BACKGROUND:
Lonnie David Franklin Jr. was born August 30, 1952. He grew up in South Central Los Angeles, was married, and had two children.
While serving in the US Army in West Germany in 1974, Lonnie was convicted of his first known crime. The gang rape of a 17 year old girl. He was dishonorably discharged from the Army the following year, after serving time in prison.
His streak of crime continued, and in 1989, Lonnie was arrested for theft and assault. He would only serve on one count of theft.
THE CRIMES & INVESTIGATION:
It was the mid 1980’s, and a serial killer was on the loose in Los Angeles. Women of color were being targeted, often those that were known as drug users or sex workers. Between 83 & 86, at least 16 murders had been tied to the same serial killer.
Tips were requested, reward money was offered. Yet the case remained open and the killings continued.
In 2008, investigators finally caught a break. Lonnie Franklin’s son was convicted of a felony weapons charge, and a sample of DNA was taken. His DNA was a partial match to the unsolved murders, putting attention on his father, Lonnie Franklin. A detective posed as a worker at a restaurant that Lonnie frequented. This allowed him to obtain a proper DNA sample.
On July 7, 2010, Lonnie Franklin was arrested. A search of his home was conducted, hundreds of hours of video were found, and more than a thousand photos of women nude, bleeding, or dead.
In 2016 the jury found Lonnie Franklin guilty of the charges and suggested the death penalty, and the Los Angeles Superior Court sentenced him accordingly.
On March 28, 2020, Lonnie Franklin was found dead in his cell. The condition or cause of his death has never been publicly released.
VICTIMS:
- Sharon Alicia Dismuke, 21. Discovered January 15, 1984. South Park, Los Angeles.
- Debra Ronette Jackson, 29. Discovered August 10, 1985. Vermont-Slauson, Los Angeles.
- Henrietta Wright, 35. Discovered August 12, 1986. Hyde Park, Los Angeles.
- Thomas Sylvester Steele, 36. Discovered August 14, 1986. Harvard Park, Los Angeles.
- Barbara Bethune Ware, 23. Discovered January 10, 1987. Central-Alameda, Los Angeles.
- Bernita Rochelle Sparks, 26. Discovered April 15, 1987. Gramercy Park, Los Angeles.
- Mary Katherine Lowe, 26. Discovered October 31, 1987. Gramercy Park, Los Angeles.
- Lachrica Denise Jefferson, 22. Discovered January 30, 1988. Westmont, Los Angeles.
- Inez Elizabeth Warren, 28. Discovered August 15, 1988. Gramercy Park, Los Angeles.
- Monique Alicia Alexander, 18. Discovered September 11, 1988. Vermont Square, Los Angeles.
- Enietra Margette Washington, 30. Discovered November 20, 1988. Gramercy Park, Los Angeles.
- Georgia Mae Thomas, 43. Discovered December 28, 2000. South Park, Los Angeles.
- Princess Cheyanne Berthomieux, 15. Discovered March 19, 2002. Inglewood, California.
- Valerie Louise McCorvey, 35. Discovered July 11, 2003. Westmont, Los Angeles.
- Ayellah Gbo Dzata Marshall, 18. Missing February 1, 2005 but never found.
- Rolenia Adele Morris, 31. Missing September 10, 2005 but never found.
- Janecia Lavette Peters, 17. Discovered January 1, 2007. Gramercy Park, Los Angeles.
*The below names are potential victims but were never definitively tied to Lonnie Franklin.
- Cathern Davis, 32. Missing June 9, 1982.
- Rosalind Giles, 26. Missing January 10, 1991.
- Lisa Renee Knox, 28. Missing May 11, 1993.
- Anita Yolanda Parker, 37. Missing November 17, 1998.
INTERESTING FACTS:
Lonnie Franklin doesn’t fit your typical Serial Killer Profile. Not only did neighbors describe him as friendly and quiet, but he was black and didn’t start killing until his early thirties.
Lonnie Franklin earned two nicknames – the Southside Slayer and the Grim Sleeper.
SOURCES:
Wikipedia
The Rolling Stone
Lore & Curiosities 