Murder charges filed in 1986 rape, killing of Claremont woman

LOS ANGELES -- Prosecutors today charged an alleged serial killer with five additional counts of murder, including charges for the 1986 rape, strangulation and robbery of Claremont resident Adrienne Askew.

John Floyd Thomas Jr., 73, now faces seven counts of murder. In addition to Askew's killing, prosecutors allege Thomas murdered three Inglewood women, two Los Angeles women, and a woman in the unincorporated community of Lennox near south Los Angeles.

All the killings took place between 1972 and 1986, according to the amended criminal complaint filed by prosecutors this morning in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom. Thomas was linked to all seven killings by DNA, said Deputy District Attorney Rachel Greene.

Thomas pleaded not guilty to the charges during a brief arraignment hearing this morning at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. Thomas was wearing orange jail-issued clothing -- indicating that he's housed in protective custody -- and his left arm was in a sling.

Police and prosecutors present at this morning's hearing said they didn't know why Thomas's arm was in a sling. He was not wearing a sling during his first court appearance in May.

Click here for background on Thomas's case.