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Reward Poster Released for 'Grim Sleeper' Serial Killer
In order to garner the public's attention, the LAPD released a poster today showing the twelve victims' faces of the serial killer dubbed the "Grim Sleeper." The man has eluded police for over 20 years, making him the "most enduring serial killer in California history and the longest-operating serial killer west of the Mississippi," as the LA Weekly put it in their story that broke this case open to the public.
"He's a maniac and a broken person," responded Detective Charlie Buck, one of the six detectives assigned to the case, to a reporter at a press conference this afternoon at the Parker Center in downtown. Last week, a reward of up to $500,000 was announced, which the police say is the largest monetary amount ever offered. (Story continued below photo gallery)
If the killer has been out there so long, why is only after the LA Weekly announced it that the city seems so gung-ho about it? Police responded saying the media was on the fringes and "were unable to hold the line on it." They also did not want to panic the city at-large over a killer who was targeting mostly "street people" who voluntarily got into his car.
And as for him still being out there in Los Angeles? Yes, police think the killer is still in the area and that he is at the youngest 43-years-old now based on when the killings started if he were 18. But he could be in his late 50s by now too.
With reporting by Tom Andrews
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