REOPENED: The Grim Sleeper Part 2

Summary

Cold Case Files – REOPENED: The Grim Sleeper Part 2

A&E / PodcastOne | Hosted by Paula Barros | July 30, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This episode is the second part of the in-depth exploration of the “Grim Sleeper” case, one of Los Angeles’ most notorious serial killings that spanned from the mid-1980s until the 2000s, leaving much of South Central LA in fear. Host Paula Barros traces the painstaking investigation, the devastating community impact, and the eventual unmasking and prosecution of Lonnie Franklin, Jr. The episode features survivor and family testimonies, law enforcement perspectives, and explores both the breakthroughs and failures that defined the case.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Aftermath of 1980s Attacks – Survivor Trauma and Law Enforcement Challenges

• Enietria Washington, the last known survivor from 1988, emotionally recounts her desire for justice and personal vengeance against her attacker.
  • “Justice is supposed to be fair. Like, say, an eye for an eye... I deserve to go after him... Wouldn’t it be fair?” (Enietria Washington, 01:44-02:19)
• Detectives were puzzled by the killer's apparent 14-year hiatus and debated possible reasons—relocation, imprisonment, or simply stopping.

Forensic Breakthroughs – DNA Technology Resurrects the Case

• In 2004, LAPD launches a Cold Case Unit relying on now-advanced DNA techniques.
• Detectives salvage DNA from three 1980s victims (Mary Lowe, Bernita Sparks, Barbara Ware), discovering a single male profile—but the man is not in any database.
• Hope is reignited when a DNA hit connects 1980s murders to a 2003 victim, Valerie McCorvey. Soon after, 15-year-old Princess Bartholomew’s murder is linked too, indicating the killer had resumed after a lengthy break (05:18-09:31).

The Story of Princess Bartholomew – Innocence Lost

• Samara Harad (Princess’s sister) shares how Princess escaped horrific family abuse, only to be killed after losing her foster home stability.
  • “Princess was listed as one of LA's worst cases because they had never seen that level of abuse… Her own biological father was pimping her out. At 2.” (Samara Harad, 06:57-07:36)
  • Harad’s narrative illustrates both individual and systemic failures, with Princess falling prey after being moved by child services.
• The killer’s MO had shifted—these were no longer shootings, but strangulations.

Media, Pressure, and a New Name – The Grim Sleeper

• Christine Pelesek, journalist, uncovers the connection between cold case murders and the recent victims. She and her editor coin the moniker “Grim Sleeper” to bring public attention (14:05-14:41).
• Pamela Brooks, a sex worker, narrowly escapes becoming another victim and candidly tells her story of street life, addiction, and brushes with death (14:51-17:27).
  • “Danger went with the territory. On the streets of South Central LA… I was lucky that he didn’t shoot me. Damn. I made it out to Rapture. He didn’t get me.” (Pamela Brooks, 16:59-17:27)

Serial Murders Continue – Mounting Pressure and Community Outcry

• New murders through the early 2000s spur detectives and journalists to push for a formal task force (19:51-20:13). The contrast between police responses to crimes in affluent versus marginalized communities becomes a point of contention.
  • “If this would have been in the white area, we would have flooded the area with cops and detectives and everything else.” (Detective Cliff Shepherd, 19:56-20:13)
• Families express anger over decades of secrecy and disregard:
  • “They thought of us as just crackheads, but we still was humans. We still had a mother. We got a family. We just got caught up in some.” (Pamela Brooks, 23:19-23:29)
  • “The police...were using the terminology of NHI—No Human Involved—just because they were living less than desirable lives. I don’t care what mistakes you make in life, it doesn’t make your life any less valuable.” (Samara Harad, 23:01-23:19)

A Crucial Lead – The 911 Caller & Familial DNA

• Investigators focus on a mysterious 1987 911 call reporting a body dump—suspecting the killer himself made the call and hid behind the anonymity of the community (20:41-24:25).
• They meticulously pursue leads from a church van’s license plate but hit a dead end after DNA exonerates several church affiliates.
• Introduction of familial DNA testing in California becomes a turning point, although it requires a year-long wait for enough database samples (25:08-26:07).

Break in the Case – Familial DNA Identifies Lonnie Franklin, Jr.

• In 2010, a familial DNA hit on Christopher Franklin, linked to his father Lonnie Franklin Jr., gives police their suspect (29:29-30:11).
  • “He had worked for the city…one of his positions happened to be with the Department of Sanitation. And we knew several victims were found in or near trash dumpsters…” (Detective Mike Opelt, 30:18-30:34)
• Surveillance yields clandestinely-obtained DNA—pizza crust from a restaurant—which matches all case scene DNA samples (30:55-31:44).

