New composite drawings for “Grim Sleeper”
Willa Seidenberg | 12-17-2009 | Comments |
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News Release from the LAPD:Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) robbery-homicide detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying a serial murder and attempted murder suspect who has been called the “Grim Sleeper.”
In one of the murders, which occurred on Saturday, January 10, 1987, at 12:19 a.m., an anonymous male caller notified the LAPD Communications Division that 30 minutes prior to his call he witnessed a male suspect removing a body from a blue and white van, California license plate 1PZP746, and dumping it in the alley to the rear of 1346 East 56th Street. The body, later identified as Barbara Ware, was then covered with trash and a gas tank was placed on top of it.
The caller had described the Barbara Ware crime scene exactly how responding uniformed officers and detectives documented the scene.
Detectives located the van approximately 4.5 miles from the body, at 6075 South Normandie Avenue. The location and registered owner of the van was the now defunct “Cosmopolitan Church.” The hood of the van was still warm to the touch and people inside the church said that they had used the van earlier in the evening. Several church members were interviewed, and the van was processed for evidence of some connection to the crime and/or Barbara Ware. However, no connection was ever made.
The City of Los Angeles continues to renew the reward every six months for up to $500,000 for information leading to the identity, arrest and prosecution of the person(s) responsible for the murders and attempted murders of Los Angeles area victims. The crimes occurred primarily in South Los Angeles. There was also one crime in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County and one in the city of Inglewood. The murders began in 1985 and continued through 2007.
The LAPD Robbery Homicide Division 800 Series Task Force was assembled in 2007 to solve perplexing murder cases. This specialized detective task force is relentlessly working in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Inglewood Police Department to capture the Grim Sleeper. The Grim Sleeper has been so named by some in the media because he was dormant for more than 13 years, between 1988 and 2002. The 800 Series Task Force detectives have three composite drawings representing how the suspect may have aged in 22 years.
The task force recently relocated to the new LAPD administration building at 100 West First Street, 5th Floor Los Angeles, Ca 90012.
Anyone with information concerning these crimes of violence is asked to call LAPD Robbery-Homicide 800 Task Force detectives at (213) 486-6830, during regular business hours. During off-hours calls may be directed to our 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247). Callers may also text “CRIMES” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web Tips. When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with “LAPD.” Tipsters may remain anonymous.
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