Episode 254: The Friday the 13th Murder (The Murder of Sharon Gregory)

What exactly happened to Sharon Gregory on October 24, 1988 may never be known, but one thing is clear: her killer had an obsession with horror movies. Did Mark Branch have a psychotic break and think he was part of the Friday the 13th franchise? Was he simply obsessed with gore and wanted to experience it for himself? Or was there another motive behind this horrific crime? This is the story of the murder of Sharon Gregory, a psychology student in Greenfield, Massachusetts who was senselessly killed right before Halloween 1988.

Sources for this episode:

https://mylifeofcrime.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/transcript-of-affidavit-in-branch-case.doc

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/12/01/Court-documents-sought-in-slasher-killing/8455596955600/

https://www.ranker.com/list/friday-the-13th-copycat/jacob-shelton

https://mysterious-hills.blogspot.com/2013/12/friday-13th-copycat-killing-in-western.html

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187326533/sharon-marie-gregory

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_the_13th_(franchise)

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/11/29/Slasher-movie-buff-murder-suspects-body-found/5288596782800/

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/copycat-killer-dressed-jason-voorhees-28313193