LAPD Grim Sleeper Serial Case Expands To 230 Possible Victims
Los Angeles Police Detectives now believe as many as 230 missing persons and unsolved killings dating back to the mid-1970s may be associated with serial killer Lonnie David Franklin Jr., better known as the Grim Sleeper.
Franklin Jr. has already been charged with 10 killings and officials say many more cases may be associated with the killer, although far more detective work will be required before they can make that determination.
Before the recent expansion of LAPD investigations the number of cases stood at 60, however LAPD robbery-homicide detectives believed cases extended into South Los Angeles dating back to May 1976, leading them to begin a three month long process to expand their investigation.
Franklin, a Los Angeles City motor pool worker was arrested in July 2010.
The LAPD plans to re-release images of 51 women found in July 2010. Police detectives also discovered nearly 1,000 photos and hundreds of hours of home video during a search of Franklin Jr’s South L.A. home.
The L.A. Times lists the women Franklin has been charged with murdering:
Debra Jackson, 29; Henrietta Wright, 35; Bernita Sparks, age unknown; Mary Lowe, 26; Lachrica Jefferson, 22; Barbara Ware, 23; Alicia Alexander, 18; Princess Berthomieux, 15; Valerie McCorvey, 35; and Janecia Peters, 25.
Franklin has plead not guilty to all charges brought against him, including the attempted murder of a female in 1988 who survived a shooting, she is the only known victim to survive at the hands of the Grim Sleeper.
Prosecutors have already announced that they will be seeking the death penalty against Franklin, although with more bodies expected to turn up and new cases likely to be filed in those murders, it could be a long time before he reaches his last days on death row.