The Arrest and Shocking Discoveries

• Franklin’s home search uncovers multiple handguns, stolen car parts, and a collection of photographs of unknown women—potentially more victims (31:50-33:14).
  • “In that group of photographs was Enietria Washington.” (Detective Cliff Shepherd, 33:02)
• Survivors and the community are stunned, never suspecting Franklin, a seemingly ordinary, generous neighbor and family man, of such atrocities.
  • “He mastered that image real good. And he fooled the community.” (Mary Alexander, 34:54)

The Trial – Confrontation and Community Healing

• Enietria Washington’s survivor testimony is pivotal at trial—demanding that Franklin face his victims, even if he refuses to confess (37:33-38:00).
  • “This is me, him. One on one. I’m accusing you, and you’re accused. I know you actually shot me… I saw you. You saw me.” (Enietria Washington, 38:00-38:14)
• Families of multiple victims find support with each other during the emotionally fraught process:
  • “It kind of drew us close together that we weren’t alone. We all shared the same grief.” (Barbara Ware’s Stepmother, 38:19-38:41)

Sentencing, Reflection, and Legacy

• Franklin is found guilty of 10 murders and the attempted murder of Enietria Washington. He receives the death penalty.
  • “I can’t think of anyone that I’ve encountered in all my years in the criminal justice system that has committed the kind of monstrous… crimes that you have.” (Judge, 40:02)
• The pain and systemic indifference faced by the victims’ families, particularly as Black women, is acknowledged.
  • “This would not have happened and gone this long had it been others in others.” (Samara Harad, 41:22-41:31)
  • “We’re not of any concern because we weren’t labeled human.” (Enietria Washington, 41:44)
  • The value of forgiveness, healing, and the power of survivors and family advocates is a recurring closing note:
    • “Forgiveness is for you.” (Pamela Brooks, 42:00)

Closure & Aftermath

• Franklin dies in prison in March 2020. Families express relief and reflect on resilience, loss, and the necessity of community solidarity.
  • “The one solace I have is that you’re here. You are a living testimony to just being that courage.” (Samara Harad to Enietria Washington, 42:55)
  • “I am resilient enough to know that just because you knocked me down don’t mean I can’t get back up.” (Enietria Washington, 43:02-43:18)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Enietria Washington on justice and vengeance: (01:44-02:19)

  • “Justice is supposed to be fair… Wouldn’t it be fair?”

• Samara Harad on Princess Bartholomew’s abuse: (06:57-07:36)

  • “Princess was listed as one of LA's worst cases because they had never seen that level of abuse…”

• Pamela Brooks on street survival and escape: (16:59-17:27)

  • “I'm lucky that he didn't shoot me. Cause I didn't do nothing he wanted me to do. Damn. I made it out to Rapture. He didn't get me.”

• Community anger over police neglect: (23:01-23:19)

  • “The police...were using the terminology of NHI—No Human Involved…” (Samara Harad)

• Breakthrough moment – surveillance DNA match: (31:11-31:44)

  • “On day three, we get the call. This is him. It’s a match. The DNA from all the victims match him.” (Detective Cliff Shepherd)

• Franklin’s double life: (34:45-34:54)

  • “He mastered that image real good. And he fooled the community.” (Mary Alexander)

• On the trial and facing the accused: (37:33-38:14)

  • “This is me, him. One on one… I know you actually shot me. I know it was you.” (Enietria Washington)

• Samara Harad on racial bias in attention to serial killings: (41:22-41:31)

  • “This would not have happened and gone this long had it been others in others.”

• On healing and resilience: (43:02-43:18)

  • “I am resilient enough to know that just because you knocked me down don't mean I can't get back up.” (Enietria Washington)

---

Timeline of Significant Segments

• 01:44-02:19: Survivor Enietria Washington’s perspective on justice.
• 03:08-05:00: Detectives reflect on why the killer stopped, and DNA profiles link 1980s cases.
• 05:18-09:31: Princess Bartholomew’s story and the pattern shift in killings.
• 14:05-14:41: Christine Pelesek (“Grim Sleeper” nickname).
• 14:51-17:27: Pamela Brooks recounts her near miss.
• 19:51-21:10: Task force formation and public/media pressure.
• 23:01-23:19: Police neglect / “No Human Involved” term.
• 26:10: Families take action with flyers and meetings.
• 29:29-31:44: Surveillance on Franklin, DNA match via pizza crust.
• 31:50-33:14: House search and photograph discoveries.
• 37:33-38:14: Enietria faces Franklin in court.
• 40:02: Sentencing and judge’s remarks.
• 41:22-41:31: Racial disparity and community indifference.
• 43:02-43:18: Resilience and final reflections.
• 42:55-End: Closure, forgiveness, and survivor solidarity.

---

Final Reflections

This episode moves beyond procedural true crime and becomes a deeply human story: of survivors enduring pain, systemic neglect of vulnerable communities, and the power of perseverance in the face of monstrous evil. The case’s closure is bittersweet—justice is delivered, but the acknowledgment of what was lost and ignored for decades rings through the voices of families, survivors, and detectives who refused to give up.

“Forgiveness is so true. I won’t forget, but I do forgive you because I know you’ll have a higher answering.” – (Barbara Ware’s Stepmother, 42:07)

---

For more Cold Case Files content, visit aetv.com.

