“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 Chief Beck responded and was ready to go to the next question when Prescod took the mike and introduced herself to the crowd, much to the surprise of all officials present and to the delight of family and community members who quite liked what she had to say. This is the footage that was NOT shown on network TV, also the LAT left out mention of Prescod’s intervention in their coverage of the incident.”

WHAT: Arrest in South LA Serial Murders case “The Grim Sleeper”

FROM: Co-founder of the Black Coalition Fighting Back Serial Murders

CONTACT: Margaret Prescod 323 626 1269

While hopeful that the nightmare of serial murders of mainly Black women in South LA has finally ended, for family members as well as the community, we cannot white wash what has gone on for decades. It has taken decades of pressure for a suspect to be arrested – assuming that he is the right man.. Why?

The fact that the victims were Black and found in an inner city neighborhood resulted in the lack of priority given to investigating their murders, particularly in the earliest phases. If they had been taken seriously, for example in 1987 when Debra Ware was killed and there was a 911 eyewitness call, many lives could have been saved. One only has to contrast them with the case of Natalee Holloway and the Hollywood Hillside Strangler – the later got national and international attention, while the murders of 11women in South LA has been mainly buried in the press.

The Black Coalition was founded in 1985 after LAPD announced that 11 women were killed at the hands of a serial killer. Outraged that law enforcement had waited until so many lives had been lost to warn a community at risk, several women got together and founded the Coalition. It immediately began the painstaking work of pressing for action and accountability from the police and elected officials in resolving these murders. We said then and we say now that if the murders had happened in an affluent neighborhood the media would have paid more attention and the bungling that has happened with the investigation would not have taken place.

If indeed the killer has been arrested, , congratulations are in order for those who worked to bring him to justice and resolve this round of murders. But we have yet to know the true numbers of victims. Over the years there have been allegedly three sets of murders: The Southside Slayings, The “Strawberry” Murders and now the “Grim Sleeper”. How many women have been killed over the years? Although we have asked, we have yet to receive a firm answer, but we were told it might be somewhere around 45 women. The community needs a full account of these deaths: how many have been resolved, how many remain unresolved? Are they all connected to the Grim Sleeper Murders? Were all the women killed by the same man or men, or by different unrelated men? The work of the Task Force must not end until all of the murders of women in South LA, whose deaths have been tied to a serial killer, are finally resolved. The Black Coalition will not rest until we get all the answers. If there continues to be a serial killer out there, if the community continues to be at risk we have a right to know.

Additionally, there should be a Congressional investigation as well as one by the US Department of Justice into LAPD’s handling of these murders beginning in the 1980s.

The media repeats again and again the police claim that most of the women were prostitutes. Thus far we have received no evidence that that is the case, but even if any of the victims were sex workers, their lives are as much of value as anyone else’s. This attempt to demean and dismiss women, every one of whom was some mother’s daughter, is insulting to those who loved them, especially their parents and their children. Every life is precious.

Public officials who have done little to support community efforts to resolve these crimes are now congratulating themselves. But community members of the Black Coalition Fighting Back Serial Murders whose pressure was instrumental in stepping up the investigation, are unlikely to be invited to be part of the official press conference held today, probably because we have been critical of LAPD – we had to press LAPD to issue a composite and then to issue an age enhanced composite.

The Task Force knew that they were going to be held to account by us. We intend to keep up the pressure until the murder every victim has been solved. As they now know, we have wide public support because most people will no longer tolerate a hierarchy in the value of human life.

See news coverage at the LA Times LA NOW blog.

Black Coalition held a forum at Amistad Plaza Housing Complex on November 21 to update the community on progress in the South LA serial murders investigation.

1980s Composite Sketch

After 20 years of pressure from the community, LAPD finally released this composite sketch of the South LA serial murderer suspect, known as the “Grim Sleeper.”

Suspect description: Male, Black, black hair (neatly trimmed), 20-30 yrs., 5’8″ -5’10″, 160 lbs, pock-marked face, soft spoken and articulate.

Please take note that this is a composite of the suspect from 20 years ago. An age-enhanced composite has not been released.

Vehicle: 1970s Pinto, hatchback, 2-door, orange with white stripe, tinted windows, green interior and tan seat covers.

• Come find out what has, and hasn’t, been done by city and county officials.
• Hear from family members of some of the victims & community activists.
• Help to get justice. Find out about the recently launched public info campaign and how you can help.

Why was so little done in 20 years to solve these murders? Why was the 911 eyewitness call of a body being dumped kept hidden from the community for more than 20 years? Why were family members kept in the dark? Why is LA County not offering a reward? If the murders had not happened in South LA, an inner city neighborhood, killing 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?

Come to the forum to get informed and be heard!

Unsolved Serial Murders of Women in South LA Community Forum
Saturday, Nov 21st 2pm
Amistad Plaza Housing Complex* Community Room
6050 Western Ave, LA 90047 (betw 60th & 62nd St, betw Slauson & Gage)

*Amistad Plaza is simply the venue of this event and may not share the points of view expressed at this meeting

Concerned community members and some family members of victims of the South L.A. Serial Murderer dubbed the “Grim Sleeper” held a press conference and vigil on Thursday May 28, at 5:30 pm outside Parker Center on Los Angeles Street in downtown L.A. The event honored the victims and showed support for their loved ones, as well as raised concerns about the lack of information and progress in resolving the murders. Demands to law enforcement and city officials from the Black Coalition Fighting Back Serial Murders were unveiled for the first time.