L.A. serial killer charged with four more killings

Chester Dewayne Turner, one of Los Angeles' most prolific serial killers who prowled the streets of South L.A. in the 1980s and '90s, was charged Tuesday with four additional murders linked to him through DNA.

The charges were filed after a DNA test recently connected Turner to the 1997 slaying of Cynthia Johnson, whose abandoned body was found near a church in the Green Meadows neighborhood. The LAPD had labeled the killing as cleared after the arrest and unsuccessful prosecution of another suspect months after Johnson’s death.

But a department criminalist inadvertently included evidence from the Johnson case for testing last year as part of the LAPD’s effort to reduce the backlog of untested sexual assault kits, said Det. Cliff Shepard.

The other three murder counts stem from killings in which authorities long suspected Turner but never filed charges.

In two cases, another man was wrongfully convicted and spent 11 years behind bars until his release in 2004, when DNA linked Turner to the killings. In the fourth case, DNA connected Turner to the case after he had been charged with multiple killings in 2004.

 Turner, 44, was sentenced to death in 2007 for the murder of 10 women and a 6 1/2-month-old fetus. “He needs to be held accountable for what he did,” said L.A. County Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Grace, who helped prosecute Turner. “It’s very important for everyone in the city, particularly those in South L.A., that the justice system does value the lives of people killed.”

Turner, a onetime pizza deliveryman, was one of at least five serial killers who roamed South L.A. in the 1980s and '90s. Turner’s killings took place between 1987 and 1998, mostly in the 30-block stretch of motels and apartments that runs south from Slauson Avenue along Figueroa Street -– an area that was at the time notorious for prostitution, drug crime and violence. Most of the victims were raped and strangled.

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-- Jack Leonard and Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Chester D. Turner in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Nov. 1, 2005, during his preliminary hearing on charges that he killed 10 women. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

Map: Locations of where Turner's victims were found. Credit: Homicide Report

See a map of where authorities found the bodies of 53 victims of serial killers between 1984 and 2007.

Comments

[u know]

I never realized there were green meadows in Watts, lucky people who live there!

[Roger Jones]

The Los Angeles DA's office reminds me of the big bad wolf without any teeth who just huffs and puffs and blows smoke up our butts when it comes to punishing serial killers. The DA should open a stand-up comedy department because they are laughable Girlymen. Find out how many more Mr. Turner killed then take him outside and shoot him in the head, you cowards.

[kris]

Thanks for DNA testing and ability to solves these cases which otherwise would go on as a mystery, DNA testing also enables the victims families to get somewhat of a reprieve knowing the offender has not beaten the crime.

[ray]

Sigh.....Just another day in LA

[klevinsohn]

It's very sad that the police are in such a hurry to prosecute and close a case that they convict a man wrongly and ruin his life, while the real killer is out there knowing no one is looking for him. The DA should spend sometime in jail. Where is the accountability? These days circumstantial isn't good enough and the state doesn't have enough money to pay every wrongly convicted person. Someone isn't doing their due dilligence, very shoddy.

[john]

shoot this monster in the head now! no trial no sitting on death row for 25 year wasting tax payers dollar one bullet ill pay for in his head

[irving]

let justice take action.

[REALbarbwire7]

What are they waiting for? A holiday. Fry that thing.

[Jim Q. Citizen]

I suggest that Mr. Green be given an all expense paid vacation to Florida where he will be taken deep into the swamps and chained to a tree. The alligators will be the highlight of his well deserved vacation.

[anders ekman]

Isn't one the stereotypes that it's white males who are serial killers? From 1945 to 2004 blacks represented some 22% of known serial killers, while representing around 12% of the population...a disproportionate share.
I just mention that because I've heard at least one black comedian joke about while black blacks might do so-and-so...at least they're not serial killers...those are all crazy white guys.

[Slarfy]

Ummm... since this guy's already going to die, is it really necessary to have a full-blown trial for these other killings? The state's out of money, folks.

[michael]

Why don't they just kill this piece of garbage.

[Metal 78]

La needs to quicken there system and be rid of these monsters

[Nicole]

@ Klevinsohn....the police don't prosecute or convict the accused. They only arrest them. A jury consisting of usually 12 citizens convict people. You need to do your homework.

[Princess]

It does not matter how many people he killed this is California they have not executed anybody since like 1996. so they are just going to closed the case to make them look like they are doing there job. What a Joke..

[frankie]

the police can clear the slate,who is going to check,no one.