Transcript

[Ross Store Announcer]

At Ross, you'll find everything your kids need to be the best version of themselves. When they go back to school this fall, it isn't just the first day of school for them. It's their debut of who they've become since last school year. When they walk back through those school doors, they're a different kid than the one who walked out months ago. Summer, sun, summer, freedom, summer. Ups and downs shape them. From fashion to school supplies to dorm room decor, Ross has it all in their new style and bigger size. Find your nearest [e-mail] this is a

[GoFundMe Narrator / Podcast Hosts Lola and Megan]

paid message from GoFundMe. Meet Juan Naula. When his son was hospitalized for a viral infection, Juan started a GoFundMe to pay for medical expenses.

[Juan Naula]

It was 5k to pay the bill for my son and I need only 22 hours. It was amazing. People really trust on GoFundMe.

[GoFundMe Narrator / Podcast Hosts Lola and Megan]

How did Juan raise $5,000 in less than a day? He posted a short video on GoFundMe telling his story in 30 seconds.

[Juan Naula]

30 seconds. Be specific, Be quick and tell. What are you going to be using the funds for? I was nervous to do it because it doesn't feel okay to ask money. But you shouldn't be nervous. Sometimes you just have to do it and see the results. We were able to save my son's life thanks to gofundme that we still have my son with us.

[GoFundMe Narrator / Podcast Hosts Lola and Megan]

Start your GoFundMe today at gofundme.com that's gofundme.com gofundme.com this message reflects one person's experience.

[Detective / Investigator]

An A and E original podcast.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

This episode contains descriptions of violence and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.

[Enietria Washington]

Justice is supposed to be fair. Like, say, an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, Right? I deserve to go after him. You did this to me. Why can't you put me in a room? We go one on one. I don't know what I could do. Let me do to you what you did to me. Can I sit there and repeatedly shoot you?

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Shoot you, Shoot you.

[Enietria Washington]

Shoot you. Can I do it for all these women? All these women you done shot for the other victims? Can we just push you out of a car and just leave you there? Can I do all those things to you? Wouldn't it be fair? That's how I thought of it. Wouldn't it be fair?

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

There are 120,000 unsolved murders in America. Each one is a cold case. Only 1% are ever solved. This is one of those rare stories. This is part two of The Grim Sleeper. Make sure you've listened to part one to hear the full story. It's 1989. A year has passed since Enidria Washington was shot by a suspected serial killer. The investigators wonder why the killer has gone quiet.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

Enietria Washington was the last victim. Did he move? Was he put in prison? Did he just decide to quit?

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

While the detectives wonder where the suspect has gone, Enietria is being haunted by both the memory of the attack and her attacker.

[Enietria Washington]

I was outside my yard and this man come walking down the street and he said, do you know me? I said, no. Am I supposed to? And he just kept on walking. Then all of a sudden, it dawned on me who it was. It was the guy who had shot me. And I was like, oh my God. So then I called the detectives. No, we just need you to look at these pictures and see if you recognize any of these men.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

15 years go by, and it's now December 2004.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

LAPD started a cold case unit to look at unsolved murders beginning in 1960 to the present.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Cold case detectives are counting on advances in DNA technology to breathe new life into cold cases. Detective Cliff shepherd worked as a patrol officer in the 80s and remembers the 25 caliber killings. His knowledge of the crimes is an asset. When he's assigned to the cold case unit, the majority of the evidence has degraded and become useless. But the investigators are able to salvage DNA from three of the 25 caliber killers victims. Mary Lowe, Bernita Sparks and Barbara Ware. The same male DNA profile matches all three.

[Detective / Investigator]

This man was linked to all these cases, but he wasn't in the codis, the state or felon data bank. They had his DNA, but they had no idea who he was.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

It seems as though the new DNA technology will prove to be just another dead end. Until the CODIS national DNA database search gives them a new lead. Investigators discover a DNA link between three victims from the 80s and a murder victim from 2003.

[Detective / Investigator]

Everyone assumed that the guy stopped back in the 80s, but this guy was

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

like, still active after 16 years. The 25 caliber killer is back.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

That victim was Valerie McCorvey.

[Detective / Investigator]

Valerie was a 35 year old mother of two when she was found dead in an alley in south Los Angeles.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Six days later, a second DNA hit in the CODIS system links Valerie McCorvey's unidentified killer to evidence from a recent unsolved murder. On March 19, 2002, a tipster led police to the body of an unidentified female. The killer left her in an alley less than two Miles from where he left. Mary Lowe, Bernita Sparks and Enietria Washington. It took five months, but the police finally identified the victim as 15 year old Princess Bartholomew. The news was devastating for Princess's older sister Samara Harad.

[Samara Harad]

When I learned that Princess had been killed. If they say band aid, ripping off this was like ripping off my scalp, like my head exploded. There was nothing that would have ever prepared me.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Samara was a teenager when two and a half year old Princess became a part of her family. Princess was given a new lease on life when Samara's mother, a retired nurse, was chosen as the little girl's foster mother.

[Samara Harad]

She was rescued from hell, literal hell. Princess was listed as one of LA's worst cases because they had never seen that level of abuse. Her mother was not the primary custodial parent. She was with her father and his girlfriend and they not only physically abused her, they also were allowing other people to take turns on her for money. Her own biological father was pimping her out. At 2,

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Princess moved into the Harrards loving home in Claremont, an affluent college town 30 miles east of LA.

