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Composite Sketch of South LA Serial Murderer Suspect
Click here to view the LAPD Bulletin, issued December 2009.
Suspect description: Male, Black, black/grey hair, 45-60 yrs., 5’8”-5’10”
When providing information, please refer to DR #881239255. Anyone with information concerning this crime is asked to contact 800 Task Force Detectives, Robbery-Homicide Division, at (213) 486-6830, during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, between 8:00a.m.-5:00 p.m.). During non-business hours, weekends and holidays, contact the Detective Information Desk at the 24-hour, toll-free number at 877 LAPD 247 (877-527-3247). To send cell phone text tips, text the word “LAPD” and your message to CRIMES (274637). To send web tips, log onto www.lapdonline.org and click on “Anonymous Web Tips.”
This is what the "Grim Sleeper" may have looked like 20 years ago. The sketch was made according to a description given by the sole surviving victim and was finally released in 2009.
Known victims of the serial murders in South LA
Barbara Ware
1987
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Bernita Sparks
1987
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Deborah Jackson
1985
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Janecia Peters
2007 |
Mary Lowe
1987 |
Monique Alicia Alexander
1988 |
Princess Berthomieux
2002 |
Valerie McCorvey
2003 |
Lachrica Jeffersone
1988 |
Henrietta Wright
1985 |
Thomas Steele
1987 |
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Did you know that the serial murders of Black women* have been going on unresolved in South L.A. since the 1980s? Law enforcement has divided the murders into three sets, but the time periods overlap and it isn’t even clear how many women have actually lost their lives in this brutal and vicious way.
Because the killings were not connected as serial murders, the tragic enormity of the situation has been hidden and downplayed, and vital evidence, connections and patterns may have been missed. Public and media attention which would have been greater if the total numbers of deaths had been known, would have spurred the police into a more vigorous investigation. Lives might have been saved and the community better protected from further attacks.
Families of several of the victims were never notified by law enforcement that their loved ones were killed by a serial murderer—and neither was the lone survivor of the attacks. Each was made to believe that it had been a random killer. Many families had to learn from press articles or from television! Crucial patterns of evidence have been missed.
Why was so little done in 20 years to solve these murders? If the murders had not happened in South L.A. against working-class Black women but in Beverly Hills or some other affluent neighborhood would they have been handled with the same lack of care and seriousness, would they be so under-reported by the media? What do you think?Recent Updates
Families of Grim Sleeper’s victims pushed for action and bonded with one another
They took to the streets, passing out fliers, and showed up at City Hall to support rewards for his capture. They pressed, successfully, for a composite sketch to be released. Laverne Peters holds a photograph of daughter Janecia, a Grim Sleeper victim, at a news conference last week. Learning in 2008 that a serial killer [...]
Grim Sleeper Unearthed After Nearly 25 Years
Grim Sleeper unearthed after nearly 25 years Images of the suspected Grim Sleeper, Lonnie David Franklin Jr., were on display at a press conference held July 8 outside LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. (Photo by Leiloni De Gruy) By LEILONI DE GRUY, Staff Writer Story Published: Jul 14, 2010 at 9:10 PM PDT Story [...]
Community Member Takes Mic From LAPD Chief
“In a not widely reported incident, at the press conference called by police and elected officials to announce the arrest of the “Grim Sleeper” suspect, a reporter asked to hear from Margaret Prescod, who founded the Black Coalition Fighting Back Serial Murders in 1985, as well as to hear from some other family members. LAPD [...]
Associated Press: Man charged in L.A. ‘Grim Sleeper’ slayings has long list of arrests
Man charged in L.A. ‘Grim Sleeper’ slayings has long list of arrests Sunday, July 11, 2010 CALIFORNIA Suspect in killings has many arrests The 57-year-old man charged with murder in 10 slayings in the Los Angeles “Grim Sleeper” case was arrested at least 15 times over four decades on other charges and was in police [...]
LA Times: Victims’ families, elected officials and cops share credit in the Grim Sleeper case.
Suspect’s arrest is a milestone for the community and the police Victims’ families, elected officials and cops share credit in the Grim Sleeper case. By Cathleen Decker, Los Angeles Times July 11, 2010 The news conference called last week by the mayor, the police chief and other officials at the new Los Angeles Police Department [...]
Herald Scotland: Arrest in Grim Sleeper case leads to new row over family DNA tests
Arrest in Grim Sleeper case leads to new row over family DNA tests from Andrew Purcell in New York 11 Jul 2010 The ethical limits of DNA profiling are being tested in California, following an arrest in a notorious serial-killer case. The suspect, Lonnie David Franklin, came to the attention of police when his son [...]
ABC News: Notorious ‘Grim Sleeper’ Serial Killer Nabbed?
Notorious ‘Grim Sleeper’ Serial Killer Nabbed? Los Angeles Police Have Reportedly Made Arrest in Long-Unsolved Cold Case By LAUREN SHER, ALYSSA LITOFF and NEAL KARLINSKY July 7, 2010— The “Grim Sleeper” serial killer who has eluded Los Angeles police for more than two decades may have finally been nabbed. Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office [...]
ABC News: Videos
Familial DNA used to connect Franklin to the Grim Sleeper case. The search for the Grim Sleeper.
LA Times: Arraignment for suspected Grim Sleeper postponed until August
July 8, 2010 | 3:13 pm The suspected Grim Sleeper serial killer made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon, but an arraignment was postponed until Aug. 9. He is being held without bail. Lonnie David Franklin, Jr. was arrested Wednesday after a “familial DNA” search led police to the suspect on charges that he had [...]
CNN: Videos
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announces arrest of Lonnie David Franklin Jr. as suspect in Grim Sleeper Case. Sanjay Gupta speaks with criminologist and Margaret Prescod from BCFBSM: “Why was Grim Sleeper case so slow?”