Post by SoulTrainOz on Jul 22, 2006 8:06:15 GMT -5
The same person may be linked to 6 rapes in Acres Homes and north Houston
By ANNE MARIE KILDAY and MIKE GLENN, Houston Chronicle
Since January, police have found the bodies of six women dumped like trash along roadways, in fields and hidden behind buildings in north Houston. On Thursday, a cautious police department confirmed their deaths may be the work of one man - a "possible serial killer."
Houston police announced the formation of a joint task force to find the suspect, who police think also may be responsible for six rapes in and around the Acres Homes subdivision and north Houston since the third body was found behind a church in April. Investigators, who suspect the alleged serial killer began raping women in late 2005, say the cases bear "striking similarities." At least three of the dead women share a history of prostitution.
"We are going to treat them as being all possibly related at this point," said Capt. Dale Brown, an HPD homicide detective, who considers the slayings the work of "a serial killer, or possible serial killer."
The news concerned many residents who live in the predominantly black community where the bodies were found. Many said they have been rallying for weeks for a stronger police presence and question why six women had to die before a task force was formed.
Police said they have worked "intensely" on the case and first sought the public's help in April when the third victim was found.
"It is unacceptable to us that we are having bodies left on the side of the road in any part of our community. That is suspicious at least," Brown said. "Even if their demise was some other means than murder, the fact that someone left them on the side of the road is still a serious circumstance, and we certainly want to identify the person responsible for those acts."
Authorities began to notice a series of connections after the body of 50-year-old Pamela Ann Goss was found in a wooded area behind a small church in the 1900 block of Mansfield on April 2. Members of the Pine Grove Church of God notified police about Goss' body. She had been stabbed to death.
Homicide and sex-crime investigators, working together, had narrowed a list of 17 potential suspects to the man shown in the composite sketch, said Assistant Chief of Police Vicki King. His description was gathered from some female prostitutes working in the area.
The deaths of the women, "have some very striking similarities," King said. The slain women were found in wooded areas and had been left nude or partially clothed. Some had been stabbed multiple times, another had suffered blunt trauma to the head.
The three victims who have been identified had a "history" of prostitution, King said.
"At present, we cannot determine if they were actively engaged in that pursuit at the time of their deaths," King said.
The string of killings and assaults began in mid-January, police said.
Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt said the task force of homicide and sex-crimes investigators was formed to ratchet up what has been "an intensive investigation." Lts. D. Waterwall of Homicide and Ron Walker of the sex crimes division will lead the unit.
Hurtt said finding the person responsible is already a top priority.
"Anytime we have a homicide in this city we consider it serious," Hurtt said. "We don't care where it happens."
The sixth victim was discovered Wednesday about 6 p.m. behind the Parlay Cafe at 5402 Rosslyn.
Homicide investigator Steve Straughter displayed two rings found on the woman's body: a silver band and a promotional ring emblazoned with the Houston Astros team logo. One side of the gold-colored ring says "Gallery Furniture," and the other side says "Number One Fan, First World Series."
Straughter held up the rings, saying he hoped they would help police identify the slain woman.
The unidentified woman's remains were discovered by children playing behind the north Houston bar. Stab wounds were noticeable on her back. She is described as being about 5 feet 6 inches tall and wearing a black T-shirt and her hair in braids with a hairpiece.
Community leaders react
Community leaders want Houston police to make the investigation their top priority and suggested the race of the victims may have played a part in the slow response to form a task force.
"I feel violated," said pastor Chris Wright of Grace Temple Ministries. "We are being dumped on, and who cares because (the victims) are black."
The killer, Wright said, might be a local person familiar with the numerous heavily wooded spots in the neighborhood.
"You don't know those areas if you did not grow up in Acres Homes," Wright said.
Many women in the neighborhood near 5400 Rosslyn said they are afraid to go out at night where the last victim's body was found.
On Thursday, Ellis Banks stumbled upon the area where the body was found. "That's it. That has to be it," Banks said. "I can't believe it was this close to my yard."
"It's scary," LaQuita Hudson said Thursday. "You can't walk anywhere. You can't catch the bus."
With a killer on the loose, Hudson intends to remain behind locked doors with a hatchet always within easy reach. "I think he's sick. He's a maniac," Hudson said of the killer. "He doesn't care about anybody."