[Samara Harad]

She had scars all over her body, cigarette marks, burn marks from where the ropes had been tied on her hands. So I used to think, mom, let's cover all these things up. You know it's going to look odd when we're going out in public. And we got stares, we got looks. But my mom was like, we're not going to make her ashamed of those things. Her biggest thing was give her as normal of a childhood as possible. Because I was such an older sibling, I was like another mom to her. Princess used to love the fact that I would do her hair. I tried to do different things and little extensions and all that.

[Pamela Brooks]

I did a horrible job.

[Samara Harad]

But whatever I did to her, she used to say, oh sister, I love it. It's so pretty. She just was such a sweet heart. Princess was a homebody. She liked to read and cared about little simple things like flowers and running and looking outside of her window and seeing deer. She was a little Princess and she absolutely believed it. Princess was with us until my mom passed away and she was about 12 years old.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

At that time, Samara was a single mother and did not have the means required by social services to retain custody of Princess. Child services took Princess from the only stable home she'd ever known and sent her to a new foster family.

[Samara Harad]

She was uprooted and put in like South Central Los Angeles. So her world was literally shaken to the core.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Three years later, Princess ran away from the foster home and at the age of 15, she became the killer's youngest victim.

[Samara Harad]

It put the case in a different spin, because now he's not just killing adult young women, he's killing children.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

And unlike the.25 caliber murders from the 80s, both Princess Bartholomew and Valerie McCorvey were strangled to death.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

He's not using the firearm, so now we have him changing his mouth.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

You've been stewing about a health problem you have. You almost resort to texting your group chat to get your friends opinions. You're extremely unlikely to find quality medical advice in your group chat, but you can find it from a doctor on zocdoc. Thousands of medical professionals on zocdoc are there to help you. They listen like a friend and give you the expert care you need. ZocDoc is the only free, free app that lets you find and book doctors who are patient reviewed, take your insurance, are available when you need them, and treat almost every condition under the sun. When you're not feeling your best and just trying to hold it together, finding great care shouldn't take up all your energy. That's where ZocDoc comes in. Using their free app that millions of users rely on, you can find the right doctor that meets your needs and fits your schedule. Book an appointment with a few taps in their app and start feeling better faster. With Zocdoc. Go to Zocdoc.com/CCF and download the Zocdoc app for free. Then find and book a top rated doctor today. Many are available within 24 hours. That's Z O C-O C.com CCF Zocdoc.com CCF Today I want to talk to you about the Jordan Harbinger Show, a podcast that is definitely worth checking out if you like fascinating podcasts hosted by interesting people. The show covers such a wide range of topics through weekly interviews with heavy hitting guests, and there are a ton of episodes you'll find interesting since you're a fan of this show. For example, in episode 806, Jordan talks with Neil woods about how he spent 14 years as an undercover drugs operative in the UK's most vicious drug gang. It was four fascinating I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Oh, and I can't forget episode 811 where Jordan talks with Jan Broberg about her experiences as a child who was abducted by a friend of the family. You may think you know her story from the Netflix documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, but Jan's talk with Jordan is truly an unmissable episode of the show. There's an episode for everyone, no matter what you're into. The show covers stories like how a professional art forger somehow made millions of dollars while being chased by the and the Mafia. Crazy, right? Jordan's ability to pull useful pieces of advice from his guests makes this show a show you really can't miss. I promise you you'll find something useful that you can apply to your own life or even change the way you see the world. We really enjoy this show here at Cold Case Files, and we think you will as well. Search for the Jordan Harbinger Show. That's H A R B as in boy I n as in Nancy G E R on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Grainger Commercial Announcer]

Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building. You're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, Filters ready to clog. H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, filters ready to clog. H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

It's 2006, and Christine Pelecic begins working on the story about the lost women of South Central.

[Detective / Investigator]

I ended up finding out that Valerie and Princess were linked to a series of murders that happened in the 80s. I was absolutely shocked. I practically ran back to my office to write about it. My editor thought, well, maybe the case would get a lot of attention if we actually gave the guy a nickname. Because of the break in between the murders, we came up with Grim Sleeper.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

It's been four years since the Grim Sleep Sleeper resurfaced, and a woman named Pamela Brooks comes close to becoming another victim.

[Pamela Brooks]

I've seen this van several times. This one particular time, I guess, was my lucky night he said, you who? I said, hey, hey. I was trying to get some money. I thought it was going to be a cool little gig, you know what I'm saying? Always knew it was a killer out here. You know, if you can hear some. The man killing prostitutes. It never dawned on me that this is the weirdo, you know what I mean? First he wanted to go down to his house on 81st. I don't go to people's houses. So I said, no, let's just get a room here. So we end up going to the motel. He shows me the handcuffs, you know, he wants me to put on this thing, this little neck J. And then bark and act like a diaper. Who the does that, you know? Only time I've been handcuffed was getting in the police car. They did some tricky just being out there in the streets. It just. You never know who you might meet.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

For Pamela Danger went with the territory. On the streets of South Central LA.

