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Lonnie FranklinAmerican serial killer
Date of Birth: 30.08.1952
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Lonnie David Franklin Jr.
- Civilian Life and Employment
- Accusations and Imprisonment
- Auto Repair Business and Neighborly Image
- The Crimes
- First Known Murder and Eyewitness Account
- DNA Analysis and Breakthrough
- Discovery of "Grim Sleeper" Body
- Arrest, Trial, and Conviction
- Trial and Verdict
- Sentencing and Death Penalty
- Death
Lonnie David Franklin Jr.
Early Life and Military ServiceLonnie David Franklin Jr. was born on August 30, 1952, in Los Angeles, California. He served in the U.S. Army in West Germany and was discharged on July 24, 1975.
Civilian Life and Employment
Franklin married and had two children. He worked for the Los Angeles Police Department for several years, followed by stints as a mail carrier and then a garbage truck driver.
Accusations and Imprisonment
In 1989, Franklin was accused of assaulting a prostitute but was released due to insufficient evidence. He served a brief prison sentence for theft or possession of stolen property in 1997-1999.
Auto Repair Business and Neighborly Image
In recent years, Franklin ran an auto repair shop in his backyard and earned extra income through vehicle repairs. Neighbors described him positively as a friendly and helpful person.
The Crimes
Targeting and Modus OperandiFranklin primarily targeted young Black women, with one exception being a Black male. He raped and killed his victims, leaving their bodies in alleyways along Western Avenue in Los Angeles. Investigators suspected some victims may have been prostitutes.
First Known Murder and Eyewitness Account
Franklin's first known murder occurred in August 1985 when the body of 29-year-old Debra Jackson was found shot to death. It wasn't until three years later that police realized the gun used to kill Jackson had been used in seven other murders.
In November 1988, Franklin raped a woman and then shot her in the chest. She survived and provided police with the first description of the killer and his car: a "slim, neat, polite, and well-groomed Black male" driving an orange Ford Pinto with a white racing stripe. However, the search yielded no results.
DNA Analysis and Breakthrough
After a 13-year hiatus, murders resumed. In 2001, detectives began using DNA analysis technology, testing thousands of unsolved murders in Los Angeles. In 2004, it became apparent that Franklin had shot a 35-year-old woman in 2003 and raped and strangled a 14-year-old girl in March 2002.
Discovery of "Grim Sleeper" Body
In 2007, a homeless man found the body of a 25-year-old woman who had been shot and stuffed into a trash bag. DNA testing linked the crime to the "Grim Sleeper." Detectives checked the killer's DNA against a federal database of known criminals but found no matches.
In September 2008, Los Angeles officials offered a $500,000 reward for information leading to the killer's capture.
Arrest, Trial, and Conviction
Arrest and ChargesOn July 7, 2010, 57-year-old Lonnie David Franklin Jr. was arrested and charged with 10 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Trial and Verdict
The trial continuously faced delays as new details emerged. On February 16, 2016, the Grim Sleeper trial finally commenced. On May 5, 2016, a jury found Franklin guilty on all counts.
Sentencing and Death Penalty
On June 6, 2016, the jury sentenced Franklin to death. On August 10, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Lonnie David Franklin Jr.'s death sentence.
Death
Franklin awaited execution on death row at San Quentin State Prison until he was found dead in his cell on the evening of March 28, 2020.
