''The Cropsey Killer'' (Andre Rand)

By Crusader1307

 A very disturbing view and Case of a very ''Human'' Monster, Andre Rand will forever go down in the annals of Crime as quite a bizarre, and perhaps unsolvable Investigation. His real name was Frank Rushan. Born in New York State (US), both He and His younger Sister were the subject of both mental and physical abuse from their Father (to include sexual). Arrested for His Crime, He was sentenced to imprisonment in a State Mental Hospital where He died. Rand (no one is quite sure just why or when Rushan changed His name), had a series of low-level jobs – mostly at Schools. He stole a School Bus one day and picked up 11 Children without permission – taking them to lunch and on a Field Trip. None of the Children were harmed, but Rand found Himself arrested and sentenced to 10 Months in Jail.

It was between 1972 and 1987, that was of interest to Police, During this period, Rand is suspected of kidnapping and murdering at least (5) ''known'' Children, between the ages of 5 and 12 (Boys and Girls). Some of the victims were ''emotionally or mentally'' impaired, other not. However, no bodies were ever recovered. Rand's arrest was based on the fast that Rand had set up a campsite in The Woods near where a grave was found with evidence of His last victim. The coincidence was too great. Rand never admitted to His Crimes – not did He deny them. But without concrete evidence, no death sentence or even closure for the victims Families could be achieved. A Jury in 1988 however believed the supportive evidence of the last Victim, and sentenced Rand to 25 years (without Parole).

But His ''Tale'' does not stop there. Rand never lived in a normal home between 1972 and 1987. Rather, He lived in a 19th Century, abandoned and ruined structure in Upstate New York called ''The Colony'' (and nicknamed ''Cropsey''). This structure was a ''working Farm'' which was designed to support Society's ''cast offs''. These were Mental and Physically impaired People. Long abandoned, it's dank and creepy nature would become a haven for local Drug Users and Homeless.....even quite possibly, Satanists.

Rand is a self-confessed ''Devil Worshiper'', was said to have entered into a ''bargain'' with Satan. This bargain was predicated on the sacrifice of Children (as it is thought). Rand became the source of several ''Urban Legends'' and Films, each for outlandish (or so it seems). The Colony structure was searched and even investi8gated by Paranormal Experts. In addition to the obvious (EVP ''voices'' and ''Shadow Figures'' as one would expect in such a ''dwelling'' with it's past ''History''), the very ''atmosphere'' seems ''charged with such Evil and negative energies, the average Medium or Psychic can't remain long inside. Perhaps a Modern Legend built around a Serial Killer? Perhaps................