[Pamela Brooks]

I grew up in the 80s, the 80s, like the late 70s, where it was kind of rough. But I come from a good family. My mother was a nurse and a caregiver. So she always gave me little jobs. I went to church. I've been filled with the holy Ghost. But as time went on, I just kept Parkinson across the street because I live right here. And all the drama was across the street. Everybody looked like they was having fun. One day I went to see, you know, what the noise was. I ended up hanging down there. It was called Sherm Alley. You go through the alley, you can get rocks, cocaine, Sherm. I just want to try it. I just want to see what it does. Once you take that hit, once you put one in, you in trouble. Your body's in control. It's no longer your mind is working. That's when the shenanigans begin. Because money don't come easy unless you start doing the funny for some strange change. And anyway, make a long story short, I took my crack show on the road. I became a full crackhead at 21 years old. I became full blown. Lights, camera, action. Walking up and down the street doing demoralizing things, getting money. I done jumped out of many cars at a high speed. Yeah,

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Pamela's used to being in high risk situations, but something about this one has her on edge.

[Pamela Brooks]

I said, okay, this not gonna work. He said, let me drop you off. I said, no, you ain't gotta drop me off from here, mother. I can make it. And I'm lucky that he didn't shoot me. Cause I didn't do nothing he wanted me to do. Damn. I made it out to Rapture. He didn't get me.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

A year goes by and it's January 1st, 2007.

[Detective / Investigator]

A homeless guy was climbing in the dumpster to, you know, find cans and found a big garbage bag. And he cut a little hole in the garbage bag and found the body of Janisha Peters.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

It's another three months in April when Detective Shepard gets word that DNA found on a zip tie from the garbage bag that 25 year old Janesha Peters was found in is yet another match to the serial killer.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

So we try to go back and reconstruct everything. What we find out is that she was at a motel on a century east of western.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Shepard heads to the motel looking for witnesses or security footage that can help identify the killer. But there's another problem.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

We find out that motel no longer exists. It's been torn down. I mean, the frustrations are mounting up.

[Detective / Investigator]

It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. But we're talking about a guy that's been active for almost 20 years and is still out there killing women. They had to do something about it. This guy was not going to stop.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

It's April 2007 and Christine Pelesek is determined to help the victims families.

[Samara Harad]

Christine Pelesek got involved and said, you know what? No, there's something going on here and I'm going to get to the bottom of it.

[Detective / Investigator]

I started making calls, you know, to try to find out more. I was talking to the family members and in a couple of cases, I ended up telling them that, you know, their daughter was killed by a serial killer.

[Pamela Brooks]

Christine was always calling, checking on us

[Detective / Investigator]

if we needed anything, if there was

[Pamela Brooks]

anything she could do to help the family. Telling me what was going on.

[Detective / Investigator]

I thought it was like really important that the community knows that there's a serial killer out there. I was in contact with police and I let them know that we were going to be publishing a story about Janesha Peters and the.25 caliber case, which we now call the grim sleeper.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

The media pressure prompts the police to focus more resources on the investigation.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

My supervisor told the captain said, you know, if the press gets hold of this and we don't have the guy where if this would have been in the white area, we would have flooded the area with cops and detectives and everything else. We have to have a task Force.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

On April 27, 2007, veteran homicide detective Dennis Kilcoyne is given the green light to create a task force.

[Detective / Investigator]

It was a Group of seven detectives, and they just dive into the murder books and see what they could come up with.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

The task force pores over the evidence. A detail from Barbara ware's murder in 1987 stands out.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

It was about 20 minutes after midnight. 911 police dispatchers receive a phone call from an unidentified male saying, hey, a guy just drove in the alley and dropped off a body.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

The guy that dropped it off was driving a white and blue Dodge van, 1 PZP7004 6.

[Detective / Investigator]

It was a really dark alley, and detectives kind of wondered how the person who made the call would be able to see that license plate number, because also part of the license plate was covered up. And so the task force actually came to the conclusion that it was the killer who made that call.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

The police hold a press conference and ask anyone who recognized the caller's voice to speak with them.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

He threw her out, threw a gas tank on top of her, and the only thing you can see out is her feet.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

The press conference is seen by Barbara's stepmother, Diana, who has spent the past 20 years believing that Barbara was killed over drugs.

[Barbara Ware's Stepmother]

I was home watching TV when Barbara's picture came on, and they mentioned something about a serial killer. I didn't know anything about it. We had heard nothing about a serial killer in the area.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Back in 1985, police had formed a task force aimed at solving the south central serial murders. Looking for any advantage, they had operated in secret.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

You try not to reveal too much information that would tip the murderer off. You don't want to him to change his M.O. you don't want to spook him.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

It's disappointing for the family members and survivors who never knew that a predator was at large.

[Barbara Ware's Stepmother]

So naturally, I called detective Kilcorn and detective Shepard, and I said, why wasn't the people in the community aware of this serial killer?

[Samara Harad]

The police, from what I understood, were using the terminology of NHI to basically describe the women involved, which was no human involved just because they were living less than desirable lives. I don't care what mistakes you make in life, it doesn't make your life any less valuable.

[Pamela Brooks]

They thought of us as just crackheads, but we still was humans. We still had a mother. We got a family. We just got caught up in some. And they treated us like Barbara was

[Barbara Ware's Stepmother]

the fourth victim that we knew of. Maybe others could have been saved if this information had been put out.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

While the community grapples with the news, the task force focuses on the 911 caller.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

The operator asked for his name, and the caller just Kind of laughs.