Community activist Quanell X said he plans to blanket the area with fliers to spread the word about the suspect. "Somebody had to see something. The police department is not going to catch this killer without the help of the citizens and the community."
The string of slayings began Jan. 19, when 21-year-old Jasmine Clark's nude body was found lying near the road in the 6000 block of Cebra. Although the cause of her death was ruled a drug overdose, Brown said that ruling could be "preliminary" and that her death is part of the investigation.
On Feb. 15, Vanessa Lackey Franklin, 45, was discovered partially nude in the 4700 block of Kelley. She died from strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.
Franklin's neighbors in the 7500 block of Laura Koppe Road said the woman's death initially upset the community. But the fear heightened when they heard Franklin may have been slain by a serial killer.
"She was such a nice girl; we all liked her out here," said Quinnie
Williams. Williams, her husband and several others often gather outside Lloyd's Food Market to talk over beers after work. The store is about 100 feet from the spot where Franklin's body was found.
Williams marked the area with a small, heart-shaped memorial made of stones.
"We're all upset about this," she said. "They need to catch whoever is doing this."
Two other victims, both thought to be female but otherwise unidentified, were found last month. One was located June 24 in a wooded area next to a small church in the 8300 block of Sunnyhill. The other victim was discovered two days later in the 2000 block of Del Norte.
In addition to the slaying victims, at least six women have been sexually assaulted, and one was robbed by a man with a large knife, King said.
"There could be additional victims who have not come forward, who may have been sexually assaulted, threatened or robbed by a man bearing this likeness," King said. She urged those women to come forward.
Some of the slain women, like the one discovered Wednesday, remain unidentified because their bodies were found in "an advanced stage of decomposition," King said.
'Very definite links'
Capt. Brown said the similarities in the cases have caused police to think that there could be only one suspect.
"Several of the cases have very definite links. Is it possible that one suspect has committed all six of these offenses? The answer is yes," Brown said. "Is it possible that we have a suspect who has done several, and another suspect or suspects who have done some of the others? The answer to that is yes as well," he said.
Brown declined to say whether the homicide division had DNA evidence.
HPD is asking anyone with information, regardless of any criminal history, to contact the Homicide Division at 713-308-3600, or the Sex Crimes Unit at 713-308-1180.
In addition, Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Source : Houston Chronicle
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4062098.html
By ANNE MARIE KILDAY and MIKE GLENN, Houston Chronicle
Since January, police have found the bodies of six women dumped like trash along roadways, in fields and hidden behind buildings in north Houston. On Thursday, a cautious police department confirmed their deaths may be the work of one man - a "possible serial killer."
Houston police announced the formation of a joint task force to find the suspect, who police think also may be responsible for six rapes in and around the Acres Homes subdivision and north Houston since the third body was found behind a church in April. Investigators, who suspect the alleged serial killer began raping women in late 2005, say the cases bear "striking similarities." At least three of the dead women share a history of prostitution.
"We are going to treat them as being all possibly related at this point," said Capt. Dale Brown, an HPD homicide detective, who considers the slayings the work of "a serial killer, or possible serial killer."
The news concerned many residents who live in the predominantly black community where the bodies were found. Many said they have been rallying for weeks for a stronger police presence and question why six women had to die before a task force was formed.
Police said they have worked "intensely" on the case and first sought the public's help in April when the third victim was found.
"It is unacceptable to us that we are having bodies left on the side of the road in any part of our community. That is suspicious at least," Brown said. "Even if their demise was some other means than murder, the fact that someone left them on the side of the road is still a serious circumstance, and we certainly want to identify the person responsible for those acts."
Authorities began to notice a series of connections after the body of 50-year-old Pamela Ann Goss was found in a wooded area behind a small church in the 1900 block of Mansfield on April 2. Members of the Pine Grove Church of God notified police about Goss' body. She had been stabbed to death.
Homicide and sex-crime investigators, working together, had narrowed a list of 17 potential suspects to the man shown in the composite sketch, said Assistant Chief of Police Vicki King. His description was gathered from some female prostitutes working in the area.
The deaths of the women, "have some very striking similarities," King said. The slain women were found in wooded areas and had been left nude or partially clothed. Some had been stabbed multiple times, another had suffered blunt trauma to the head.
The three victims who have been identified had a "history" of prostitution, King said.
"At present, we cannot determine if they were actively engaged in that pursuit at the time of their deaths," King said.
