The victims, mostly female, were from the city of Los Angeles and the unincorporated areas of L.A. County. They were all black and most were apparent prostitutes or drug addicts who were sexually assaulted before being fatally shot. The "Grim Sleeper" then dumped their bodies in alleys and trash bins.
A 12th victim escaped after being shot and raped. A survivor in 1988 described her attacker as black, in his 20s, 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall (about 175 cm), about 160 pounds (73 kg), soft-spoken and articulate, with neatly trimmed hair and a pockmarked face, The Times reported.
In February, the LAPD released a 911 tape of a call made more than 20 years ago by a witness who reported having seen the killer dispose of a woman's body in South Los Angeles. Authorities in May had put up six billboards in South L.A. and two digital billboards on the 91 Freeway in Compton in their renewed efforts to catch the suspect.
The Los Angeles City Council had also offered a 500,000-dollar reward leading to the capture and conviction of the suspect.