[Samara Harad]

What's your name?

[Detective Kilcoyne]

Oh, I don't stand the non. I know too many people. Okay, then. Bye bye.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

We believe that the killer was toying with the police.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

Yes, I like to put a murder or a dead body or something.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

The 911 call is the first solid lead in a long time. It's February 2009, 24 years after the Grim Sleeper's first murder, and the investigators take a new approach.

[Detective / Investigator]

The caller gave them information about a van. He gave a license plate number, and it turned out it was owned by the Cosmopolitan Church. Did the killer have an axe to grind with somebody at the church? If they could talk to somebody and if that person could recognize that voice, then they've caught their killer. They played the tape for some of the church members. A couple of people said, oh, wow, that sounds like so and so. The police would then, you know, follow that person. And if they dropped a cigarette butt, they were taking it to the lab and then ruling them out. Anyone who was even closely affiliated with that church, they investigated and ruled them out with DNA.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

We know we're running out of time. Police department is not going to found us forever. We're not any closer to catching this guy than we were from day one. I'm reading an article in the newspaper that our attorney general is now approving familial DNA testing for certain cases.

[Detective / Investigator]

They're basically looking for a relative, like a cousin, a brother and uncle who is related to the killer and who could be in the federal or state data banks.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

At the time, there were around 1 million DNA samples from felons in the data bank, but there are no matches.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

They said our database is growing day by day and give it about a year and we'll see. So we did. I mean, that's all we could do is sit and wait.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

The victims loved ones aren't willing to wait.

[Barbara Ware's Stepmother]

We had flyers made up ourselves and passed them out in the neighborhood so the word would get out that there was a serial killer. And we would have regular meetings with the family members at this church and we can see maybe our daughters knew each other.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

This episode of Cold Case Files is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Most of you listening right now are probably multitasking. Yep. While you're listening to me talk, you're probably also driving, cleaning, exercising, or maybe even grocery shopping. But if you're not in some kind of moving vehicle, there's something else you can be doing right now. Getting an auto quote from Progressive Insurance. It's easy. And you could save money by doing it right from your phone. Drivers who save by switching to Progressive save nearly $700 on average, and auto customers qualify for an average of 7 discounts. Discounts for having multiple vehicles on your policy, being a homeowner and more. So just like your favorite podcast, Progressive will be with you 24, 7, 36065 days a year, so you're protected no matter what. Multitask right now. Quote your car [e-mail] to join the over 29 million drivers who trust Progressive, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. National average 12 month savings of $698 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2021 and May 2022. Potential savings will vary. Discounts not available in all states and situations.

[GoFundMe Narrator / Podcast Hosts Lola and Megan]

I'm Lola and I'm Megan and we're the hosts of Trust Me Cults Extreme Belief and Manipulation. We both have childhood cult experiences and we're here to debunk the myths about people who join them and show that anyone can be manipulated. Our past interviews include survivors and former members of The Manson Family, NXIVM Ms. 13, Teal Swan, Heaven's Gate, Children of God, and the Branch Davidians. Join us every week as we help you spot the red flags. Get new episodes of Trust Me every Wednesday on Podcast one or wherever you get your podcast.

[Grainger Commercial Announcer]

Grainger Knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail. Filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail. Filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

It's July 30, 2010. 25 years have passed since the first known victim was discovered, and some new details emerge that could be finally break the case.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

My partner gave me a call. It was a Saturday. And he said, hey, you want to come to work? I said, what's going on? He said, we got a potential suspect.

[Detective / Investigator]

It actually hit on a 28 year old male, Christopher Franklin. Christopher's DNA was uploaded into CODIS in 2009 after he pled guilty to a weapons charge. The problem was he would have been a young boy at the time that the murder started. They looked into his father, a man named Lonnie Franklin Jr. And they saw that Lonnie Franklin Jr. Lived in South Los Angeles.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Detective Mike Opelt notices a link between the suspect's occupation and the dump sites.

[Detective Mike Opelt]

He had worked for the city of Los Angeles for a number of years, and one of his positions happened to be with the Department of Sanitation. And we knew several victims were found in or near trash dumpsters and things of that nature.

[Detective / Investigator]

He lived on 81st and Western, and that was the epicenter of where all the murders took place.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

It's July 5, 2010, and the investigators are closing in on their prime suspect.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

We have surveillance teams on Lonnie Franklin watching his house, watching for him, tailing him 24 hours a day to obtain a DNA sample. Finally, after about the third day, he went to a pizza place.

[Detective / Investigator]

The surveillance team decided that one of them would pretend that he was a bus boy.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

The cop collects the uneaten items and takes it back to the back where it's packaged up and transported directly to our laboratory. It was going to take two to three days to get the analysis done. On day three, we get the call. This is him. It's a match. The DNA from all the victims match him.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Police arrest Franklin, and while he's behind bars, they search his house.

