Victims
A list and general facts about The grim Sleeper’s known victims.
Victim Roll
Confirmed victim list
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| 1) Aug. 10, 1985: Debra Jackson, 29 | found in alley near West Gage Avenue; LA |
| 2) Aug. 12, 1986: Henrietta Wright, 35 | found in alley south of 2514 West Vernon Avenue; LA. |
| 3) Aug. 14, 1986: Thomas Steele, 36 (only male victim) | found middle of the intersection of 71st Street; LA. (single gunshot wound to head. |
| 4) Jan. 10, 1987: Barbara Ware, 23 | found in alley at 1356 East 56th Street; LA. |
| 5) April 15, 1987: Bernita Sparks ^ | found at 9400 block of South Western Avenue; LA. |
| 6 ) Nov. 1, 1987: Mary Lowe, 26 | found in alley near bushes behind the 8900 block of Western Avenue; LA. |
| 7) Jan. 30, 1988: Lachrica Jefferson, 22 | found in allyway north of 2049 West 102nd Place in Lennox. A napkin placed over her face with “AIDS” written on it. |
| 8 ) Sept. 11, 1988: Alicia “Monique” Alexander, 18 | found 43rd Place and Western Avenue. |
| Nov. 1988: ‘Jackie’ | only known eyewitness survivor of the Grim Sleeper. |
| 9) March 19, 2002: Princess Berthomieux, 14 * | found in allyway behind 8121 South Van Ness Boulevard, Inglewoo. |
| 10) July 11, 2003: Valerie McCorvey, 35 | found in allyway west of Denker Avenue between 108th and 109th streets. |
| 11) Jan. 1, 2007: Janecia Peters, 25 | found in alleyway at 9500 Western Avenue. |
| ^ age to be ascertained* went missing on December 21, 2001 |
Source: LAPD |
31 Responses to “Victims”
December 6th, 2008 at: 8:26 pm
there has been 4 murders place on western why ….maybe he lives on western or near it, the reason he can escape police how many orange pintos anr the in La
December 6th, 2008 at: 8:26 pm
At least there is one witness alive to give a description of this homicidal maniac.
December 6th, 2008 at: 8:27 pm
Western is Such a long street. It starts in Hollywood, and goes all the way to the South Bay. Over 200 city Blocks or more.
U can spend 2 hrs plus driving down western. In the areas of the murders there all poor, gang infested areas with Allot of Crime, and More murders than can be counted. I know of at least 9 people or more dying by drive-by on 83rd and Western.
I grew up in this area, My aunt La Crisha was last seen leaving 8100 S. Western ave. I belive 4 sure the guy lives in the area and have seen or met the vitctims B4..
February 26th, 2009 at: 9:20 pm
IF these murders ARE all indeed linked, the rather large gap indicates that there was some reason for it. I would suspect that he was in another area or in prison. The change in MO could make sense in that he knew authorities knew his MO (you and I are reading this, so he would also have access to this and the news, etc.). As I posted on Princess’ page, the strangled victims could have been strangled while he was wearing gloves. That would eliminate fingerprints and throw authorities off because of the change in MO. If he were in prison, the authorities definitely have his fingerprints, if not some sort of DNA sample.
February 26th, 2009 at: 9:37 pm
He may have a generalized grudge against drug users, prostitutes or those who frequent the streets. Perhaps a loved one (i.e. mother, sister, girlfriend etc.) had been lost due to drug addiction. That could be from overdose, wasing away from drugs or contracting AIDS and dying (hence the note on the one victim that may or may not have had AIDS). He has to have some motivation for picking the vicims that he does.
With the sole male victim involved, perhaps the victim learned something about the killer and had to be silenced. Also, I am sure the police have some unreleased information as to why the cases are all connected. Otherwise, I don’t see how some of the victims are connected to the case. Perhaps it is good that some info is classified and not released to the public. The killer is indeed a member of the public and may catch on and be able to hide or run. You and I are both reading about it. Who’s to say the killer isn’t also?
This whole case seems to me to have the workings of a murder mystery film. Only IF or WHEN he is caught will be when we learn the reasoning behind the murders. Hopefully he will be caught soon and the “credits” for this mystery will roll by and the story will finally be over. Then the victims’ families will know why their loved ones are gone and people will not have to worry about being his next victim.
