"Jigsaw John" – The Legendary LAPD Homicide Detective Who Hunted LA's Deadliest Serial Killers

Welcome back to pplpod! In today's true crime deep dive, we explore the extraordinary 51-year career of John P. St. John, famously known as "Jigsaw John". Serving as an LAPD homicide detective from 1942 to 1993, St. John held the highest seniority in the department, earning him the prestigious LAPD Detective badge No. 1.

We discuss how this dogged police officer earned his iconic nickname by piecing together a gruesome jigsaw-style dismemberment murder in Griffith Park. Listen in as we unpack his involvement in some of the most notorious Los Angeles murder investigations in history, including his decades-long pursuit of the Black Dahlia case. St. John became a leading authority on serial killers, working high-profile true crime cases like the Night Stalker (Richard Ramirez), the Hillside Stranglers, the Southside Slayer, and the Freeway Killer, William Bonin.

We'll also explore his brilliant investigative techniques. Known for his incredible memory and relentless determination, St. John perfectly blended old-school detective work with modern forensic science and computerized crime analysis to solve over two-thirds of the 1,000+ homicides he worked. Discover the legacy of the man whose life inspired the hit book and NBC television series Jigsaw John, and who was so revered that he was reinstated to active duty for his own funeral in 1995.

Source credit: Research for this episode included Wikipedia articles accessed 2/27/2026. Wikipedia text is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; content here is summarized/adapted in original wording for commentary and educational use.

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