Shaun Alexander	Killed his cat by running over it with a lawnmower	Dunwoody, GA	1996
	Killed a 20-year-old student at Hofstra University	Hempstead, NY	April 25, 2001

 (Photo courtesy of Ed Betz, The Associated Press) Alexander, age 23 a Hofstra University student confessed to the police that he killed, cut up and buried a classmate from Massachusetts. Under NY law, Alexander, could face the death penalty if a jury finds he killed Max Kolb while committing another felony. Prosecutors say Alexander committed two felonies while killing Kolb; sexual assault and kidnapping.

 (Photo courtesy of Online Athens) The investigation into the death of Max Kolb, a 20-year-old film major from Kingston, MA had revealed that Alexander has a dark side that worried friend as early as high school. The killing shocked classmates at the Hampstead NY campus on Long Island despite some earlier admissions of violence made by the fifth year sophomore. "Shaun told me that in high school, he ran over his cat with his lawn mower because he didn't like the cat", senior Kristen Donahue said.

On April 25, 2001, Alexander lured Max Kolb to a motel and flew into a rage when his sexual advances were rejected. He killed and dismembered Kolb, wrapped his body in plastic, and carted the corpse around in his Land Rover for days before stashing him at a storage facility and finally burying him. Alexander's defense attorney Eric Naiburg is using psychological defense claiming a bipolar disorder.

Alexander grew up in Georgia, the son of a wealthy investment banker. He was in the drama club and on the student newspaper at North Springs High School. Generally however, Alexander was picked on as a geek. He was chubby, preppy, awkward and odd, friends stated. At college, Alexander was notorious for his flashy clothes, new cars and a $3,000 a month allowance from his parents. He outfitted his off-campus apartment with a 61-inch TV, DVD player and surround sound. He also had disco lights, a smoke machine and a green leather sofa. Alexander's time at Hofstra was also marked by a hazing scandal in April 1998 that got him booted from his dorm and placed on academic probation.

Max Kolb was the son of Lisa Kolb of Kingston, MA and Tom Kolb of Wellesley, MA. He was a 1999 graduate of Newton North High School in Newton, MA. Alexander graduated from North Springs High School in Fulton County in 1996.

 (Photo courtesy of the New York Post) Alexander, was indicted on 2 counts of 1st degree murder, 4 counts of 2^nd degree, 1 count of Kidnapping in the 1^st degree and 1 count of attempted Sexual abuse in the 1^st degree in the killing and mutilation of Max Kolb age 20 at a Hicksville Econo-Lodge motel. The 4 counts of 2^nd degree murder involve 1 count of intentional murder, 1 count of depraved indifference murder and 2 counts of felony murder. Kolb’s body was found buried behind a barbecue pit at 539 West Park Avenue in Alexander's Long Beach, Long Island rented apartment. Kolb’s body parts had been left in Alexander's Land Rover in plastic bags for a week, and then moved to a storage facility in Garden City for 5 days before being buried. At his arraignment hearing on July 2^nd 2001 Alexander pleaded not guilty to all 8 counts. The Nassau County district attorney Denis E. Dillon had 120 days to decide if he would seek the death penalty.

Alexander's lawyer, Eric W. Naiburg, had 45 days to file a motion that his client was not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect. Naiburg is the criminal defense attorney who previously represented "The Long Island Lolita", Amy Fisher. In October 2001 the prosecutors chose to seek life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for Alexander rather than the death penalty. The grand jury accused Alexander of intentionally killing Max B. Kolb. He was also accused of 1^st degree kidnapping and 1^st degree attempted sexual abuse.

Update January 6, 2003: Alexander pleads guilty to murder and kidnapping charges. Alexander pled guilty to 1 count of 2^nd degree murder and 1 count of 2^nd degree kidnapping. He will be sentenced on March 11. It is expected he will receive 25 years to life on the murder charge and 5 years on the kidnapping charge. The sentences will run concurrently.

Alexander's defense attorney, Marc Gann said the plea agreement give Alexander the chance to be treated for his mental disorders.

Despite a history of mental illness, Alexander was found competent to stand trial in November 2002.

References:

The Boston Herald	The New York Times	South Coast Today
The Nassau County District Attorney's office	The New York Post	ABC News 7
The Atlanta Journal Constitution	HEC Hofstra University News	Online Athens
The Macon Telegraph	The Beaufort Gazette	Newsday
Daily Rotten	4 WNBC news	WCBS News Radio 880