Donna Perry (serial killer)

Donna Perry (born Douglas Perry, January 11, 1952 – died November 3, 2017) was an American transgender woman and serial killer convicted of murdering three women in Spokane, Washington in 1990. These murders, known collectively as the "Spokane serial murders," remained unsolved for over two decades.

Perry was initially investigated as a suspect in the early 1990s, but was not considered a prime suspect at the time. She underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2000.

In 2012, advancements in DNA technology led investigators to re-examine evidence from the crime scenes. DNA evidence linked Perry to the murders of Yolanda Sapp, Kathleen Ann Brisbois, and Nickie Rothgeb. Perry was arrested in 2012 and subsequently convicted in 2013 on three counts of first-degree murder.

Throughout her life, Perry maintained a complex and often contradictory narrative regarding her involvement in the murders. Some accounts suggested she had repressed memories of the crimes, while others pointed to her consistently denying direct involvement. Her transgender identity, and the investigation occurring both before and after her transition, drew significant media attention.

Perry was sentenced to three life sentences without the possibility of parole and died in prison in 2017.