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Grim Sleeper Serial Killer Linked by DNA to 12 Murders in LA Area

by Tina Kells | February 26, 2009 at 12:50 pm

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Los Angeles police are seeking the public's help in tracking down the "Grim Sleeper" serial killer. Using DNA police have linked the Grim Sleeper to at least 12 homicides in the LA area between 1985 and 2007.

The serial killer was called the Grim Sleeper because he appears to have taken long breaks between killings. The reason for the break periods is unknown but usually when a serial killer stops it is because of a change in hunting grounds or incarceration.

Detectives do have the Grim Sleeper's DNA but have not yet announced if it has been linked to somebody already in the system. They have offered a $500,000 reward for any information that can be used to identify and convict the evasive serial killer.

The Grim Sleeper shot all of his victims and disposed of their bodies. Police have released a 1987 9-1-1 recording in which an unidentified caller accurately describes a crime scene. It is hoped that by releasing the 9-1-1 tape witnesses may feel compelled to step forward.

Authorities this week released a 9-1-1 tape recorded shortly after a killing in 1987, in the hope of producing clues.
"Yes ... I'd like to report a murder," an anonymous caller says on the tape. "The guy that dropped her off was driving a white and blue Dodge van. He threw her out. ... He threw a gas tank on top of her. All that you can see sticking out is her feet." Watch the hunt for a serial killer »

Police found the scene just as the caller described and found the van. But they are still searching for the caller and members of the now-defunct church that owned the van.

To learn more about this still open investigation please visit Find the Grim Sleeper.

View a timeline of the Grim Sleeper's crimes.

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Fripouille

at 14:21 on February 26th, 2009

Wow! That is one weird story! I was fascinated by it, and the call.

I am not a detective, but bells rang in my (overly-curious?) head when I got to the end of the call, so I played it again. I found myself asking a couple of questions. Something's not right here...

I witness is close enough to the car to be able to write down the number and/but not be seen by the killer.

He is able to see the guy throw her out from that short range, and to see him throw the gas tank on her too, but doesn't see the guy doing it.

He is meticulous and gives the number and car details calmly, even though he has just seen a murder.

He phones, after all this painstaking and cool-headed work, designed to help the police, half an hour after the event.

I don't know much about 911 calls in the USA, but, if he called from a cellphone, the police have not traced the owner, even though they must have marked the number. And if the call was made from a callbox, that's strange. I mean, almost everyone has a cellphone.

My call? That was the killer, and he was taunting the police, maybe even watching......

Yours,

Amateur detective.