The Bike Path Killer

by Michael Beebe

He Raped.  .  . Altemio Sanchez was a modern-day Jekyll and Hyde—a family man who resided in Buffalo, New York, with a wife and two sons, worked nights as a machinist, and concealed a terrible secret. Once a year, after his shift, he'd make a side trip to a secluded spot where women would ride bikes and jog. He was called "The Bike Path Rapist"—until he crossed the line from rape to murder. He Killed.  .  .  For fourteen years, the Bike Path Killer mercilessly raped and murdered his prey, eluding police every step of the way. Then, the killings stopped. People wondered whether he'd left town, had been locked up in prison for another crime, or maybe even died. But when another woman's corpse with the same lethal signature surfaced, authorities knew the Bike Path Killer was back. And He Almost Got Away With It. Now, for the first time, two award-winning reporters follow a depraved killer's bloody trail of terror to the bitter his horrifying confession.  .  . Includes 16 pages of shocking photos.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Mystery Thriller

310 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 27, 2009

Reviews

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

30 Years A Combination Of Excellent Police Work And Luck

Altermio Sanchez, who terrorized Buffalo for over 30 years from the first rape to the final rape and murder of Joan Diver. It was a combination of excellent police work and luck that eventually brought Altermio Sanchez to justice. The co-authors have done an excellent job describing the investigators and the chronological events that took place over the years.
The book is extremely professionally written and gets right into the mind of a sociopath who has managed to fool his wife, kids, and the police in Buffalo for years, whilst his ugly psychotic dark side comes out as he terrorises rapes and murders for years.
The book is fast paced, The case is interesting, and I highly recommend this book to true crime readers.
The typing is bad. The words run together which I found at times difficult and frustrating to read but worth sticking with it. For this reason, I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 due to this.
I am part of the ARC group for Wildblue Press and BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Spoiler alert) It took a while, but this creep FINALLY got what he deserved.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good despite the hundreds of times two words were stuck together. I found that very annoying and disruptive.

[Jillian Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Idk if its because of nostalgia or because of familiarity with the Buffalo area, but this was sooo sooo good!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me think twice about some of the areas that I exercise in. A man of the community has a secret life which involves raping and killing He terrorized the community for years before being caught. The book will keep the reader engaged. I would have given the book a 4 star rating, but words were together instead of being seperate. I found that to be unacceptable. Otherwsie this book was an easy to follow story.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serial killers do their work over long periods of time, usually. Thus, the heinousness of their multiple crimes is spread out over such a long time that much of it is lost to the casual reader or tv viewer.

However, the two journalists who wrote this book tell the story from the beginning to the end and offer the reader the full sequence of the awful tale known as the Bike Path Killer. There are 16 pages of photos, to help put a face to all the names included in this story.

This is the first true crime book I've read in probably 50 years and it kept my attention throughout. I thought there was a bit of repetition but decided that it was to help keep the characters separate -- there were many, many names in this book.

[Jill- Host of the Murder Shelf Book Club podcast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible, fast-paced true crime story of the Bike Path killer, who tormented the Buffalo, NY area for years, then-- vanished. Was he done? Apparently not. Out of the blue, he struck again or was it a copy cat?
It kept my heart pounding as I read the story, a true page turner, and I am going to cover it on my podcast, The Murder Shelf Book Club. Just incredible. Look for these episodes in Jan 2022.

[*Weebles* · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a psycho path! Wow. He is definitely where he belongs. Nobody in their right mind would do all that, while living a double life, like nothing happened.

[Andrew Pritchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay, but was a bit too technical at times.

[Linda H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could hardly put this down.

[Hannah Lang · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a slow read at times but it was an interesting and horrifying case. Can’t believe how long it took to catch the killer.

[Nicole Jones - Carris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, I was 100 pages in before the author really got to any of the investigation. I am born and raised in Buffalo and of the age to remember these cases and I found this a boring account of events.

[Laurie]

Altemio Sanchez died in prison September 2023. The Devil called him home.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who lived in Buffalo anytime from 1980 to 2006 should read this book. Its a real page turner-16 victims over 3 decades this family man who resided in a suburb of Buffalo, N.Y. concealed a terrible secret. Once a year after his shift as a machinist he'd make a side trip to a secluded spot where women would be jogging or bike riding. This rapist turned murderer took decades to find. Not to mention, someone else was wrongly convicted and served time for being accused of the first 5 crimes committed in Delaware Park by the statue of David. This really flipped me out as its a five minute walk from were I used to live. Scary stuff-finally a task force is formed in 2006 after a University of Buffalo professor's wife is murdered jogging on the bike path and the combination of FBI, sherriff dept and Amherst and Buffalo Police department finally solve the case and bring this SOB to justice. The author Mike Beebe has been a writer for the Buffalo News for years story concentrates on the solving of the mystery to find the killer-Book is well done.

[Tabi34 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love true crime books and this one was especially interesting because I spent time in Buffalo, Hamburg and Erie County New York at the time some of these attacks took place.
While the book is interesting, it wasn't griping. Sometimes it bogged down with technical info that didn't advance the story. There is also a lot of repetition of information and at times, the same lines seemed to be copied and added in other places.
This book took me a long time to read - 3 weeks which is forever in my life.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

What better way to prepare for the future life in Buffalo than by reading true crime books about the new neighborhood?

Buffalo News reporters Maki Becker and Michael Beebe do a very good job of recounting the case of the Bike Path Killer, who got away with raping and murdering women for more than 14 years.

It's an amazing story about the lack of communication between neighboring police agencies and the tragic impact it can have. Solid, true-crime reportage and a very captivating investigation.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your from Buffalo and lived through this in the media, this is a must read. It puts all the events together in a distinct time line and walks you through the investigation. It also makes you wonder how close you came to this guy through your day to day life and who is really living next door.

I am reading "The Bike Path Rapist" next for comparison.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This case took place in New York. Buffalo, Calarence, Amherst.
Altimio Sanchez murdered three. Linda Yalem, Joan Diver and Majane Mazur. He raped 22 ranging from age 13. He found his victimes on bike paths and in parks.

[Michele J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very creepy and informative. Being a western New Yorker, I could picture all of the places mentioned in the book. It's really sad it took them so long to catch him and very scary that people can lead two lives like that without anybody knowing.

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true crime account of Altemio Sanchez, a “normal” family man from Buffalo, NY, who led a double life as a serial rapist and murderer.
A riveting, quick read. Great, extensive research done by the authors.
Highly recommend for any true crime fan. One of the best books written on this story.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy. Makes me want to stay off of bike paths for sure.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of Buffalo bike path killer and the detective work that finally caught him

[Pyxipyro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good and interesting! Have to make sure your awake to pay extra attention to the details. I like how they explain it all.

[Lorie Toutant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read; well put together.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a real page turner. To get away with rapes and murders for that long and had a wife and children is so unbelievable.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy read. It is a true case that some of our Members were a part of.