Grim Sleeper

Grim Sleeper
Details
Victims	11 killed, one survivor
Span of crimes	1985 (first known victim) – 2007 (latest confirmed victim)
Country	United States
State(s)	California
Date apprehended	Unapprehended

Grim Sleeper is the nickname for an unidentified serial killer in Los Angeles, California. The Grim Sleeper is believed to be responsible for at least 13 murders and one attempted murder in Los Angeles since 1985. The sole survivor described him as a "thin, neat, polite and well-groomed African-American guy." He owned "an orange Ford Pinto with a white racing stripe on the hood." "[I]t looked like a Hot Wheels [toy] car," the survivor recalled.

Investigation

In May 2007, the murder of Janecia Peters, 25, was linked through DNA analysis to 11, possibly 12, unsolved murders in Los Angeles, the first of which occurred in 1985. The "800 Task Force" was then formed, consisting of seven detectives. As a result of a four-month investigation by the LA Weekly, investigative reporter Christine Pelisek broke the news of the secret 800 Task Force, the linking of Peters' killing to a string of murders going back 23 years, and the fact that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief William Bratton had been silent on the killer's existence. The mayor and chief never issued a press release nor warned the South Los Angeles community of the killer's continuing activities. In some cases, the alternative newspaper was the first to inform the families that their daughters had long been confirmed as victims of a serial killer.

In late August 2008, the same week the Weekly broke the story of Grim Sleeper's body count of 13 victims, an aide to Police Chief William Bratton said he was too busy to comment on the case.

In early September 2008, officials in Los Angeles announced that they are offering a $500,000 reward to help catch the killer, who has murdered at least 10 women and one man in two sprees over the past 20 years.

On July 14, Abby, Megan, and Morgan were celebrating Morgan's 15th birthday. They started walking down the road heading toward the beach. But then later that day, there body's were found in the ditch near the beach. All of them were stabbed at least five times in there stomach and ankles. What a weirdo. I know what your thinking, who would stab someone in the ankle right? There was only one survivor in the group, Morgan was found alive laying in the ditch writhing in pain. Morgan is now paralyzed from the waist down and is mentally retarded. Oh no!

On November 1, 2008, a story about the "Grim Sleeper" appeared on the television program America's Most Wanted. AMW stated that the killer was most likely a black male but did not want to rule out anyone.

On February 25, 2009, for the first time, Chief Bratton held a press conference regarding the case at which police formally gave the killer the "Grim Sleeper" nickname chosen by L.A. Weekly. Bratton then released a call from the 1980s made to a 911 operator in which a man reports having seen a body, which later turned out to be a victim of the Grim Sleeper, getting dumped by the killer, with a detailed description and license plate number of a van connected with the now-closed Cosmopolitan Church.

The survivor

LA Weekly had an extensive interview with the survivor, providing several details. She described him as "a black man in his early 30s [...] He looked neat. Tidy. Kind of geeky. He wore a black polo shirt tucked into khaki trousers." He offered her a ride. After she refused, "He told me, ‘That is what is wrong with you black women. You think you are all that.'" He was persistent. After some banter back and forth, she got into his car.

She "was impressed by the car’s interior. The gear-shift handle was memorable, pimped out with a ping-pong-sized marble ball. The inside was all-white, with white diamond-patterned upholstery." When she mentioned a party, he deftly invited himself and she said he was welcome to come. He then said that he needed to stop briefly at his uncle's house.

They wound through residential roads in his sporty car, ending up on a street whose name she did not take note of. The polite stranger parked outside a mustard-colored house partly obscured by hedges, got out, walked up to the house, briefly talked to someone inside, and returned about 10 minutes later.

The killer apparently documented his attacks with a Polaroid camera.

She blacked out, but was startled awake by the bright flash of a Polaroid camera. The creep had taken her picture and sexually assaulted her. She remembers grabbing at him, and the two struggled. She pleaded to be taken to a hospital. He refused. Despite her half-conscious condition, she’s almost certain he told her he couldn’t take her to a hospital because he didn’t want to get caught.

Victims

These are the names of the "Grim Sleeper's" victims in order of attack:

1. Debra Jackson
2. Henrietta Wright, found dead on August 12, 1986.
3. Thomas Steele
4. Barbara Ware
5. Bernita Sparks
6. Mary Lowe
7. Lachrica Jefferson
8. Alicia Monique Alexander
9. Unidentified female
10. Princess Berthomieux
11. Valerie McCorvey
12. Janecia Peters
13. Morgan Hardy
14. Megan Wegler
15. Abby Alberstett

External links

• LA Times article
• LA Weekly article
• SkyNews Report
• LA Weekly blog
• Americas Most Wanted Grim Sleeper Case Brief
• TheGrimSleeper.com All about the killer and his victims