February 26th, 2009 at: 10:28 pm
What i was thinking was that there are 20 years between 1987 and 2007. So if he takes measured breaks between his murders there would be about 1 killing every 2 years in that 20 year period, and this year is 2009 which is 2 years after 2007 which is when his last murder was said to be.So if he is following a pattern there might be a chance that anther murder could occur soon so I think that the Los Angeles police departments should be especially on guard this year. But i guess it couldnt have happened this way…
March 3rd, 2009 at: 5:24 pm
Jessica, where are you getting one killing every two years? If it is ths same guy that killed these people, the only yearly gap would be the recent ones. He was on a pretty much non-stop killing spree (a few months were the only gaps from 1986-88).
Again, IF it is the same guy, I would use an analogy to someone with a drug problem. He “tried” the drug in 1985 and liked it. He waited a while and went on a “drug” binge (1986-1988) and quit using for a while. There are many reasons that he may have quit doing it for a while. He then started “using” murder casually after he had been clean for that decade or so (the 1990s).
I don’t know if that is a good analogy, but that’s what I thought when looking over the timeline.
March 8th, 2009 at: 12:34 am
I think if the authorities could find out where the bullet comes from and what type of gun it was fired out of, and trace it to all registered owners of the type of gun, they would be able to narrow down as to who may be the “Grim Sleeper”. Also, this guy knows and I repeat -knows- the South LA areas well because he is able to give an accurate description of where he dumped his victims. He really sounds like he has lived in the South LA area…. He may also be a person in a very high position where he is knowledgeable enough to know how to get away with these horrible crimes for all these years and no one has a clue or suspect to point their fingers at!!
March 9th, 2009 at: 3:03 am
I would like to know could there be more victims? Around that time my cousin was also killed and her body was dumped in a alley also. Witnesses say that a noticable blue van was seen speeding from the alley. Moments later her nude body was discovered. Her name was Renee Peatry and she was also a known prostitute and drug addict.This also occured in 1987.
March 10th, 2009 at: 5:10 am
I remember there was a body discovered in an alley around 1989, i cant remember what month, the alley was located on Florence and Arlington behind a small grocery store, I remember the first time we past by there, it was a dark color van parked there. About two hours later that night we came back through the alley, we saw a light complexion female, spread out on a dirty mattress. I didnt get too close because I was scared. I believe my friends mom called the police. But we never talked to the police. But I know the lady was dead because the corner was still there in the morning.
The weird part is, less than 100ft away is “the Love of god Church”
March 14th, 2009 at: 2:51 am
hey..i live close to nomandie….and last month there where 2 murdered woman in the back of a laundromat on colden and figueroa…the only reason they found the bodies was because there is a school nerby right across the street it is an elementary school…they were found in different days…but in the same place…hopefully they catch him OR her…fast…remember it could be a woman…
April 1st, 2009 at: 10:07 pm
1. The guy obviously lives in the area.
2. A number of the victims were victims of opportunity.
3. We know where the bodies were dumped.
**4. IS THERE A LIST OF WHERE ALL OF THE VICTIMS WERE LAST SEEN??
Perhaps a little geographical profiling would narrow down the geographical area of where he lived or lives.
April 2nd, 2009 at: 4:23 pm
The Killer is either a dealer or a Crack addict himself.
All the deaths are linked in the sense that in each murder the victim was an addict, except for the young girl.<(Good chance she was a witness or had proof of his murders, maybe one of her foster parents had information or knew a victim, could even be links to the killer.)
Find The most infamous dealer that has been locked up in that area for ditributing Rock. Ask questions about victims and the people they sell to. Or find other addicts that may have information about dealers or the victims. Fiends are all connected through a long line of middlemen and dealers. The killings are stretched out in south Cali. Not all over America.
April 3rd, 2009 at: 1:34 am
“K” in comment # 13 said ” the killings are in Southern California… not all over America.”
Wrong. As of this writing, they are unearthing serial killer victims in the desert outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. 13 bodies found so far.
Also, four victims have been identified in Florida of some serial killer.
