Los Angeles police say he is responsible for at least 11 murders in the last three decades. Now there's a new push for the serial killer know as the "/*Grim Sleeper*/." Police released three sketches Thursday of how the suspect, who began his reign of terror in August 1985, may look today.
In one sketch he appears weathered from a hard life; in another, he's portrayed with extra weight; and in the third he appears very similar to the original sketch.
"Today it is being re-released to demonstrate the effects of 22 additional years of age on the suspect," said LAPD Deputy Chief Jim McDonnell.
McDonnell says many of the victims were prostitutes or drug addicts who were sexually assaulted. One was a man.
"The majority of the victims were found dumped in alleys along the Western Avenue corridor in South Los Angeles," said McDonnell. "Twelve known victims, at this time, all African-American, 11 murder victims, and one surviving victim from the 1988 attack describes an African-American male as her attacker."
Alicia Alexander was one of the Grim Sleeper's 1988 victims who did not survive.
"It's been a long time but it seems like yesterday to me," said Mary Alexander, Alicia's mother. "Every day I think of her and wonder what she would've become."
Alexander's parents regret the time that has gone by without an arrest and hope the enhanced sketches will bring the case to a close.
"You see a face now, as opposed to just someone out there second-guessing and hopes that they stumble up on him," said Porter Alexander Jr., Alicia's father. "But now someone that can possibly look back in the past and get some kind of features that this person may enlighten somebody for."
Police say after 1988, the suspect stopped killing for more than 13 years. Then he killed again in 2002 and 2003. He last struck on New Year's Day 2007.
Detectives say they have DNA., ballistics and other evidence but really need the public's help to put these cases to rest.
If you have any information related to these cases, you're asked to call the LAPD at (877) LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).
Detectives say that no piece of information is too small. The city of L.A. is offering a $500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of this suspect.
