'Grim Sleeper' Attorney Says LAPD Tainting Jury Pool With Photos
Dec. 19, 2010— -- The attorney representing Lonnie David Franklin Jr, the suspected "Grim Sleeper" serial killer, has criticized police for releasing photographs of women found at Franklin's home.
Louisa Pensanti said the photos are of Franklin's friends and family, and that their release is "jeopardizing Lonnie Franklin's chance for a fair trial."
"The photographs include members and friends of the Franklin family, all now subject to the intense scrutiny of the public as well as the police," Pensanti told ABC News.
She added that the photos were not part of the evidence discovery that she was provided with by the District Attorney's Office, and she also told The Associated Press that Franklin's relatives are upset the photos were released.
The Los Angeles Police Department said that they have tentatively indentified 15 of the dozens of women in the photos.
Deputy Chief of Police and Chief of Detectives David R. Doan said "five people have identified five specific names" from the 180 images released.
Franklin is accused of murdering nine young women between 1985 and 2007 in South Los Angeles. He has been dubbed the "Grim Sleeper" because of the 14-year gap in his alleged crime spree.
Police say they are hoping people will recognize the faces and contact investigators through their tip hotline. The photos show women ranging from teenagers to others who look as if they are in their 60s. Some are smiling, others appear to be unconscious .
Doan said that "three or four of the five at this point" have come forward and said "it was me in the picture."
"We have not confirmed that and we're going to personally interview everyone," Doan said.
Doan said investigators are tracking down the people who made the calls, saying that they were turning most of their attention to people calling in to report that someone in one of the photos is a missing person.
"[It's a] hotter lead ... if the person has not been seen for a couple of years," Doan said. "They say 'it's me' is not as hot as someone reported missing."
