Birth name Joseph D. Ball Also known as The Alligator Man, Butcher of Elmendorf Born January 6, 1892 San Antonio, Texas Died September 24, 1938 (aged 42) Cause of death Suicide Number of victims 5-20 Country USA State(s) Elemendorf, Texas
This article is about the serial killer. For the English footballer, see Joe Ball (footballer). For the article about a Minnesota senator, see Joseph Hurst Ball. Joseph D. (Joe) Ball (January 6, 1892 -- September 24, 1938)[1] was an American serial killer, sometimes referred to as The Alligator Man,[2] the Butcher of Elmendorf[3] and the Bluebeard[2] of South Texas. He is said to have killed at least 20 women in the 1930s. His existence was long believed to be apocryphal, but he is a familiar figure in Texas folklore.