In nearly two decades, 11 or more people have been murdered by the same man, with the police department nearly powerless to stop it.
Recently, an emergency call from 1987 was released in hopes of getting a lead on L.A.'s most notorious serial killer, dubbed the "grim sleeper" for the significant time lapse in between his killings. The killer has been at large since 1985, despite a $500,000 reward and samples of his DNA on file. As far as the police know, all of his victims have been black.
So what's taking so long? ...
Murderer on the Loose
On Wednesday, police in Los Angeles released a 1987 emergency call in the hopes of finding an elusive serial killer known as the "Grim Sleeper." The two-minute call was made by a man who told police he saw a blue-and-white van dump the body of 23-year-old Barbara Ware, seen above.
Nick Ut, AP
Ware, who had a history of prostitution, was found shot to death in a South Los Angeles alley. Here, from left, Captain Denis Cremins, Detective Dennis Kilcoyne and Chief William Bratton stand behind a photo of the van described in the call.
Nick Ut, AP
The man on the call gave the license plate number of the van and police eventually located the vehicle at a church. "Then the trail stops there," said Kilcoyne. "It sounds like it was a pretty good road map for the investigation at the time and it just fizzled out." Here, a billboard advertises a reward for information on the killer, who has murdered at least 11 times in nearly a quarter century.
Nick Ut, AP
Journalists gather near a reward poster displaying some of the killer's victims. Kilcoyne and his men hope to track down former churchgoers or even someone who knows the voice on the emergency call. "We still have no idea who this guy is," Kilcoyne said. "We've got a half-million-dollar reward out there on billboards and no one calls." (Source: AP)
Nick Ut, AP
The suspect kills by gunshot or strangulation, in some cases both, usually after some kind of sexual contact. Ten victims were women, all were black and several were prostitutes. The bodies were all found outside, usually in dirty alleyways a few miles south of downtown. The Associated Press
The biggest lead the police have is a call from a man who says he saw a body being thrown out of a van. Unfortunately, the caller couldn't identify the driver and declined to identify himself.
According to the Associated Press...
Six victims were found with the killer's DNA on them but a search of prisoner databases came up blank. Detectives went on to ask the California Department of Justice to run a DNA search that sought possible matches to the killer's relatives.-More on The Field Negro blog
Comments: (41)
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By: iLL NaNA on 3/04/2009 1:03PM
The reason why the LAPD didn't find the killer is because it's extreamly difficult, look how long it took to find the btk killer. And the DNA they have is not registered in any data base.. Do you really think the LAPD is slacking on this case?? Do you think they want this serial killer out on the loose?
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By: LeiLani on 3/06/2009 7:17PM
Hi iLL NaNa.
I agree with you that the LAPD does not want a serial killer on the loose, but I do believe that they can and could have done much, much, more with the case, especially after seeing a pattern. Having worked in the field, I think that exposure to the case (community awareness)is one of the first things that could have been done. As with any, or most, communities, a warning is put out for a "predator" on the loose. Up until now, the majority of us have not even heard of these killings. Rather alarming if you consider, without proper warning, the rest of us remain walking targets/decoys/victims for the serial killer and the LAPD. From what I read about the killer so far, the LAPD has not been very proactive, if at all, which to me, says they are waiting for the next victim to surface. Solving cases by using DNA is relatively new. Cases in the past have been solved long before now by simply putting the word out and doing good, solid, detective work. The LAPD should learn how to utilize its community in cases such as this. The serial killer is always somebody's friend or family member.
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By: Tony on 3/05/2009 8:18PM
First of all you need to grow up, the world has changed and for the better I might say. Just Look at the White House. Your views are small minded and your a coward, the things you say in your post you would never say to a person of color! I say this from the heart, carma is like a B, don't let it come back an bite you in the A. One of your family members could ne on that boars. My prayers go out to all families of murdered lovedones.
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By: STACCEE on 3/04/2009 1:42PM
THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT FINDING THE KILLER BECAUSE THE VICTIMS ARE NOT BLOND, BLUE EYED, OR JUST PALIN OLD WHITE WOMEN. I HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD ABOUT THESE KILLINGS ON THE NEWS. THESE AREN'T NATALIE HOLLOWAY, OR STACY PETERSON TYPE WOMEN, JUST BLACK WOMEN THAT THE POLICE COULD CARE LESS ABOUT.
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By: lita on 3/05/2009 1:21PM
Racist
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By: Ccinderella on 3/14/2009 11:35PM
Hi Staccee.
I do not think that you are a racist at all. I think you are legitimately concerned, as most of us are. Sometimes the only way to express that concern is to say exactly what is on your mind. Unfortunately, it is rather obvious that cases involving Blacks do not seem to get equal attention as those involving white people. But I think much of it has to do with who has money and also who is actively searching for their child. Many of our family members have taken to the streets and we don't know anymore about them, and therefore, they may not get reported as missing by us. And then, if we do not have the money to set up search parties and such those cases may not be given as much attention. A good example is the "Holloway" girl in Aruba. Her family went to Aruba and refused to leave until they got some answers. They practically moved there. How many of us can just get up and go like that? How many of us have the resources? One thing we do have to appreciate of is that, at least there is a reward up for the victims' killer.
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By: Luke on 3/07/2009 6:07AM
You could put on white face makeup and blue contact lenses, if that would make you smarter and happier and safer because serial killers usually prey on their own kind. Of course if you were to do that you would be at risk of some white serial killer.
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By: jabalie on 3/07/2009 6:16PM
YOU ARE SPEAKING NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH!
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By: ANTHONY on 3/04/2009 5:58PM
WOW!!! HERE IN TEXAS AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. WHERE'S NANCY GRACE ON THIS ONE. SURE COULD GIVE HER SOMETHING NEW TO TALK ABOUT.
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By: lala on 3/04/2009 7:37PM
I feel you on that one Anthony! I love Nancy Grace and used to watch her show everyday but got tired of hearing about "tot mom" it's ridiculous!The other reason I don't see any reports on missing black women/ men or children. What is up with that???
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