‘Grim Sleeper’: Closing Arguments In Serial Killer Lonnie Franklin Trial


Lonnie Franklin, 63, of Los Angeles, California, is dubbed the “Grim Sleeper,” the alleged serial killer who murdered 10 women over two decades. The term came from a 14-year lapse in the killings. The deaths were also linked to the “Southside Slayer” and the “Strawberry Murders.”

Franklin was connected to the killing through DNA, but not initially his own. DNA on record from his son was determined to be linked to the killer by family DNA. Police were able to obtain a discarded piece of pizza from Lonnie Franklin, and positively linked him to the DNA found on the bodies of the murder victims. Lonnie Franklin does have a criminal record of his own dating back to 1989, but his DNA was never entered into the system. Defense attorneys have taken the avenue of accusing someone else in the family of the murders, “a nephew or youngster.”

In closing arguments on Tuesday, defense attorney Seymour Amster argued to the jury that the prosecution simply has the wrong man. “Each and every murder in this case could have been done by a mystery man with a mystery gun with mystery DNA.”

The defense speculates that the crimes were committed by a relative of Franklin’s, someone jealous of his sexual prowess, according to People Magazine.

Prosecutor Beth Silverman redirected the jury in her closing arguments, scoffing at the ideas of the defense. “You have to base your decision on the evidence,” she said. “The theory of the defense is basically the equivalent of the skies opening up, a space ship descending and murdering all these women.”

Silverman added that the only DNA found on the women belonged to Lonnie Franklin, and there was no “mystery man.” A gun found in his house was also linked to one of the murders.

Some victims were strangled while most were shot with a.25-caliber pistol. The women’s bodies were dumped in a downtrodden area of South Los Angeles, left in dumpsters and alleyways on Western Avenue. This is the same area where Franklin lived and worked.

Silverman told the jury, “He is a serial killer who was basically hiding in plain sight. He blended in. All evidence points to one person as the killer.” Most of the bodies were found within miles of Franklin’s home.

Silverman stressed the motive to the jury, painting him as a sadistic killer. “It is clear the defendant got pleasure from killing these young women because that’s how they all ended up. He definitely wanted to degrade these women by dumping their bodies like trash. He got off on that, too, and that is why he did it over and over. It gave him gratification.”

Most of the women who were murdered were in their twenties. One was as young as 15-years-old. Princess Berthomieux was strangled and found in an alley, naked under shrubs in Inglewood. The oldest victim was 35-years-old, also strangled and left in an alley. Most of his victims were prostitutes.

One woman, Enietra Washington, survived being shot and thrown out of a vehicle. She claimed he took a Polaroid of her after he thought she was dead and that photo was found behind a wall in his garage. The woman identified Franklin in court. Silverman argued about the likelihood of the photo being found in Franklin’s garage, according to My L.A. News.

In December, 2010, authorities released 180 photographs of women, mostly African American, to the public in an effort to solve any other crimes that Franklin may have committed. Lonnie Franklin may be responsible for the deaths of at least six additional women.

Franklin, who is married and the father of two, was a former LAPD mechanic and sanitation worker. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and faces the death penalty if convicted. The jury was given the case for deliberation on Wednesday morning.

[Photo by Nick Ut/Associated Press Images]

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