Sketch of the "Grim Sleeper" Suspect (Los Angeles Police Department)
LOS ANGELES -- Police have released new composite sketches of the man suspected of carrying out the so-called "Grim Sleeper" murders over a period of 22 years in Los Angeles, Inglewood and unincorporated Lennox.
The drawings, showing what the suspect may look like now, were released to the media on Thursday.
The suspect in at least 11 killings was described in 1988 by a surviving victim as black, in his 20s, between 5 feet 8 and 5 feet 10 inches tall, around 160 pounds, soft-spoken, articulate, with neatly trimmed hair and a pocked-marked face, said Officer Norma Eisenman of the LAPD's Media Relations Section.
The suspect's identity has not been determined, but a surviving victim provided information used for the composite drawing, which was initially released early this year, Eisenman said.
DNA and ballistics evidence has connected the serial killer to the murders of 10 women and one man between 1985 and 2007.
After 1988, the killer did not commit any known homicides until 2002. He last struck in early 2007.
The victims were all African-American and most were apparent prostitutes or drug addicts, who were sexually assaulted.
A 12th victim escaped after she was shot and raped.
Last February, detectives released a recording of a 1987 emergency call in hopes of tracking down the suspect.
"It's a long shot, that's for sure," said Detective Dennis Kilcoyne. "I am hoping a couple people call us. ... Maybe that will lead us to something."
The witness called from a pay phone to say he had seen a man remove a woman's body from a blue and white 1976 Dodge van.
The man told the dispatcher the van's license plate was 1PZP746, and police located it about 30 minutes later at the now-defunct Cosmopolitan Cathedral.
"The engine was still warm to the touch," Kilcoyne said.
The body the witness reported seeing was that of Barbara Ware, a 23-year-old with a history of prostitution who was found shot to death in a South Los Angeles alley in 1987.
Listen to the call
When asked his name, the caller said "I know too many people," and then hung up.
The suspect has also been seen driving a 1970s two-door orange, white- striped Pinto hatchback with tinted windows, a green interior and tan seat covers, according to police.
At the beginning of 2009, the City Council renewed a $500,000 reward for information leading to the killer's arrest and conviction.
The "Grim Sleeper" nickname is intended to convey the fact that a purported serial killer apparently stopped murdering for 13 years, then became active again in 2002.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call detectives at (213) 473-0346 or (877) 527-3247 evenings and weekends.
The drawings, showing what the suspect may look like now, were released to the media on Thursday.
The suspect in at least 11 killings was described in 1988 by a surviving victim as black, in his 20s, between 5 feet 8 and 5 feet 10 inches tall, around 160 pounds, soft-spoken, articulate, with neatly trimmed hair and a pocked-marked face, said Officer Norma Eisenman of the LAPD's Media Relations Section.
The suspect's identity has not been determined, but a surviving victim provided information used for the composite drawing, which was initially released early this year, Eisenman said.
DNA and ballistics evidence has connected the serial killer to the murders of 10 women and one man between 1985 and 2007.
After 1988, the killer did not commit any known homicides until 2002. He last struck in early 2007.
The victims were all African-American and most were apparent prostitutes or drug addicts, who were sexually assaulted.
A 12th victim escaped after she was shot and raped.
Last February, detectives released a recording of a 1987 emergency call in hopes of tracking down the suspect.
"It's a long shot, that's for sure," said Detective Dennis Kilcoyne. "I am hoping a couple people call us. ... Maybe that will lead us to something."
The witness called from a pay phone to say he had seen a man remove a woman's body from a blue and white 1976 Dodge van.
The man told the dispatcher the van's license plate was 1PZP746, and police located it about 30 minutes later at the now-defunct Cosmopolitan Cathedral.
"The engine was still warm to the touch," Kilcoyne said.
The body the witness reported seeing was that of Barbara Ware, a 23-year-old with a history of prostitution who was found shot to death in a South Los Angeles alley in 1987.
Listen to the call
When asked his name, the caller said "I know too many people," and then hung up.
The suspect has also been seen driving a 1970s two-door orange, white- striped Pinto hatchback with tinted windows, a green interior and tan seat covers, according to police.
At the beginning of 2009, the City Council renewed a $500,000 reward for information leading to the killer's arrest and conviction.
The "Grim Sleeper" nickname is intended to convey the fact that a purported serial killer apparently stopped murdering for 13 years, then became active again in 2002.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call detectives at (213) 473-0346 or (877) 527-3247 evenings and weekends.
