10 Terrifying Facts About Edward Paisnel, The Beast of Jersey

In the 1960s, the island of Jersey located in the English Channel was a terrifying place for women and children. A real-life boogeyman was hunting them, prowling neighborhood streets, waiting for them to be alone and vulnerable. This mystery monster was attacking people in brutal and violent ways. Dubbed "The Beast of Jersey," his brutal crimes haunted an entire community. 

It wasn’t until July 1971 that anyone would find out who was committing these atrocities. Even after Edward Paisnel was unmasked and arrested, the extend of his crimes would remain unknown until after his death. The shocking details of this notorious sex offender's crimes have been compared to some of the most terrifying serial killers in history.  

For 11 years Edward Paisnel got away with breaking into homes and brutally raping, beating, and sodomizing women and children on the island of Jersey in the English Channel. He would only attack his victims when he knew they were home alone. He’d creep into the house, snatch his victims from their beds, tether a noose around their necks, and subject them to his twisted sexual fantasies.

Edward Paisnel managed to evade capture and live a convincingly normal life by day for 11 years before anyone found out about his alternate identity. He was caught because he ran a red light in a stolen car. He may have been able to explain the stolen car and a traffic infraction with some made up story. What he couldn’t explain, however, was why he led police on a high-speed chase while dressed in the same studded costume the Beast of Jersey with the mask and wig in the backseat. What brilliant excuse did Paisnel give police when they finally caught up to him? He said he was on his way to an orgy.

Paisnel became referred to as “The Beast of Jersey” because he hid behind a ghastly rubber mask so none of his victims could identify him. He also wore a woman’s wig, a nail-studded coat, and matching wristbands. He slipped on his demented boogeyman attire and prowled the streets as his alter ego, the beast.

Edward Paisnel's mother-in-law ran the La Preference children’s home. He spent a lot of time there, and at a home nearby called the Haut de la Garenne. The kids called him “Uncle Ted” and at Christmas would get dressed up as Santa, having the kids sit on his lap to get candy and gifts. He and his wife also took in orphans within their own home in Grouville, and was known to be very active in the community working with children.

After Paisnel’s death, more evidence began to pop up against him. As it turns out, there are direct connections to him and a number of missing children cases. He may have been a murderer in addition to a sex offender.

In 2008, a child’s skull was found during the excavation of Haut De La Garenne. This orphanage was one of the places “Uncle Ted” was known to frequent. After the initial discovery, a more thorough search was conducted and more bones were found behind the home, and shackles were found in the basement.

Edward Paisnel constructed a shrine in which he used to worship Satan and performed various blood rituals prior to the attacks. Police found his Satanic shrine out in a barn. It was full of occult symbols, books, and an altar hidden by heavy red curtains that he used for animal sacrifices.

More than 24 victims came forward about the sexual abuse they endured at the hands of Edward Paisnel while living in children’s homes. One of those victims was even impregnated by Paisnel.

There were many reports of "someone" moving around in the crawl spaces at night in the La Preference children's home during the 1960s. There were even reports of the children waking up to find someone staring at them from behind a crude rubber mask.

It wasn’t until the 2008 murder investigation of Haut de la Garenne, that a victim recalled Paisnel climbed through the windows at night wearing his mask and gloves to sexually assault the children.  One witness confirmed he used chloroform on sleeping children and removed them from their beds to perform his sadistic acts on them elsewhere.

Edward Paisnel was a husband, father of three, and popular around town - everyone knew him as “Ted." Between his job as a contractor and his involvement with community events, he was well-liked and considered a pillar of the community and an exemplary builder. Everyone was shocked when he was unmasked as the beast that had been terrorizing their town for 11 years.

In December of 1971, Paisnel was convicted on 13 counts of assault, rape, and sodomy and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He served his prison sentence and was set free in 1991. He actually tried returning home to Jersey, but because he was so disliked in the community, moved to the Isle of Wight where he died in 1994.

In addition to all his Satanic objects, Paisnel had unhealthy obsession with Gilles de Rais. Paisnel apparently modeled himself after de Rais, a 15th Century French occultist and lunatic who would lure children into his castle and murder then as sacrifices to Satan. It’s believed this madman is inspired Bluebeard, a dark character of French folklore. Bluebeard was known for murdering all of his many wives and keeping their corpses hanging from hooks in a locked room in his home.