The Crimes Of The Syracuse Dungeon Master Were Exposed By One Of His Victims
The following article includes descriptions of sexual assault.
On paper, John Jamelske — the "Syracuse Dungeon Master" — seemed like an average man from Syracuse, New York (via Insider Exclusive). He was a married father and a millionaire. However, The New York Times explains that everything changed when his wife, Dorothy, became sick. The New York Post reports that Dorothy had cancer and could no longer have sex with her husband. Jamelske's solution to this problem was to kidnap women and keep them as sex slaves in a bunker he built underneath his home. Per Syracuse.com, Jamelske abducted his first victim in 1988. For the next 15 years, he went on to kidnap four other women, who were between the ages of 14 and 53.
According to ABC News, the bunker the women were housed in was likened to a concrete cell. There was a mattress, a bucket, and not much else. Here, Jamelske sexually abused his victims on a daily basis (via Syracuse.com). He lured his victims by asking them if they needed rides and then locked them up in his bunker for months at a time before releasing them. One victim named Jennifer told the New York Post that when Jamelske was done with her, he dropped her off at a bus stop and gave her money.
Per ABC News, two victims went to the police after they were released but were unable to tell investigators where they were held. Thus, Jamelske was able to strike again. In October 2002, he kidnapped his final victim — an unnamed 16-year-old girl (per The New York Times).
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
A teenager outsmarted John Jamelske
Although details of the 16-year-old's abduction are unknown, Insider Exclusive writes that while captive, she decided that befriending John Jamelske was in her best interest. Syracuse.com reported that this tactic worked, and Jamelske began taking her out in public to places like the mall and a karaoke bar. On April 8, 2003, the 16-year-old and Jamelske were out in Manlius, New York, when she asked her captor if she could call a church. Per The New York Times, Jamelske was known to be a religious man. In addition, one of the only commodities in the bunker was a Bible. Jamelske agreed to let her use a phone and the girl called not a church but her sister.
Angela Wilson, the victim's sister, recounted this moment to "Good Morning America." She stated (via ABC News), "She sounded afraid, she was quiet, I could barely hear her." Wilson added, "The conversation was 15 or 20 minutes. She told me that he [Jamelske] was a rapist and that she was being held against her will and was not able to come home." Wilson then called for help. According to Syracuse, the 16-year-old was saved by the police that same day, ending Jamelske's horrific crimes against women. He was arrested and charged with kidnapping, rape, and sodomy. Jamelske was denied bail.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
His victims speak out
According to ABC News, the 16-year-old victim's family learned that there were allegations about John Jamelske's crimes from other victims who were ignored. They noted that her kidnapping could have been prevented if the police had taken the women more seriously. Meanwhile, two of his victims — Jennifer and La — opened up to the New York Post about their harrowing ordeal. Jennifer described living "like an animal," while La divulged that Jamelske beat her so badly that she lost hearing in one of her ears. That said, The New York Times reported that Jamelske took a plea deal and admitted to kidnapping and sexually assaulting five women.
Syracuse.com writes that John Jamelske was sentenced in July 2003 and received 18 to 99 years in prison. At his sentencing, some of his victims recounted the abuse they endured from Jamelske, with one woman saying she was afraid that he would one day be released from prison. In December 2020, Jamelske, then 85, became eligible for parole.
His final 16-year-old victim has never been identified but is referred to in court as Jane Doe #5 (via CNY Central). Her attorney, Charles Bonner, spoke for all the victims against his parole and stated, "He stole their souls. He stole their childhoods and he can never replace that." Per Spectrum News, Jamelske was denied parole and will be eligible again in December 2022.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).