Grim Sleeper Photos – Another Look

I thought it would be interesting to visit the LAPD’s website to see how many images had been removed from the Grim Sleeper photos, presumably because the women were identified. I discovered that Nos. 164, 165,  169 and 175 varied from what is on The Times’ site. Most of the Grim Sleeper photos on latimes.com are the same as what’s posted by the LAPD, but I’m told that these four photos were cropped by The Times to show the women’s faces in greater clarity. One new bit of information from the uncropped photos is that three of them are dated March 1985. Further examination revealed that two photos posted on The Times website show women’s nametags, No. 96-97 (Maxine) and No. 166 (Ms. D. Johnson) that were cropped out on the LAPD’s website.  Of the 180 photos that were originally released by investigators, 151 remain on the LAPD’s website. The LAPD’s photos are here ALSO Grim Sleeper, Interiors Grim Sleeper, Interiors 2 Grim Sleeper, Interiors 3 Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52 Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49 Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53 Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57 Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81 Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay Grim Sleeper No. 91 Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-97, Maxine Grim Sleeper No. 199, Details, Janecia Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland Grim Sleeper No. 149 Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Grim Sleeper No. 119, Details

A curtain or some type of fabric can be seen in Grim Sleeper No. 119, which has been identified, according to the Daily Beast, as victim Janecia Peters. I thought it would be interesting to see if I could find a similar background in any of the other photos, but I couldn’t. The LAPD has removed this photo from its website and although it’s still in The Times’ photo gallery, I felt there was no point in reposting it in its entirety.  ALSO Grim Sleeper, Interiors Grim Sleeper, Interiors 2 Grim Sleeper, Interiors 3 Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52 Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49 Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53 Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57 Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81 Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay Grim Sleeper No. 91 Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland Grim Sleeper No. 149 Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Grim Sleeper, Interiors 3

Grim Sleeper No. 118

Although some images show a window blocked with tinfoil (Interiors, 2) a few photos show windows blocked with  what appears to be a paper bag attached with blue masking tape. ALSO Grim Sleeper, Interiors Grim Sleeper, Interiors 2 Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52 Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49 Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53 Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57 Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81 Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay Grim Sleeper No. 91 Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland Grim Sleeper No. 149 Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson     Grim Sleeper No. 88

Grim Sleeper, Interiors 2

Grim Sleeper No. 22

The backgrounds in some of the photos show what appears to be a window covered with tinfoil. No. 22, above, is a frame from a video that shows this detail.  Some of the images are indistinct and I’m only including the ones in which I’m fairly certain that the background is the same or similar. It’s interesting to notice that several types of photo technology are involved in this “series,” including video and print or digital cameras. The tinfoil arrangement in Nos. 42 (video) and 103 (still) appears to be the same and shows a small gap between the foil and the top of the window frame. ALSO Grim Sleeper, Interiors Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52 Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49 Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53 Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57 Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81 Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay Grim Sleeper No. 91 Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland Grim Sleeper No. 149 Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Grim Sleeper, Interiors

Many of the photos show a woman in the passenger seat of a vehicle. The coiled cord visible through the window in Photo No. 156 made me wonder if this was taken at some sort of drive-in. I’ve tried to collect these photos on the jump. Photos  36 and 87 appear to show the same woman, as do Photos 95 and 175. There appear to be at least five vehicles involved, based on the interiors. One (No. 36) appears to have gray upholstered seats, one (No. 157) has a blue interior, one (No. 95) has been stripped down to the body and shows white metal, one (No. 150) has a plain interior of metal painted white. The interior shown above in Photo 156 doesn’t seem to be in any other picture. ALSO Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52 Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49 Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53 Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57 Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81 Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay Grim Sleeper No. 91 Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland Grim Sleeper No. 149 Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Grim Sleeper No. 91

