We've created a thread so as to discuss unofficial Grim Sleeper suspect John Floyd Thomas. There are some un-nerving similarities between Thomas' and GS crimes but there are also some glaring differences. Could He realistically be GS or is it just a huge and horrific coincidence that SoCal seems to be home to GS, Thomas AND Chester Turner?
discuss
Coincidence, yeah, but I don't think it's such a huge one. That's an area of at least a couple million people, more likely three or four million, and a span of thirty years. The drug trade and related issues like prostitution would tend to draw people looking for a victim.
I think it may also speak to the high quality of police work in the LA area that they've been able to determine so many of these crimes are related. Other urban areas are more fragmented and even if the information existed to connect several crimes, there wouldn't be a good way to pull it together. There might well be many more serial killers than have ever been identified.
I know this is a stretch but is it possibly that the GS, JFT and Chester Taylor are all 1 in the same (aka aliases) or that maybe they are working together (as a team) possibly kind of like a gang of serial killers. This would explain the different MO's in the same geographical area and maybe even the gaps between each persons killing spree*s* (with one or more being in prison for a period of time while the others kill). Maybe they should combine the efforts of all of the police districts working on all 3 of these suspects. It would be VERY scary to discover that they are all intertwined but it is a possibility. Keep in mind DNA databases were not being kept until the 80's or 90's
AD: You said it best yourself -- it's a stretch! Ha ha. DNA testing has already distinguished Chester Turner from the GS, so no, don't think so.
that doesn't not mean they are definitely NOT working together...pdr please read the whole post carefully before posting a sarcastic comment..."or that maybe they are working together (as a team) possibly kind of like a gang of serial killers."
I found this article to be very interesting...
http://www.laweekly.com/2009-03-19/news/dna-deep-feeze/1
Made me wonder how many lives would have been saved if LA would get their act together related to Prop.69 as well as testing the thousands rape kits they have piled up. How long ago would they have caught the Grim Sleeper and also John F. Thomas?? How many more women will be raped and killed this year alone because of LA's negligence? I smell a big class action Lawsuit brewing... These women deserve so much more...this is so sad on so many levels!
Website for Data on LA, http://www.city-data.com/city/Los-Angeles-California.html
List of registered Sex Offenders in LA:
http://www.city-data.com/so/so-Los-Angeles-California.html
...of course I found John Thomas listed here also: http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/cgi/prosoma.dll?searchby=offender&id=1869408304683
Which one of these guys is the Grim Sleeper?
Armchair detective is not far off nor grasping at straws in his/her theory that John Floyd Thomas, The Grim Sleeper, and Chester Taylor could be working together. It is not uncommon at all to find serial murder cases where there was more than one individual involved. The Hillside Stranglers, Henry Lee Lucas/Otis Toole, Robin Gecht and his "gang" of killers, the two female nurses who were involved in a lesbian love affair and decided they would kill 6 people all of whose first initials would spell the word Murder (I can't remember their names, sorry)... There is heavy speculation that there were two killers involved in the Zodiac murders, and that there were others involved in the Son of Sam killings along with David Berkowitz... I guess my point is that it is not unheard of at all, nor would it shock me, to find out that these three had some sort of sick club amongst themselves where killing was a competition to see who could, forgive the expression, knock off the most.
In today's LA Times article, Dennis Kilcoyne states that John Floyd Thomas is not the Grim Sleeper. Interesting, in April the LAPD went to Macon, Georgia to exhume the body of the former pastor of the Cosmopolitan Church (and owner of the van). The pastor didn't do it either. You can read the full details here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-serial30-2009may30,0,4336796.story
Armchair: I just now saw the post you made chiding me for expressing an (to your mind at least) hasty and therefore ill-considered opinion. In fact, I did read your entire post before I made my original comment. My post was not made in sarcasm. To the contrary, I would characterize it as 'in good humor'. I was merely agreeing with you that at least one of the theories you posed was a "stretch".
How can three aliases be used by one person when the LAPD had already said that Chester Turner's DNA was different from GS's? A few days ago, in an LA Times article, the LAPD confirmed that Thomas' DNA is also different from GS's. That is what my comment was referring to...that one person using three different aliases is not possible, given the cold, hard facts of DNA analysis.
Both you and Kundalini seemed to have misunderstood me. My comment ONLY addressed your conjecture that one person was using three different aliases.
I didn't address your second theory, which is that three serial killers might be working together. I have not heard the LAPD (or anyone else) speculate on a friendship, familial connection, love relationship or any other personal connection between these three individuals. It seems to me they would need some kind of connection to bind or unite them in their common (gruesome) purpose.
How likely is it that three unrelated L.A. serial killers would somehow find one another, reveal that they are serial killers to each other, and create a pact? I would say 'no', but also grant you anything is possible.
I'm pretty sure JFT and Chester Turner have both been DNA tested. If none are a match, then we re back to square 1. Which we are. Chester Turner was not a match, and JFT has a history in prison. TGS was not found in the prison database. All comes down to DNA. Or one other method that I think the task force should persue. Contact Dr. Maurice Godwin. His expertise is geographical profiling. He tracks Serial Killers. www.drmauricegodwin.com
If JFT was in fact TGS, then would 'nt the survivor be able to ID him??? I highly doubt it's JFT.
Thought this one was interesting also...
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/08/wisconsin.serial.killing.arrest/index.html
I wonder what the laws are for getting DNA from Everyone with a criminal history are...? How long it will take the cops to consider DNA as basic a need as getting fingerprints. If you go to jail for ANY reason #1 they should have your fingerprints put in the computer. #2 they should have your DNA on file and in the System. #3 Criminal should have to pay for all of the related costs (not just on a state by state rule, rather should be national level or no release/parole). Knowing your DNA is in the System should be a deterrent.
YES,THE SOLE SURVIVOR WOULD HAVE IDENTIFIED THOMAS AS THE GRIM SLEEPER.
ANYWAY........
All I want is to see the freaking sketch thing that margette gave to the sketch artist.
then, won't detectives or those special people do an age advanced one,or something?
Geezz,there has to be a sketch of him..out there,whats going on?
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