Whether or not the GS is involved, we don’t know. But serial killings ARE all over America. And since the GS was not operating in L.A. for 13 years, chances are good that he lived elsewhere during that time. They think, for example, that the bodies found in New Mexico were placed there between 2000 and 2005. GS could have been living there for a while & decided to bury the bodies since he didn’t know the turf like he does with L.A.
April 3rd, 2009 at: 1:37 am
“BR” in comment #11 said, ” Remember, GS could be a woman.”
BR…… you haven’t read much about this case yet.
There was ONE surviving victim who saw GS. The killer was a male, black, with an accent, of about age 30 in 1987. And, the killer acted alone at least in that attack.
April 3rd, 2009 at: 1:41 am
Marie in comment # 8 : Sorry, your are incorrect as to the killer “being able to give accurate descriptions of where he dumped the bodies.”
ONE phone call was received by the L.A.P.D. in which a single murder victim was reported along with the specific address. The caller was NOT even identified as a suspect.
So, the killer does NOT give descriptions of where he dumps his bodies.
And, don’t you think a person in a “high position” would stand out driving down those dirty, narrow, dangerous alley’s of that area of Los Angeles???
The killer blends in well with the people around him there. He isn’t likely a person of “high position.” He is likely a person of average position in life.
April 3rd, 2009 at: 1:45 am
“B” says on comment #5 : ” He has to have some motivation for picking the vicims that he does. ”
The killer does NOT “have to” have any motivation that we understand. He’s insane and operates in his own world which has its own set of rules.
As I posted elsewhere, I watched an interview with a captured serial killer in prison……. he said he did NOT understand why he wanted to kill. And, he looked normal from the outside. Creepy.
April 8th, 2009 at: 8:17 am
AFTER GIVING THIS CASE MUCH THOUGHT AND SKIMMING THROUGH ALL THE FACTS/SPECULATIONS/EVIDENCE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, I HAVE CAME TO THE SOLID CONCLUSION THAT THIS GUY WILL NOT GET CAUGHT UNLESS HE GETS ARRESTED FOR SOME RANDOM REASON (HE’S NEVER BEEN ARRESTED). PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THAT THE G.S. INVESTIGATION WAS BOTCHED DUE TO THE COPS. I BELIEVE THE INVESTIGATION WAS BOTCHED BY THE MEDIA. THIS IS ON A BILLBOARD IN HIS OLD NEIGHBORHOOD. AFTER THE 1988 SURVIVING VICTIM HE FLED THE AREA. 2001-02 HE (MIGHT) HAVE INHERITED PROPERTY BRINGING HIM BACK INTO HIS OLD NEIGHBORHOOD. LOOK FOR INHERITED PROPERTY IN A 5 MILE RADIUS FROM THE CHURCH WHERE THE VAN WAS FOUND AND CROSS REFERENCE ANY NEW OWNERS WITH THE CLOSEST HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS 1968-79 (or just have the surviving victim skim through them. from freshmans to seniors in all the books). FROM 2002 HE CHOSE 2 WEAKER VICTIMS AND STRANGLED THEM. YET 2007 HE SOMEHOW GETS THE .25 BACK??? MAYBE HE STASHED IT??? THIS GUY IS A GOODY GOODY WITH A TICKING TIME BOMB ATTITUDE AND WILL TRY IT AGAIN IF A WOMAN PISSES HIM OFF.
p.s. I WOULDN’T DOUBT IF HE FREQUENTLY COMES ON THIS WEBSITE AND READS OUR POSTINGS. IF SO, COME THROUGH AND TRY THAT SHITTY LITTLE TINY .25 CALIBER. SEE IF THAT RUSTED TOP LOADER STILL WORKS.
150 NORTH LOS ANGELES STREET. #187
L.A., CA 90012
April 8th, 2009 at: 5:25 pm
#16, Gary — good point. But on the other hand, if the killer was seeking out prostitutes (a point on which I remain unconvinced), that part of town has certainly seen its share of high-ranking men driving the streets seeking that sort of entertainment. So he would stand out as a rich guy from a different part of town, but not as an individual. And if he grew up there but moved up in society, he could probably return to his roots fairly inconspicuously.
