Kit Roberts
A convicted murderer confessed to killing a further 11 women before dying of cancer.
On September 28, 2023, Garry Artman was given a life sentence for the murder and rape of 29-year-old Sharon Hammack in 1996.
But he had only served a few months of his life sentence when he died from lung cancer on December 28.
Before his death, the convicted killer reportedly confessed that he'd killed 11 other women.
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Artman had been in a coma - with his death expected to be in mid December, The Independent reports.
But, according to WOOD-TV, he came out of the coma and confessed to the additional killings before dying at age 66.
Artman also reportedly said that 10 out of the 11 killings had happened in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Among the murders the long distance trucker admitted to was the killing of 24-year-old Dusty Shuck.
Dusty was found dead near to a truck stop on May 4, 2006 after being stabbed and beaten.
Speaking to WOOD-TV, Dusty's mother Lori Kreutzer paid tribute to her daughter, saying: “She was an amazing soul. She was good inside and out."
She added: "He came out of the coma after the respirator came out and fully confessed to Dusty’s murder.
“It was a miracle…divine intervention. So at least he did that.”
Kent County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Eric Brunner told the outlet: “Our investigative team met with him three times prior to his death to see if there’s any information or case facts they could glean to help solve some of these unsolved murders and missing people.
“What we can say is just that those three times were fruitful, to an extent."
Brunner added: "Someone that’s had a loved one go missing or murdered a long time ago…
"It’s just a huge loss and then to not have answers on top of that.
"So, our investigators feel that burden as well when they look into these cases to try to help bring closure to these families."
He continued: “Obviously, Mr. Artman has passed away, so some people are going to have differing emotions about that. But, to bring closure to these families even beyond his death, that is their goal.”
Investigators are currently looking into the details provided by Artman before his death.
Artman was only convicted of the murder of Sharon Hammack, who was pregnant with her third child at the time of her death.
Another of the women Artman was linked to was Cathleen Dennis, who had a seven-year-old son when she died.
A police spokeswoman told CBS on Wednesday (January 3): "Interviews with Artman provided enough information to reasonably conclude he was involved in the 1995 disappearance of Cathleen Dennis but that it is very unlikely that Dennis' body will ever be found."
DNA evidence had also previously linked Artman to Dusty's death in 2006.
However, a trial for the killing was ruled out due to Artman's terminal illness.