John Floyd Thomas Jr. and the hunt for the Grim Sleeper
From find.thegrimsleeper.com:
Until his April 2 arrest, John Floyd Thomas Jr was a Los Angeles insurance adjuster. Police now call him the "Southland Strangler" -- named for the geographical section of Los Angeles County where they suspect he killed at least 30 women and raped many more. Thomas is also in the frame for a spate of crimes police say were committed by the "Westside Rapist".The site also has an interesting map, developed with the help of a profiler who notes thatOn first glance this suspect doesn't fit the profile of the Grim Sleeper. Reports suggest he targets much older females who live alone and are white. This is a direct opposite of the Grim Sleeper's known victims - young and black. However there are some striking similarities that are worth mentioning.
Many of Thomas' victims were strangled and beaten and at least one victim was killed in a location other than her home which suggests Thomas' MO is markedly varied. The LA times is quoted as saying "On the 17 who were killed, he placed pillows or blankets over their faces." This is also a signature of the Grim Sleeper who is known to have placed items over the faces of some of his victims.
.Perhaps one of the most startling similarities is the time span and 'gaps' that separate Thomas' crimes. The first wave of slayings took place in Los Angeles in the mid-1970s. There followed a decade of 'Sleep?' until 1983 when Thomas was released from prison. He committed rape and murder over the next 6 years until 1989.
"the Grim Sleeper attacks women within one mile from his home, and works to blend into the neighborhood."Here's the map:
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CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
John Thomas stalked me for six months. He rented a apt at the Barrington plaza in 2005 where I lived. He acted like he had a crush on me and I knew that he was a rapists and killer. I felt like my life was in danger. I went to the Westside police and they could not help me because he went by Donald Thomas and drove a older brown BMW.I started to record when he would confront me and I still have these recordings. I reported my fears about him to the management, with no help. I waited until he was going out of town for 2 days and I moved to escape. My contact number is 310-271-8839
John Thomas Stalked me for six months. He rented a apt at the Barrington Plaza in 2005. He acted like he had a crush on me. I knew that I was in danger and went to the west L.A. Police and they could not help me because he went by Donald Thomas and drove a older BMW. I started recording the times that he stalked me and I still have these recordings. With no help I moved when he was out of town to escape. My contact number is 310-271-8839
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