Serial Killer Dubbed Grim Sleeper Dies in California Prison
Share
SAN QUENTIN — Lonnie Franklin, the convicted serial killer known as the “Grim Sleeper” who preyed on the women of South Los Angeles for more than two decades, has died in prison. He was 67.
“I won’t say I’m pleased he died but at the end there was justice for all the bad things he did in his life. We can now be at peace.” — Diana Ware
California corrections officials said Franklin was found unresponsive in his cell at San Quentin State Prison on Saturday evening. An autopsy will determine the cause of death; however, there were no signs of trauma, corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton said in a statement.The stepmother of a victim named Barbara Ware told People magazine she was shocked by the news.
“I won’t say I’m pleased he died but at the end there was justice for all the bad things he did in his life,” Diana Ware said. “We can now be at peace.”
Franklin had been on death row since August 2016 for the deaths of nine women and a teenage girl. Franklin was linked at trial to 14 slayings, including four women he wasn’t charged with killing. Police have said he may have had as many as 25 victims.
Most of the victims were fatally shot at close range, though two were strangled. Their bodies were dumped and left to rot in alleys and trash bins.
Community Complained Police Didn’t Seriously Investigate Killings
The killer earned his moniker because of the apparent hiatus from the late 1980s to 2002. The murders went unsolved for years and Franklin avoided suspicion by working as a city trash collector and onetime garage attendant for Los Angeles police.
The killer earned his moniker because of the apparent hiatus from the late 1980s to 2002. The murders went unsolved for years and Franklin avoided suspicion by working as a city trash collector and onetime garage attendant for Los Angeles police.
Community members complained that police didn’t seriously investigate the killings because the victims were black and poor and many were drug users and prostitutes during the crack cocaine epidemic.Franklin was connected to the crimes after a task force that re-examined the old cases discovered that DNA from Franklin’s son, which was in a database because of an arrest, showed similarities to genetic evidence found on some of the “Grim Sleeper” victims.
A detective posing as a busboy at a pizza parlor collected utensils and crusts while Franklin was attending a birthday party. Lab results connected him to some of the bodies and led to his arrest.
Investigators found a gun used in one of the killings and photos of victims in Franklin’s house after his arrest.
Last year, Franklin was granted a reprieve when Gov. Gavin Newsom halted the execution of more than 700 condemned inmates on the nation’s largest death row for at least as long as he’s governor.
California hasn’t executed anyone since 2006 and inmates are far more likely to die of old age.
RELATED TOPICS:
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Out With Broken Toe After Late-Night Bedroom Mishap
Sports /
4 hours ago
California Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Vows to Repeal Transgender Athlete Law
Politics /
8 hours ago
Trans Athlete Competes in California Championships in Clovis Despite National Controversy
Sports /
11 hours ago
Tim Walz Urges Democrats to Fight Back Harder Against ‘Bully’ Trump
Politics /
12 hours ago
No. 15 Overall Seed UCLA Eases Past Fresno State Behind a Season-High 22 Hits
Sports /
12 hours ago
Judge and Ohtani Light Up the First Inning With Historic Homers in Yankees-Dodgers Rematch
Sports /
12 hours ago
Chapman Homers, Harrison Pitches Five Scoreless Innings as Giants Beat Marlins
Sports /
12 hours ago
General Is a Good Boy — in English and Spanish
Animals /
14 hours ago
Latest
Videos

Sports /
4 hours ago
Cabrera, Three Relievers Combine to Lead Marlins to Win Over Giants

Economy /
4 hours ago
Spike in Steel Tariffs Could Imperil Trump Promise of Lower Grocery Prices

Sports /
4 hours ago
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Out With Broken Toe After Late-Night Bedroom Mishap

Politics /
8 hours ago
California Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Vows to Repeal Transgender Athlete Law

Sports /
11 hours ago
Trans Athlete Competes in California Championships in Clovis Despite National Controversy

Politics /
12 hours ago
Tim Walz Urges Democrats to Fight Back Harder Against ‘Bully’ Trump

Inspire /
2 days ago