When I first looked at this photo, I thought the item in the background might be a calendar. In fact it’s a page of display ads for a sporting goods store that has been placed over some sort of opening,   like a window covered with a heavy screen. That’s something of a pattern in these photos. Many pictures have a window in the background that has been covered up, either with tinfoil, or cardboard and blue masking tape. ALSO Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52 Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49 Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53. Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57 Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81 Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland Grim Sleeper No. 149 Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Grim Sleeper No. 139

Grim Sleeper No. 139 has a bit of interesting signage that says “The Mail Slot” and gives a phone number that appears to be 419-0395. I’m not able to locate this number or business, so I’m assuming it’s defunct. Does the “82” indicate 1982? A car in the background looks like a Volkswagen Beetle but otherwise identifying the cars will take more research. ALSO Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52 Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49 Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53. Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57 Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81 Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland Grim Sleeper No. 149 Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78

Grim Sleeper No. 76     Grim Sleeper No. 78

These ladies, plus Nos. 75 and 77, have a labret, or piercing, in their lower lip.   No. 76 also has a tattoo on her chest, but I’m not going to speculate on whether it says “Kendreay” because I can’t clarify the image adequately   Grim Sleeper, No. 75 Grim Sleeper, No. 76   Grim Sleeper, No. 77 Grim Sleeper No., 78 ALSO Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52 Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49 Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53. Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57 Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81 Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland Grim Sleeper No. 149 Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77

This is a different sort of puzzle. Grim Sleeper No. 75, top, and No. 77, have a tattoo that reads “Kendreay, RIP or HIP” and they both have a piercing (called a labret) in their bottom lips, but one woman is much heavier than the other.

Above, No. 75’s tattoo. And No. 77’s tattoo. ALSO Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52 Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49 Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53. Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57 Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81 Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland Grim Sleeper No. 149 Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81

It seems that Grim Sleeper Nos. 59, left, and 81, right, show the same woman and may have been taken at the same time.  No. 81 is dated May 8, 2006, which may or may not be accurate. The background in No. 81 shows quite a bit of “shade-tree mechanic” material. At left, there are some old traffic cones and some piece of a car (maybe an alternator?) in a Capri Sun box. And here’s a set of plastic shelves full of motor oil, spray bottles, coolant (Valucraft is sold at AutoZone) and other auto-related  material.

ALSO Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52 Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49 Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53. Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57 Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland Grim Sleeper No. 149 Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142

Grim Sleeper No. 141 appears to be a Polaroid marked Deborah B. Cleveland, Sept. 18, 2001, although there seems to have been some hesitation about the “18,” as if the writer started with 28 and changed his mind. It is also marked “B.K.A. Chocolate.” If you boost the contrast, you can see the double mirrors outside the passenger’s window, but that’s all. Grim Sleeper No. 142 is a detail from this photo that crops out the handwriting.  ALSO Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52 Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49 Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53. Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57 Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81 Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot Grim Sleeper No. 149 Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Grim Sleeper No. 149

Grim Sleeper photo No. 149 has quite a bit of detail. The picture apparently shows Frenchie’s Patio Soul Food, which was located 8101 S. Western Ave. (323) 753-2614. The only mention in The Times is a 1998 story by Jocelyn Stewart about an annual day of dialogue on race relations begun in 1995 after the L.A. riots. A quick look at a map might fill in some blanks. The restaurant was just around the corner from 1728 W. 81st St., the home of Grim Sleeper suspect Lonnie David Franklin Jr. But we run into some problems. According to Property Shark, 8101 S. Western Ave. is a restaurant/cocktail lounge built in 1977. Which is clearly not what we find on Google maps street view. Aha, this was built in 2006. We can also see a little bit more of the neighborhood reflected in the right side-view mirror. I’ve flopped it (we’re starting with a reflection in a mirror) to show what we would see if we were standing by the van and looking back. This appears to be the north side of West 81st Street. On further examination, I found a couple of interesting things in the van. The first is some sort of humorous bumper sticker on the passenger’s sun visor. And there also appears to be some sort of vehicle registration fixed to the windshield. ALSO Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52 Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49 Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53. Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57 Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81 Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson