The serial killer investigation on Long Island continues into 2012 as Suffolk investigators continue to release new nuggets of information. Authorities this week released a sketch of a third unidentified victim in the investigation. A woman was found along Ocean Parkway in April 2011. Body parts found there were positively connected to other body parts found in 1996 on Fire Island.
Authorities say 10 victims were killed over the last 15 years and the former police commissioner believes that it is the work of one person.
If you have any information, please contact the Homicide Squad: 631.852.6392
The search to find more bodies along Ocean Parkway in Long Island, NY will move to another county Monday. Investigators confirm Nassau County will take over the search, but Suffolk will continue to be the lead in the case. New York State Police confirm they will also participate in the searching this week, and they have jurisdiction over the 15 mile stretch of Ocean Parkway that runs between Suffolk and Nassau.
The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office said Sunday they are assisting with the identification of the bodies. The chief examiner said that once identities are made, they will send the bodies back to Suffolk County and that’s where the official cause of death will be determined. Although authorities know that the four women found in December were soliciting sex online, they have not released the sex or identities of the most recent bodies discovered. There are reports that the deaths could be linked to someone in law enforcement, but that is just one of many theories surrounding this case.
Authorities confirm these are the locations of where each body was discovered since December:
A murder mystery is unfolding on the east coast, and investigators are working to figure out if a serial killer could be at work. In New York and New Jersey this past week, eight women have been found murdered, but the question is: could the cases in both states be connected?
I can confirm the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office in Atlantic City is in contact with Suffolk County Police in New York to see if there is a possible link. Both agencies are working four homicides each in their jurisdictions and are carefully piecing together clues.
The first steps are to positively identify the bodies found earlier this week on Gilgo Beach on Long Island. The only piece of solid information came out last night when police said that none of the remains found on the beach were missing woman Shannan Gilbert. Shannan was originally reported missing in May, and authorities were searching the area for clues when they came across the bodies last weekend.
Investigators in Houston, TX are looking into a possible link between three strangulation murders since early summer. The FBI has joined forces with the Houston Police to seek justice for three homeless women who were targeted.
OCTOBER 9, 2010:
Carol Flood, 62, was a frequent visitor to the Edwards Greenway Palace Theater. Authorities say she was last seen around 3:45 p.m. and her body was found 24 hours later. She was nude from the waist down and had been strangled.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2010:
Retia LaFaye Long, 52, was found murdered behind the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
JUNE 17, 2010:
Raquel Mundy, 24, was found in a nearby field, same circumstances, she had been strangled. Investigators are waiting for official DNA confirmation, but there’s definitely enough at this point to work a serial killer angle. She was last seen getting a ride from a man with a grey car. The person she was last seen with is described as Hispanic.
If you have any information, please contact CRIMESTOPPERS: 713-222-TIPS. You could receive a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
An indictment was handed down Tuesday for murders in Prince George’s County, Maryland. A grand jury indicted Jason Thomas Scott, 27, of Upper Marlboro with two counts of murder, two of first-degree burglary and three gun related charges. Scott is officially charged in the murders of Delores Renee Dewitt, 41, and her daughter Ebony, 19. Investigators expect formal charges to be brought down for other homicides in the area as well. Other jurisdictions are also investigating to see if Scott is responsible for crimes and murders in their areas. Currently Scott is being held behind bars and will be arraigned within the next couple of days.
This is a case that caught my interest from the start, and one that’s been on my mind ever since. It baffled me that two mothers and two daughters could be murdered in the same neighborhood, only blocks away, and the cases weren’t somehow connected. The murders occurred within weeks of one another. In addition, in the same neighborhood at least 40 burglaries had been committed.
Karen and Karissa Lofton (top) Delores and Ebony Dewitt (bottom)
This is a case that caught my interest from the start, and one that’s been on my mind ever since. Two mothers and two daughters murdered in the same neighborhood in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The murders occurred within weeks of one another, and now investigators believe they may have the man responsible behind bars.
This Upper Marlboro, Maryland neighborhood isn’t far from one of my homes, and is just miles outside of Washington, D.C. I always thought the cases were connected in some way, even though authorities, specifically an FBI profiler, said early on it appeared they were not. Another thing that caught my attention was the fact that more than 40 burglaries occurred from 2008 up until the murders in the same neighborhood. The evidence wasn’t adding up, and now we have a little more information about the person who may be responsible even though we don’t know his name yet. Prince George’s County Police Chief Robert Hylton said he is positive the man responsible for the murders is behind bars and is about to be indicted, and he may go down in history as one of the most dangerous and notorious criminals in the county’s history.
