The Grim Sleeper Serial Killer on the loose in L.A!

[Pragmatic]

Photograph by Christine Pelisek

"South Los Angeles residents have no idea that there is a serial murderer out there," said activist Margaret Prescod, who founded the Black Coalition in the mid-1980s after dozens of women were found dead in alleyways, parks and dumpsters in South Los Angeles. At the time, the police believed the killings were the work of one man they dubbed the Southside Slayer.

The Coalition became inactive in the early '90s but Prescod restarted it after last August, when the LA Weekly broke the news that the Grim Sleeper had struck again.

Margaret Prescod, founder of the Black Coalition Fighting Back Serial Murders

"Little did we know we would be back in action," said Prescod as a dozen family members of victims and supporters held signs that read: "Every Life is of Value," "Black Women's lives count," "Not in Vain," and "We demand answers," all the while detectives and city employees ambled by.

Prescod also questioned why a 911 eyewitness report of the killer dumping a body in an alleyway in 1987 was kept hidden from the community until now.

Activist attorney Nana Gyamfi wanted to know why the police haven't posted wanted posters and a sketch of the killer provided by the surviving victim around South Los Angeles so "women would be aware that someone is hunting them."

"Who is protected and served when the LAPD keeps it to themselves?" asked Gyamfi.

The coalition also unveiled a set of demands to the police and elected officials that include a public relations campaign, a bimonthly report on the status of the investigation and an accurate count of unsolved murders involving African American women in South Los Angeles.

The coalition is also calling for an investigation by the United States Department of Justice into the handling of the case.

The 11 victims, including one male victim named Thomas Steele, were found in alleys along a stretch of Western Avenue. The Grim Sleeper's last known victim was 25-year-old Janecia Peters, who was found in a dumpster January 1, 2007, by a homeless man looking for recyclables.

Activist Margaret Prescod (left) announced the beginning of a campaign called Stop the Serial Murders Community Information Campaign. Its goal is to bring awareness to the local neighborhood and pepper the community with fliers about the Grim Sleeper, a serial killer that has been killing mostly women in South Los Angeles since 1985.

Barbara Ware's step mother Dianna Ware (right) and sister Treva Anderson pass out fliers on

"People don't know much about the murders," said Prescod who is also a host of a program on KPFK. "These murders have not been a priority of [Police Chief William] Bratton, the mayor and most of the media."

Prescod, who founded the Black Coalition Fighting Back Serial Murders back in the 1980s when the murders began, is also upset that Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has not weighed in about the murder of Lachrica Jefferson, who was killed in Los Angeles County in 1988. Prescod wants to know why his department has not tried to get a reward established for her.

"Should her death be dismissed because Baca can't be bothered?" asked Prescod.

When the press conference ended, a handful of family members and a few activists walked along the neighborhood passing out fliers to local businesses and passersby.

The Grim Sleeper's youngest victim was 14-years-old. His last known victim, 25-year-old Janecia Peters, was found in a Dumpster on January 1, 2007.





Peace be upon you
While LA Police sleep: Margaret Prescod, in search of, Serial Murderer of Black Women