security guard. Following his shift, Shaw entered the mobile home of Donna Ferguson and Todd Rudiger and inflicted his anger out on the innocent couple. When their bodies were found on July 20, 1992, it was discovered that Rudiger had been stabbed in the neck, which caused him to bleed to death. Donna Ferguson had been bound and sexually assaulted before she-to was stabbed in the neck and murdered.

Suspected Victims

A couple of years following the murders of Donna Ferguson, Todd Rudiger and Jay Rickbeil, On May 27, 1994, John Lin returned home from work to find his 14-year-old daughter, Jenny, partially naked and stabbed to death in the bathroom of their family home in Castro Valley, California. Jenny was a talented violinist and straight-A student, who had no known enemies. There were no signs of a struggle or sexual assault, and nothing was missing from the house. Authorities suspected that Jenny’s killer was a man who did not know her and had easily overpowered her. Two weeks prior to the murder, John Lin had been approached by a disheveled man who claimed to have “got his daughter,” but the man was not considered a suspect. The Lin family created “Friends of Jenny Lin,” a volunteer organization to spread awareness of the case, and in October, a neighbor came forward with information about a suspicious man seen outside the Lin residence near the time of the murder.

The Murder Kit

Sebastian Shaw’s first arrest occurred on August 31, 1994, after he was found sleeping in a stolen car in San Ramon. A “murder kit” was discovered and confiscated, but there was no evidence linking him to any murders, and he was released. Had he been — at the very least — investigated from this point, police might have saved the lives of potential other victims. That is, of course, if Shaw’s claims of having other victims is true.

Finally Arrested

On February 20, 1998, Shaw was arrested again and charged with multiple crimes, including the murder of two individuals and rape. DNA evidence matched him to the crime scenes after police collected a discarded cigarette. Shaw later confessed to killing 13 people and agreed to name the victims if he could be transferred to a federal prison where smoking was allowed. Shaw was eventually convicted of all the crimes, including the murder of Rickbeil. However, although he was announced as the prime suspect in the murder of Jenny Lin, there was no physical evidence to charge him. Lin’s murder remains unsolved.