Garry Dean Artman, 64, was arrested on August 19, 2022 for the October 3, 1996 rape and murder of 29-year-old Sharon Kay Hammack in Caledonia Township, Michigan.
Hammack had been hogtied, strangled, and then stabbed twice in the head. Her body was dumped along the roadside near 76th Street and Kraft Avenue. Hammack, the mother of two young children, struggled with addiction, and she was one of about a dozen women – many of whom were engaged in sex work – who were killed in and around Grand Rapids at this time.
Hammack was found the same day she was murdered, and semen was recovered from her body. A DNA sample was also recovered from the rope with which she was tied. There is currently no information on who conducted the FGG investigation. The FGG investigation narrowed the suspect list down to four brothers.
Artman lived and worked near where Hammack was killed in 1996. Artman is currently charged with open murder, felony murder, and first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Kent County Criminal Division. He was arrested in Mississippi and is awaiting extradition.
Hammack was four weeks pregnant at the time of her murder. Her family states that she was a loving woman who was working on getting sober and giving her children a good life when she was murdered.
On September 19, 2022, Artman was charged with the murder of 24-year-old Dusty Myriah Shuk near New Market in Frederick County, Maryland. Her body was found by a passing motorist on May 4, 2006 along the Interstate-70 highway. She had no shoes or identification. She had two tattoos on her back depicting dragons with the words ‘Gypsy Rose’. She had been beaten and stabbed to death.
The DNA profile of the suspect in both homicides were linked in CODIS on August 18, 2008. The FGG investigation was conducted by Identifinders International, led by Linda Doyle.
Artman has a lengthy history of violent sexual assaults. He was convicted of a 1979 rape in which he sexually assaulted a woman at knifepoint after offering her a ride in his vehicle. He was also convicted of sexually assaulting two teenaged girls in October 1980 in Port Huron. He was then charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in December of 1980 after he had been released on bond. He served the maximum sentence of 11 years, and was released in June of 1992. Police found several pairs of women’s underpants in a storage facility belonging to Artman in Kent County, Florida. They are searching for other victims.
Sources:
Kalmbacher, Colin. “Florida Man Arrested in 1996 Cold Case Rape and Murder of Pregnant Mother of Two.” Law & Crime, August 20, 2022. Accessed August 26, 2022. https://lawandcrime.com/crime/florida-man-arrested-in-1996-cold-case-rape-and-murder-of-pregnant-mother-of-two/.
Lovern, Keely. “‘He’ll Rot in Prison’: Family of Murder Victim Relieved of Suspect’s Arrest After 26 Years.” ABC 13 News, August 19, 2022. Accessed August 25, 2022. https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/investigations/family-of-murder-victim-relieved-of-suspects-arrest-after-26-years/69-06b0ccbf-c448-4ca7-a77a-4e912484076a.
Luperon, Alberto. “Man Recently Charged in 1996 Murder is Now Accused of Killing Another Woman Identified by ‘Two Dragon Tattoos.’” Law & Crime, September 19, 2022. Accessed September 25, 2022. https://lawandcrime.com/crime/man-recently-charged-in-1996-murder-is-now-accused-of-killing-another-woman-identified-by-two-dragon-tattoos/.
Maryland State Police. “Maryland State Police Charge Florida Man in 2006 Cold Case Homicide.” Maryland State Police
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Rosenberg, Rebecca. “Florida Trucker Charged in Pair of Grisly Cold Case Murders in Different States.” Fox News Maryland, September 20, 2022. Accessed September 25, 2022. https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-trucker-charged-pair-grisly-cold-case-murders-different-states.
Samples, Susan. “Suspected Serial Killer Unmasked with Aid of Genealogist, MI Native.” WOOD TV, August 26, 2022. Accessed February 27, 2023. https://www.woodtv.com/news/target-8/suspected-serial-killer-unmasked-with-aid-of-genealogist-mi-native/.
Samples, Susan. “‘Used Knife, No Remorse’: Suspected Serial Killer on Police Radar in 1996.” WOOD TV 8, October 28, 2022. Last modified October 30, 2022. Accessed January 23, 2022. https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/used-knife-no-remorse-suspected-serial-killer-on-police-radar-in-1996/.
Samples, Susan. “‘We Got Him’: FL Trucker Arrested in 1996 Rape, Murder of GR-Area Woman.” WOOD 8 News, August 19, 2022. Last modified August 14, 2022. Accessed August 25, 2022. https://www.woodtv.com/news/target-8/we-got-him-florida-trucker-arrested-in-1996-rape-murder-of-grand-rapids-woman/