Grim Sleeper: For relatives of victims, it was a long wait for news of an arrest [Updated]

The killings occurred over three decades along the major boulevards of South Los Angeles. Individually, they didn't generate much attention.

Then, the Los Angeles Police Department concluded that the slayings of 10 women were the work of one killer. And this gave relatives of the victims new hope the cases might eventually be solved.

On Thursday, the Los Angeles Police Department will hold its first press conference detailing the arrest on Wednesday of a suspect in the "Grim Sleeper" slayings. The families of many victims will be there to offer their thoughts on the arrest.

In interviews, some family members expressed joy that closure might finally come -- but it was joy mixed with anger because the suspect turned out to be a resident of the neighborhood, described by those who lived near him as a kind and generous neighbor.

The suspect is Lonnie David Franklin Jr., 57. Police said DNA evidence linked him to the killings.

Franklin is charged with 10 counts of murder in the deaths of Debra Jackson, 29; Henrietta Wright, 35; Barbara Ware, 23; Bernita Sparks, age unknown; Mary Lowe, 26; Lachrica Jefferson, 22; Alicia Alexander, 18; Princess Berthomieux, 15; Valerie McCorvey, 35; and Janecia Peters, 25. He also is charged with one count of attempted murder.

Relatives of the victims said there was a period of time when they lost faith in the system. But when the slayings continued and police concluded they were the work of a serial killer, the families said police redoubled their efforts. 

Alicia Monique Alexander, 18, was one of the Grim Sleeper's first victims, killed in 1988. Her brothers Donnell Alexander, 47, and Darin Alexander, 45, said they “never gave up hope. We were just hoping with all the new technology out now with DNA testing that they would get him. This brought us closer together. That’s the positive that came out of her death. Now we hug one other not just on special occasions but every day.”

“This won’t bring our sister back, but our heart goes out to all the families that were as affected,” Donnell Alexander said.

Franklin was a garage attendant at the LAPD's 77th Street Division station in the early 1980s, according to city and police sources. He worked as a garbage collector for the Los Angeles Department of Sanitation during the years that the first eight killings occurred. The string of slayings began with the death of Jackson on Aug. 10, 1985, and ended with the death of Alexander on Sept. 11, 1988.

Franklin has at least four prior convictions, two for felony possession of stolen property in 1993 and 2003, one for misdemeanor battery in 1997 and one for misdemeanor assault in 1999, according to court records. He was sentenced to a year in jail for the first stolen-property charge and 270 days for the second one.

Three years ago, Janecia LaVette Peters was found dead at Western Avenue near 92nd Street in South Los Angeles. She had been shot in the back and stuffed into a trash bag. She was considered the most recent victim of the Grim Sleeper serial killer.

Her aunt, Diane McQueen, 55, said the slaying shattered her family. "She was 25. It hit my family real hard. I had lost hope this day would come. I feel a lot of joy it did at last."

[Updated at 8:14 a.m.: Diana Ware, 71, the stepmother of Barbara Ware, who was killed two days after turning 23 years old in 1987, also was uplifted by the arrest.

“I hadn’t lost hope, but I got discouraged,” she said. “You get discouraged sometimes because it was taking a long time. But the detectives never gave up and kept in touch with us.”

On Wednesday, the call finally came. "The detective called me. He said, ‘Are you sitting down?' " Ware said. "I just yelled. I was so happy."]

-- Hector Becerra

Learn more about the Grim Sleeper's victims on The Times interactive Homicide Report map

Comments

[marie]

If this guy had been White, everyone would be fine with it. They would saying, yeah, we got the DNA, lock him up. But simply because he is the same color as his victims, that is not possible. This is ridiculous people, if he killed 12 people, he killed 12 people, you should want this man convicted of murder. Stop being soft on crime no matter who commits it. It is racist to be otherwise. Black, Latino, White, or Asian, Middle Eastern, whoever, if crime is committed everyone should be prosecuted.

Tyrone, your racism is showing.

[i got weed]

i'm for the bad guy but damn man my question is. why killers always got to slip up? i'd give it to him for the 3 decades thats impressive but damn what makes people kill and kill. well he probably thought he was too good at what he did lol but i'm very impressed with this guy for evading the dirty cops good job i mean he was even the neighborhood mechanic "you fit in where you get your kills in" i love it i think i'ma write a book about this guy it seems as if most ex-cops become killers cause they know how not to get caught up but i guess they slip as well

[Give Me A Break]

We need to leave black vs. white out of this. I realize that you don't often find blacks involved in serial killing, but DNA doesn't lie. This was not an easy case to break, it took 20+ years and I truly believe they have the right individual. However, he is entitled to a trial, and will get one.
I lost a child, not to violence, but she is gone just the same. I can only imagine what these families have been thru. I know why my child died, but to live all of these years not knowing, I don't think I could've stood that type of pain.
I pray that the family, relative and friends that have been touched by these tragedies find peace in their hearts, finally. I pray for each and every one of you....

Good job LAPD.....

[dana]

this is his picture, you can google his name
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-grim-sleeper-arrest,0,380919.story

[Kathy]

It must really kill you racist that it was a black guy killing black women. And you idiots saying "rush to judgment . . ." the investigation has been ongoing for over 20 years . . if they just wanted to hang a black guy, I think there have been plenty around to pin it on way before this. It's sad you can't think beyond your race. . . the rest of us really don't have a problem doing so.

[Richard]

Come on people. "Shady?" "Frame." "Set up." Forensic evidence never lies. Never. If this suspects dna is linked to these murders, let the case proceed. Form your opinions after the forensic evidence has been presented.

[Cameron]

Black victims and probably a black perp... and so many want to STILL say some how whitey is to blame! I'm so sick of this! Sure, the cops waited over two decades to finally frame some poor black mechanic, and managed to find over two dozen people involved from the field, CSI, labs, investigators and management to go along with a completely faked DNA set-up.... ARE YOU FREAKIN SERIOUS!!!? Its completely ridiculous and RACIST accusations like these that seperate us further and make white people lash out in frustration! Stop it already! 99 white people out of 100 are ready (AND HAVE BEEN) to make ammends, help and work together! Blacks are the #1 reason for the continuation of racism! Stop it already! The Sharptons and Jacksons can bite me, and I KNOW you guys are sick of them too... they dont speak for you! Take your culture back, and work hard to be part of our American fabric. Because we DO want you here. But not if youre going to keep blaming us for ALL of your problems! :(

[SJH]

My sister was one of his victims - you can say what you want, about timing and hidden agendas but if this was your loved one - you would be thankful they have SOMEONE in custody and that they are going to put in through the trial system. God said in his Word the truth shall be revealed and I PRAY for a fair trial; if he is found guilty then he will pay for what he has done...and most importantly no other families will have to go through the anguish of knowing their precious loved one was hurt and killed - like losing her all over again!