[Detective Mike Opelt]

We took eight handguns, shotgun, a rifle out of the location. We knew we were looking for in particular a.25 caliber weapon. Well, we happened to find, I believe, three of them. We're extracting pegboard walls and some drywall. No stone goes unturned. Every nook and cranny is going to get examined. We found a myriad of female undergarments that were just squirreled away.

[Detective / Investigator]

They found hundreds of different stolen car parts in the back of his house.

[Detective Mike Opelt]

It essentially looked like he was running a chop shop out of his backyard with stolen vehicles and parts and things like that.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

The discovery of stolen car parts solves another mystery. Why investigators could never find that distinct orange Pinto Enietria Washington had described in 1988.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

He dealt with a lot of cars and he didn't register them.

[Detective / Investigator]

Friends of his had mentioned that he used to drive around in a orange colored Pinto, and then all of a sudden, it just disappeared.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

When we went into his garage, a team had found a collection of photographs that was hidden behind a wall. In that group of photographs was Anitra Washington.

[Detective Mike Opelt]

We continued digging and uncovering hundreds of photographs, and many of them depicted women in different stages of undress, different stages of consciousness, frankly. Some appeared as though they might have been dead. Were we looking at actual victims?

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Anitrea told police that her attacker made a stop at a house in South Central. That house looks a lot like Franklin's home, which is only three doors away. Police had staked out the neighborhood for a month, but they never questioned Franklin at the time.

[Enietria Washington]

I led you to his home. I'm lost. I am so lost.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

The arrest is announced at a press conference, and Pamela Brooks recognizes the man in the mugshot.

[Pamela Brooks]

I was watching the news and I was like, damn. I was with the grim Sleeper. I knew it was something strange about that mother.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Details about Franklin emerge, and the people in the community are shocked that the killer is one of their own.

[Enietria Washington]

A lot of people that I knew knew him.

[Pamela Brooks]

His wife. His wife was a church woman.

[Detective / Investigator]

Lonnie had been married for over 30 years. He was a grandfather, and he had a couple of grandchildren. He was the kind of guy that, you know, helped everybody out in the neighborhood.

[Pamela Brooks]

If you went and told that mother, you need a refrigerator, you got it. If you went and told lonnie, I need to get a tv, he made it happen. People love him.

[Mary Alexander]

He mastered that image real good. And he fooled the community.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

It's taken more than 20 years, but the investigators are finally face to face with the man they believe murdered at least 10 African American women.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

You tell me what the news calls you. I know damn well you know, the reaper, grand reaper, something. The grim sleeper.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Okay, I know it was something like that. Yeah, I saw it.

[Grainger Commercial Announcer]

I saw it on tv.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

I look at tv.

[Enietria Washington]

Oh, of course you do.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

I got TV in every room.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

Well, there you go. You go to church?

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

Matter of fact, I'm supposed to be a church tonight.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

And you remember a Cosmopolitan church? Remember that?

[Pamela Brooks]

No.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Franklin is questioned about the Cosmopolitan church to try and figure out why he had implicated their van in the crime.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

I still can't tell you today why he chose that church.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

That's not familiar to you with a Cosmopolitan church?

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

No, it's not.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

His wife and other family members had nothing to do with that church or those people that went to that church.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

Do you remember there? No.

[Juan Naula]

I wasn't.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

The questioning moves on to the victims.

[Detective Mike Opelt]

I remember photograph after photograph being put in front of him and just him, you know, seemingly. I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

That's Valerie McQuarrie.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

This young lady here, name is Barbara Ware. This young lady, her name is Henrietta Wright.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

Her name was Bernita Sparks. Mary Lowe.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

Lucretia Jefferson.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

Deborah Jackson.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

Do you recognize her, Princess?

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Detective Coulter lists each of the victims and asks Franklin if he recognizes them.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

Never seen her before.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

The detectives don't need Franklin's confession. They have evidence and something even better.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

You know, these girls, they can't talk, but we got one that can.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

It's February 2016, 27 years after Enietria Washington's attack, and she can finally face her assailant at the trial.

[Enietria Washington]

I had a revenge tactic in my head when I was in the courtroom. He's done all these things to these women and he gets to sit there all dressed up. He's still able to walk around and breathe. They are dead. So that should be the same Enietria

[Detective / Investigator]

Washington testified during the trial. And that was really, really moving and unbelievable. Just to see her, like, face this guy and go after him.

[Enietria Washington]

This is me, him. One on one. I'm accusing you, and you're accused. I know you actually shot me. I know it was you. I saw you. You saw me.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

The victims families find solace together as they endure the process of the trial.

[Barbara Ware's Stepmother]

Every time court was in session, we knew we would see each other there. And I really looked forward to talking with the other family members. It kind of drew us close together that we weren't alone. We all shared the same grief.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

On May 5, 2016, after a three month trial, a jury finds Lonnie Franklin guilty of 10 counts of murder and the attempted murder of Enietria Washington.

[Enietria Washington]

In the end, he was caught.

[Detective Cliff Shepherd]

That's the best part.

[Enietria Washington]

But never once did he utter why he did it.

[Mary Alexander]

There was this one moment in trial at the end, we were doing impact speeches and Mary Alexander asked the question and she wanted to know why. What did my daughter do to you?

