“Police believe the color photographs, most of which are pictures of women and teenage girls, may be even more victims of the alleged killer,” she writes.A partially buried body of William Suff’s victim.Ĭriminal psychologists believe this was Suff’s statement regarding the worth of his victims. 119 in the set is actually Janecia Peters, one of the original 11 known victims. She reports from the Daily Beast that No.
17, 4:30 p.m.: Pelisek is watching this thing like a cop. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts. Tipsters may contact Crimestoppers by texting the number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (80). If you recognize anybody:Ĭall1-877-LAPD-24-7. They're also posted on the next few pages of this article. He added that the images - taken from Polaroids, video stills and undeveloped negatives - are 20 to 30 years old, and the people in them will have aged accordingly. “These people are not suspects,'' Beck said. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and District Attorney Steve Cooley were there as well. Update: A press conference was just hosted by Chief Charlie Beck at the LAPD admin building. Oh wait - they only mentioned us because they're hoping we were wrong about the “sleeper” thing. But officials have said repeatedly that they suspect Franklin may be responsible for more homicides, including during the apparent lull. Weekly dubbed the killer the Grim Sleeper because of the lengthy, unaccounted-for gap in the slayings. Update: As long as we're tooting our own horn this morning, we'd like to report that after a long, bitter drought of Los Angeles Times stinge when it came to mentioning a story was broken by the Weekly, the news blog seems to be making nice this morning (Notice how we linked to you, right there? Eh?):
Could this perhaps be proof he never slept at all? Pelisek originally called Franklin a “sleeper” because of a roughly 14-year gap between recorded homicides. “Some of them in his car and their eyes are closed,” says Washington. Some photographs show women who look like they may be asleep, unconscious or dead. “We have no idea who the women are, what their circumstances are,” or if they are still alive, says Kilcoyne. The photographs were taken in cars, in Franklin's motor home and in his backyard garage. … also viewed what may be the alleged killer's grisly trophies – bracelets, rings, earrings, watches, and necklaces confiscated from the Franklin home. Some of the pictures, which were taken by the 57-year-old Franklin before his arrest in July, show women who range from teenagers to women in their 60s, exposing their breasts or fully nude. (We'll post many of them here, so check back. Washington, alongside family members of other victims, was invited to view the photos yesterday, prior to their release for public viewing at 1 p.m. Pelisek spoke with Enietra Washington, sole surviving victim of Franklin's psychotic rampage. Many are of women and teenage girls, who police believe may be additional victims to the Grim Sleeper's recorded 11. This time, on the 180 photos and loads of video footage LAPD detectives found in Lonnie Franklin Jr.'s “modest mint-green home” since his arrest: But also proud, of course.Īnd most of all just jazzed to read her always-exclusive scoops. Because her investigation was so stupid amazing, national Internet rag the Daily Beast stole her away from us. Meet Christine Pelisek, crime-thirsty journalist who revealed (and named) at-large serial killer the Grim Sleeper via LA Weekly in August 2008 (shout out!). Update, 10 a.m.: The Los Angeles Times finally name-drops the Weekly. Updated after the jump, 1 p.m.: Photos released! 16, 10:15 p.m.: Kevin McClure, commanding officer of LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division, just announced on Fox News that police immediately began receiving a flood of calls after the photos were released - many of them positive, aka, “That's me!” Does this mean he could have killed others in the anonymous 180? 119 has been identified as Janecia Peters (pictured, right) - one of the Sleeper's known victims.