More than 200 brand new photoswere finally released by the NYPD this week in the Rodney Alcala serial killer case. Investigators are hoping to identify all of the people in the photos. Authorities in California released an initial stash of pictures last month to the public out of whichmore than 20 women have been identified and are said to be doing well. At that time, another batch was sent off to the NYPD cold-case squad, but wasnot immediately made public.
All of the photos depict women, girls and young boys. Along with being on death row for five murders, police say Alcala is a suspect in two other cold-case killings in New York. Cornelia Crilley, 23, was raped and strangled in 1971, and her case was never solved. Also, Ellen Jane Hover, 23, disappeared in 1977. Her bones were found in a grave a short time later. Alcala may have been the last person to see her alive.
A convicted serial killer who once appeared on the dating game in the 1970’s is now sitting on death row for the third time. Rodney Alcala represented himself in court in March for the rapes and murders of four women and one child, and police fear there may be even more victims. He was sentenced to death this week for a third time, and hopefully he won’t be allowed to appeal the decision. Alcala was found guilty of murdering 12-year-old Robin Samsoe in 1980 and again in1986 and was sentenced to death both times, but appeals overturned the cases, prolonging the pain for the victim’s family. This case was prolonged much like police say Alcala prolonged the lives of his victims. As he would strangle them, and just before they would die, Alcala would bring them back to life by resuscitating them. Alcala is now in the same serial killer category as Ted Bundy, David Berkowitz, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Gary Ridgway, Charles Manson, and Andrew Cunanan (to name a few).
A convicted serial killer who once appeared on the dating game in the 1970’s is now sitting on death row for the third time. Rodney Alcala represented himself in court last week for the rapes and murders of four women and one child, and police fear there may be even more victims. Alcala was found guilty of murdering 12-year-old Robin Samsoe in 1980 and again in1986 and was sentenced to death both times, but appeals overturned the cases, prolonging the pain for the victim’s family. This case was prolonged much like police say Alcala prolonged the lives of his victims. As he would strangle them, and just before they would die, Alcala would bring them back to life by resuscitating them.
The District Attorney’s office was finallyable to link four adult cases with DNA to put Alcala on trial for the murders of child Robin Samsoe, 12 and adults Jill Barcomb, 18, Jill Parenteau, 21, Georgia Wixted, 27, and Charlotte Lamb, 32. The prosecutors say he raped one of the women with a claw hammer. On March 9, 2010, Alcala was sentenced to death againor the rape and murder of Robin and the murders of the other four women. Let’s just hope this time Alcala isn’t granted yetanother appeal.
According to the Cleveland Police, investigators do not have plans to go back and search the address of Anthony Sowell, but they do have cadaver dogs combing over the neighborhood where Sowell lived. Investigators are searching commercial dumpsters, and an old elementary school for more bodies. The house at 12205 Imperial Avenue is still considered a crime scene and will continue to be secured. According to a Cleveland Police press release: “The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office to evaluate investigative strategies. Two County Prosecutors have been assigned and will assist investigators with preparing for prosecution.” Sowell is currently facing 5 counts of aggravated murder, rape, kidnapping, and felonious assault. Sowell is held only a $5 million bond, and currently has a public defender. He could face the death penalty. Meanwhile, on November 9, 2009, the 8th and 9th victims were identified. Cleveland Police say Janice D. Webb and Kim Yvette Smith are among the victims found inside Sowell’s residence. Also, the Prosecutors office filed an indictment today against Sowell for charges attempted murder, rape, kidnapping, and felonious assault. Cuyahoga County Jail Warden, Kevin McDonough told me that Sowell is currently being held in solitary confinement. He is only allowed out of his cell when there aren’t other inmates around, and his time out in the common area is very limited. Warden McDonough said Sowell is only held at his facility during his court case, and will be transferred to the state prison when the case is over. He says Sowell is “watched closely,” and during Sowell’s time there, he is allowed to receive and respond to mail.
Over the weekend, three more victims were identified, bringing the total of positively identified remains to seven African American women. Police say the women were found dead inside of Anthony Sowell’s home after they executed a search warrant on October 29, 2009. Although we know the identities of these seven women, there are still three more bodies and one skull police need to identify.
On November 8, 2009, Parishioners filled the Mt. Olive Baptist Church to mourn the murdered women. Hundreds of people filled in to show their respect, and honored those lost with song and prayer.
I spoke with Councilman Zack Reed who was boarding a flight back to Cleveland this afternoon, he says after all 11 bodies are positively identified, two major things need to take place:
Michelle Sigona is a crime fighting, victims advocate extraordinaire, but for Michelle -- the good fight doesn't stop there. In her spare time, she is a volunteer firefighter -- and now, she is tackling the issues and cases that mean the most to her....
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