On a late winter afternoon in 1985, a Canadian border security guard stood at the checkpoint between New York State and Ontario, Canada. As he looked out at the dozens of cars lined up before him, he felt an enormous sense of responsibility. For him, working in border security wasn’t just about checking passports—it was also about ensuring that dangerous criminals from the United States did not flee their country and enter Canada.
That day, he was on high alert for one particularly dangerous fugitive: a 30-year-old man named Alex Mengle.
A Cop Killer on the Run
A few days earlier, near New York City, a police officer had pulled Alex Mengle over during a routine traffic stop. Somehow, Mengle managed to seize the officer’s gun and shoot him in the head, killing him instantly. He then fled, and authorities had been searching for him ever since.
Given that New York was only six hours from the Canadian border, law enforcement feared Mengle might attempt to escape into Canada. Both U.S. and Canadian authorities were on the lookout for him. He was described as a 30-year-old white man with thinning brown hair and a wispy mustache.
The Border Check
All day long, the Canadian border guard scrutinized every person who came through his checkpoint. He saw families visiting relatives, honeymooning couples, a man with a car full of camping supplies, and a middle-aged woman traveling alone. But none of them resembled Alex Mengle. By the end of his shift, after checking dozens of cars, he felt confident that Mengle had not slipped through. He clocked out and went home.
A Shocking Discovery
A few days later, on March 2nd, a police officer was patrolling a parking lot outside a shopping mall in Ontario, about an hour and a half from the border. He noticed a white Toyota loitering in the lot for an unusual amount of time. Curious, he drove over to investigate.
Inside the car, sitting in the passenger seat, was a white man—likely in his 30s—with thinning brown hair and a wispy mustache. The officer immediately recognized him: Alex Mengle.
Calling for backup, the officer approached the Toyota with his gun drawn. But as he neared the vehicle, Mengle noticed him, leaped into the driver’s seat, and sped out of the parking lot. The officer jumped into his cruiser and took off after him. Soon, nearly the entire Toronto police force was engaged in a high-speed chase to capture Mengle.
The Capture
Eventually, the chase ended on a dead-end street. The white Toyota crashed into a stop sign, and Mengle tumbled out. Officers quickly surrounded him. Seeing his face up close, they confirmed: it was indeed Alex Mengle. He didn’t resist. He was taken into custody.
Despite their relief, authorities were baffled. How had Mengle managed to cross into Canada unnoticed? Everyone had been on high alert for him. What had gone wrong?
The Horrifying Truth
The answer came when officers searched Mengle’s white Toyota. The night he killed the police officer, he fled into a wooded area and hid overnight. The next day, while wandering, he spotted a middle-aged woman named Beverly Capone leaving a commercial building alone.
Mengle approached her and abducted her at gunpoint. He took her to an isolated cabin he knew about. There, he murdered her. Then, in a gruesome attempt to disguise himself, he stole her clothes, cut off her face and scalp, and wore them like a mask.
Dressed in Beverly Capone’s clothing and literally wearing her face and hair, he drove to the Canadian border. The security guard, who had been so vigilant all day, did indeed see Alex Mengle—but he didn’t recognize him. He thought he was just a middle-aged woman traveling alone and let him pass.
When police searched Mengle’s car, they found Beverly Capone’s dress, scalp, and face discarded on the floorboard. The mystery was solved.
A Deadly Legacy
Alex Mengle was deported back to the United States, but before he could stand trial, he attempted to escape from a prison transport and was shot to death by police.
Even after his death, authorities continued investigating him and his property. During their search, they discovered disturbing evidence: numerous photographs of unidentified women and maps marking remote locations in New York and Pennsylvania. Though police have never conclusively linked Mengle to any other murders, many believe he was, in fact, a serial killer.
However, the true extent of his crimes may never be known. He took his secrets to the grave.