[Detective / Investigator]

And she looked at Lonnie straight in the face and, you know, told him, like, look at me. Why did you do this?

[Mary Alexander]

That moment he turned around and he told her, she didn't do nothing. She didn't do nothing to me. So for me, that was a confession.

[Samara Harad]

I was like, wow. I knew it. It was never a question, but it's just nice to finally have him acknowledge it.

[Mary Alexander]

I was glad that Mary Alexander was Able to get that clarity. And that moment on her daughter didn't deserve that she asked that question because I know that was a little bit of closure for her to know it wasn't her daughter's fault. It was the evil man's fault.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

On August 10, 2016, Franklin is sentenced for his crimes. The judge tells him, I can't think of anyone that I've encountered in all my years in the criminal justice system that has committed the kind of monstrous and the number of monstrous crimes that you have. It is the judgment and sentence of this court that you shall suffer the death penalty.

[Barbara Ware's Stepmother]

In the end, this man got what he deserved.

[Detective Mike Opelt]

To hear those words read through the courtroom and the gallery is extremely emotional. That monster deprived those families of all their loved ones.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

It's been six years since Franklin was sent to death row. Through the pain and suffering and now closure, the families of the victims reconnect.

[Samara Harad]

Look at how much we've lived through. You have lost someone.

[Pamela Brooks]

Right?

[Samara Harad]

You almost lost your life. You've lost someone. I lost someone.

[Enietria Washington]

The families out there, we bonded. Everybody's family.

[Barbara Ware's Stepmother]

We would have regular meetings with the family members amongst the ourselves to discuss what should be done. We were on the detectives, you know,

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

are you gonna help us?

[Barbara Ware's Stepmother]

We'll do it on our own.

[Detective / Investigator]

Mm.

[Samara Harad]

Unfortunately, people of color have had so many issues being represented. This would not have happened and gone this long had it been others in others.

[Barbara Ware's Stepmother]

Exactly.

[Samara Harad]

It's almost like what not to do as a serial killer. If there was a book, Lonnie absolutely did. But the only thing he had going for him is no one was caring.

[Enietria Washington]

We're not of any concern because we weren't labeled human.

[Samara Harad]

Correct. Because of their lack of empathy, sympathy, and concern. I'm not gonna become like them. I'm gonna be the example that they should be. That everyone has accountability for their fellow man.

[Pamela Brooks]

And, you know, forgiveness is for you.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

It's not for him.

[Pamela Brooks]

You know what I mean?

[Enietria Washington]

Amen.

[Pamela Brooks]

Forgiveness is so true.

[Barbara Ware's Stepmother]

I won't forget, but I do forgive you because I know that you'll have a higher answering.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

In March 2020, Lonnie Franklin is found dead in his cell on death row.

[Samara Harad]

What did you think? What was your feelings on it? When it finally hit like that, was it like he's dead, he's gone?

[Pamela Brooks]

I was just glad he was dead. It's hurt not only our family members, but our people, our community. He preyed on, you know, the issues that were going on in the community.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Samara Harad will never forget her little sister, and she's grateful that Enietria Washington survived to bring justice for all of the victims.

[Samara Harad]

The one solace I have is that you're here. You know, you are a living testimony to just being that courage.

[Barbara Ware's Stepmother]

Oh yeah.

[Enietria Washington]

I get up and the first thing I say is thank you Father God. I am resilient. I'm resilient enough to know that just because you knocked me down don't mean I can't get back up. That's for sure. Stronger?

[Pamela Brooks]

Yes.

[Juan Naula]

Better.

[Enietria Washington]

Oh Lord, I thank you.

[Samara Harad]

Amen. Amen.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

Cold case files is hosted by paula barros. It's produced by the law and crime network and written by eileen mcfarlane and emily g. Thompson. Our composer is blake maples. For a and e, our senior producer is john thrasher and our supervising producer is mckamey lin. Our executive producers are jesse katz, maite cueva and peter tarshis. This podcast is based on ae's emmy winning tv series cold case files. For more cold case files, visit aetv.com copyright 2023 a&e television networks, llc. All rights reserved.

[Detective Mike Opelt]

Foreign.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

Hello and welcome to Pluto Foe. If you know the name of the movie you'd like to see, just stream it for free on Pluto tv, where all your blockbuster favorites are landing all summer long. Catch Anchorman. The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

[Detective Mike Opelt]

Fantastic.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

The Matrix Trilogy. Welcome to the real world. Me Girls. Shut up. Titanic. I'm the King of the World. And so much more. For showtimes, press nothing. They're free. 24.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

7 that is so fast on Pluto TV.

[Detective Kilcoyne]

Stream now. Pay Never.

[Grainger Commercial Announcer]

Granger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, Filters ready to cloth. Log H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support, call 1-800-Grainger click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to spend See through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail. Filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, Easy reordering and 24. 7 support call 1-800-grainger click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Narrator / Host Paula Barros]

When you're a maintenance engineer in a beverage manufacturing plant, you keep production lines moving and quality on track because there is no room for slowdowns. With Grainger's vast selection of high quality motors, sensors, belts and hard to find parts, you can get what you need fast and all in one place, so nothing gets in the way of getting the job done. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickranger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.