The string of killings and assaults began in mid-January, police said.
Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt said the task force of homicide and sex-crimes investigators was formed to ratchet up what has been "an intensive investigation." Lts. D. Waterwall of Homicide and Ron Walker of the sex crimes division will lead the unit.
Hurtt said finding the person responsible is already a top priority.
"Anytime we have a homicide in this city we consider it serious," Hurtt said. "We don't care where it happens."
The sixth victim was discovered Wednesday about 6 p.m. behind the Parlay Cafe at 5402 Rosslyn.
Homicide investigator Steve Straughter displayed two rings found on the woman's body: a silver band and a promotional ring emblazoned with the Houston Astros team logo. One side of the gold-colored ring says "Gallery Furniture," and the other side says "Number One Fan, First World Series."
Straughter held up the rings, saying he hoped they would help police identify the slain woman.
The unidentified woman's remains were discovered by children playing behind the north Houston bar. Stab wounds were noticeable on her back. She is described as being about 5 feet 6 inches tall and wearing a black T-shirt and her hair in braids with a hairpiece.
Community leaders react
Community leaders want Houston police to make the investigation their top priority and suggested the race of the victims may have played a part in the slow response to form a task force.
"I feel violated," said pastor Chris Wright of Grace Temple Ministries. "We are being dumped on, and who cares because (the victims) are black."
The killer, Wright said, might be a local person familiar with the numerous heavily wooded spots in the neighborhood.
"You don't know those areas if you did not grow up in Acres Homes," Wright said.
Many women in the neighborhood near 5400 Rosslyn said they are afraid to go out at night where the last victim's body was found.
On Thursday, Ellis Banks stumbled upon the area where the body was found. "That's it. That has to be it," Banks said. "I can't believe it was this close to my yard."
"It's scary," LaQuita Hudson said Thursday. "You can't walk anywhere. You can't catch the bus."
With a killer on the loose, Hudson intends to remain behind locked doors with a hatchet always within easy reach. "I think he's sick. He's a maniac," Hudson said of the killer. "He doesn't care about anybody."
Community activist Quanell X said he plans to blanket the area with fliers to spread the word about the suspect. "Somebody had to see something. The police department is not going to catch this killer without the help of the citizens and the community."
The string of slayings began Jan. 19, when 21-year-old Jasmine Clark's nude body was found lying near the road in the 6000 block of Cebra. Although the cause of her death was ruled a drug overdose, Brown said that ruling could be "preliminary" and that her death is part of the investigation.
On Feb. 15, Vanessa Lackey Franklin, 45, was discovered partially nude in the 4700 block of Kelley. She died from strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.
Franklin's neighbors in the 7500 block of Laura Koppe Road said the woman's death initially upset the community. But the fear heightened when they heard Franklin may have been slain by a serial killer.
"She was such a nice girl; we all liked her out here," said Quinnie
Williams. Williams, her husband and several others often gather outside Lloyd's Food Market to talk over beers after work. The store is about 100 feet from the spot where Franklin's body was found.
Williams marked the area with a small, heart-shaped memorial made of stones.
"We're all upset about this," she said. "They need to catch whoever is doing this."
Two other victims, both thought to be female but otherwise unidentified, were found last month. One was located June 24 in a wooded area next to a small church in the 8300 block of Sunnyhill. The other victim was discovered two days later in the 2000 block of Del Norte.
In addition to the slaying victims, at least six women have been sexually assaulted, and one was robbed by a man with a large knife, King said.
"There could be additional victims who have not come forward, who may have been sexually assaulted, threatened or robbed by a man bearing this likeness," King said. She urged those women to come forward.
Some of the slain women, like the one discovered Wednesday, remain unidentified because their bodies were found in "an advanced stage of decomposition," King said.
'Very definite links'
Capt. Brown said the similarities in the cases have caused police to think that there could be only one suspect.
"Several of the cases have very definite links. Is it possible that one suspect has committed all six of these offenses? The answer is yes," Brown said. "Is it possible that we have a suspect who has done several, and another suspect or suspects who have done some of the others? The answer to that is yes as well," he said.
Brown declined to say whether the homicide division had DNA evidence.
HPD is asking anyone with information, regardless of any criminal history, to contact the Homicide Division at 713-308-3600, or the Sex Crimes Unit at 713-308-1180.
In addition, Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Source : Houston Chronicle
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4062098.html