I’m inclined to agree with you that he’s a fairly average person, but the public evidence doesn’t really rule out the other interpretation.
April 9th, 2009 at: 5:59 am
it seems likely that after his nov 88 attack he was scared off for a few years maybe he left the state and went somewhere else… it seems tho that he resurfaces in 2002 and 2003 to kill again. He probably went somewhere else and didnt kill for a while but then he got his nerve up again. I think maybe he came back to visit the area with the sole aim of killing again. Also recently there was news of a probable serial killer working near Alberquerque, NM, where they believe woman were killed from 2001 - 2006.. he was probably in some little town doing something similar.. until 2007 when he comes back again..
August 10th, 2009 at: 5:16 pm
i’ve looked at the pictures of the victims..
most of them have about the same facical structure…
the jaw bone that has it outlined on the face.. and a long chin.
September 11th, 2009 at: 9:16 pm
hi there, i kinda stumbled across this site, but i’ve found it all a little morbidly interesting. One of the most important points i keep coming across is the lapse in time when G.S goes “quiet”. the “reason” most people offer is that he’s moved away or been in Jail. I have to look into timelines offered here (again, i’m new) but i know with most things i’ve read on serial killers, they don’t STOP and then decide to pick up killing again ( BTK is the exception to that rule i think ) so moving or jail seems a viable reason. OK… is anyone aware of the Baseline Killer in Pheonix? Mark Goudeau. look into some of his time lines. Jail for 13yrs in 91 for attempted murder. killing again in 2005-2006. the Women we dumped in similar areas.i don’t know…could just be blowing steam…but his MO is similar and this caught my eye (taken from Wikipedia) –On August 6, 2005, sexual assault, 9:45 pm, 7202 S. 48th Street, Phoenix. Police say Goudeau forced three teenagers behind a church near Baseline Road, and molested two of the girls– great site btw. very informative.
December 27th, 2009 at: 2:41 am
Why are all the murders comitted one a street that has directions in it such as most all are west or north south or east that’s four cornners look in the middle and see if the killer is there. Also look into some type of army or arm force personal.
December 27th, 2009 at: 4:43 am
Marie (comment #8): If you read the survivor’s (Enietra Margette) testimony and interview in the L.A. Weekly you will notice that one thing which immediately caught her attention about his Ford Pinto car was that it was “pimped ot” or “like a Hot Wheels car”. Once she got into the car she was equally impressed with its interior because it had a white diamond-styled pattern (the upholstery) and the gear shift resembled a huge ping-pong ball. All of these things would make the car stand out as this almost certainly had to be a custom job. Of course, you’d have to wonder just why a serial killer/serial rapist would be using an attention-grabbing car to “conduct his business”. Does his doing so mean he is so sure that the police won’t catch him that he sees no need to remain undercover? I don’t know. Considering that MOST of The Grim Sleeper’s victims were street-level prostitutes and/or were drug addicts it would seem that TGS knows how to act and behave around them in order to gain their trust and get them to go with him. He is probably a man of average intelligence but posesses an encyclopedic knowledge of South L.A.’s geography and (possibly) grew up and/or lived in the area for a long time. He most likely also blends in easily with his surroundings.
February 17th, 2010 at: 7:59 am
My question? Is there possible other victims? Im researching and I cross reference some of TGS victims and Chester Turner victims and it seems like we are missing information.
Black Woman Stabbed to Death
November 11, 1986
The body of a 35-year-old black woman was found in an industrial area of south Los Angeles early today. The Southside Serial Task Force was called to the scene, but a police spokesman said it was too early to determine whether the woman will be added to the list of 17 murders the team is investigating.
The victim apparently had been stabbed to death, Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Lt. Dan Cooke said. The fully clothed body was found in the 6700 block of McKinley Avenue at 1 a.m. by a security guard making his rounds. The victim’s identity was withheld pending notification of kin.
February 18th, 2010 at: 11:36 pm
Kate (#25): According to LAPD detective Dennis Kilcoyne, there are AT LEAST six or seven other murders from the 1980s which remain unsolved to this day that could POSSIBLY have been committed by The Grim Sleeper. I should point out that Chester Turner “worked” the streets of Watts (particularly the so-called “Figueroa Corridor” between Slauson Avenue and 120th Street which is characterized by an overabundance of cheap motels) whereas most of The Grim Sleeper’s victims have been found on residential streets USUALLY between Western and Normandie Avenues. One truly noteworthy exception was victim #4 (Barbara Ware) as her body was found dumped in an alley on East 56th Street VERY FAR AWAY FROM The Grim Sleeper’s usual “dumping ground”. It’s entirely possible that the areas in which TGS and Chester Turner “worked” may have overlapped but no one can say for sure. It’s also noteworthy that at least one detective has said that MOST serial killers invariably fall into one of two categories: Organized OR Disorganized…yet The Grim Sleeper appears to fall into BOTH.
February 26th, 2010 at: 11:56 pm
Justin (#26) Chester Turner didn’t “work” the Watts area. I’m very familiar with the LA area and between Slauson and 120th street is still considered LA. The so called “Figueroa Corridor” is an infamous location in South Los Angeles. It is known for prostitution. So the GS and Chester Turner were generally “working” the South Los Angeles area. Here’s a very interesting website that actually maps out both http://www.communitywalk.com/map/10147 and it appears that there areas were split down the middle as if they knew not to cross each others territory. I’m not saying that they had a working agreement or anything I’m just saying it’s fascinating how things are mapped out.
I definitely think that the GS is someone who is from the South LA area because it seems as if he knows the area well. Especially since he was seen dumping one of the bodies and driving away in a church van. I don’t understand why people are doubting that the 11/12 cases are linked when there is either ballistic or DNA evidence that connects all of them. We can only speculate about who the GS is, but I think he is an everyday person who blends in well with the crowd. The BTK Killer(Dennis Rader) was a boy scout leader, a deacon and a married man with children. He was someone that no one suspected. During his active time he would send letters to the police and newspaper telling about his crimes and that’s how he was eventually caught after 17 years. I wish we knew more about the GS, I wish that church that the van belonged to was still standing. It’s been about 3 years since his last killing and I hope there are NO more to come. As word spreads and people become more aware I think he will be caught. I hope he will be caught.
June 30th, 2010 at: 12:38 am
Not a legal expert, but maybe the families of the victims and the surviving victim in the Grim Sleeper case should file a lawsuit against the city and the LAPD for mishandling of the cases? I’ve said it before: I’m not a fan of lawsuits, but sometimes that’s the only way to go.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mitrice-richardson-20100629,0,3129763.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fmostviewed+%28L.A.+Times+-+Most+Viewed+Stories%29
July 5th, 2010 at: 5:26 am
I was recently looking at some old news. I just cant believe the Grim Sleeper has stopped murdering over all this time. I think hes hiding it now because he knows we are close. One of the later victims was found in the trash can wrapped in trash bags. That means he took the time to conceal her. Now I noticed the dates and I found a couple of things of things that may be related or just coincidental. August 15th 2009 woman found in suitcase in alley. April 15th 2010 woman found shot and covered with a blanket in alley. Now Im not saying these are related to the grim sleeper. And knowing the LAPD they probaly have held any other information from the media regarding newer victims. I just have to constantly wonder if there are more victims. We need to find this man. I dont feel safe.
July 5th, 2010 at: 8:27 pm
@ Kate # 29. You don’t have to worry about being his next victim unless you’re a black woman who lives in South Central L.A. Serial killers often target the weakest members among us, just like a lion does, except a lion kills to eat and not because it’s evil. In our society, a black woman who may or may not be a drug addict or a prostitute is not given any respect. The Grim Sleeper knows this and has taken full advantage of it. Not all serial killers target prostitutes (or women they asssume are prostitutes) but many of them do. Ted Bundy killed mostly female college students who resembled his ex-girlfriend who had broken up with him.)
July 11th, 2010 at: 2:23 am
[...] Okay I am done ranting a bit. Even though it was not a lot of ranting but I feel he doesn’t deserve the publicity as much as he made for himself already. However as with most of my posts as well I am going to reflect on those that are gone. The victims, the deceased, the families, and all affected by this inhumane animal. Some of the faces of these women you can see here: “grim Sleeper page” [...]
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