from amw.com http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=74248&refresh=1
Serial Killer Terrorizes Flint During Dog Days Of Summer
In late July 2010, cops in Flint, Mich., came to the shocking realization that they had a serial killer on their hands.
After a number of similarly startling stabbings in the greater Flint area, authorities concluded that the violent outbursts occurring throughout the summer couldn't just be mere coincidences.
"Citizens of this community have been the victims of a series of unprovoked attacks. These assaults may be related," Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said at an Aug. 9 press conference.
The spree of violence began on May 24 in Flint, when a 31-year-old man was stabbed repeatedly; his attacker quickly fled the area.
Tragically, the victim's injuries proved to be fatal.
Since that date, more than a dozen ambush-style attacks have taken place throughout the greater Flint area, as well as in nearby Flint and Genesee Townships. The most recent attack there took place on Aug. 2 -- just four blocks from the Flint Police Department headquarters. The victim in that attack, along with three additional men, died as a result of the injuries.
"These stabbings have been taking place during the early morning hours," Leyton said. "The victims have been on foot, and approached by the suspect in his vehicle. Oftentimes, the suspect is asking for directions or assistance."
All but one of the 16 Flint-area stabbing victims were black males -- a disturbing fact not lost on the investigators searching for the madman.
The race and gender of the victims seems to be the only real link tying them together. Age apparently plays no factor to the suspect, as the victims "range in age from 17 to 60 years of age. They have been short, they have been tall. Some have been slim, some have been stocky," Leyton said.
After the fatal Aug. 2 attack, however, the suspect may have moved on from Flint. The spate of stabbings there has come to a halt, but cops don't believe the killer is done carrying out his mission just yet.
While each [victim] was injured -- and understandably shaken up -- they were all able to provide cops with a similar description of their attacker.
Terror Spree Crosses State Lines
Less than 48 hours later, authorities think the killer struck again, this time, in Leesburg, Va. -- a small town just outside the nation's capital, nearly 600 miles from Flint.
On Aug. 3, 5 and 6, cops say three different Leesburg men were attacked, and all survived. Though two of the victims were stabbed, one was hit in the head with a hammer while offering assistance to the crazed attacker.
Two of those victims were black males, and cops tell AMW the other one was a Hispanic teen.
While each was injured -- and understandably shaken up -- they were all able to provide cops with a similar description of their attacker: a tall white male, in his late 20s to early 30s, with a goatee, and wearing a baseball hat.
They even described his vehicle as a dark green Chevy S-10 Blazer or GMC Jimmy with tan trim, with a model year ranging from 1995-2004 -- the exact same type of vehicle described to Michigan authorities from their surviving victims.
"We have been in contact with the authorities in Leesburg, and there are some similarities, specifically an identification that has been able to be obtained from the victims out there -- as well as the vehicle description," Leyton said.
From Michigan To Virginia, And Now Ohio?
As quickly as the Virginia attacks started, however, they would soon come to an end. Unfortunately, authorities believe the killer might have moved on to Toledo, Ohio, where a similar random attack took place on the night of Saturday, Aug. 7.
There, a 59-year-old man was stabbed outside of a church after helping a man who needed directions. His attacker twice plunged a knife into his stomach before fleeing in a green SUV.
While authorities haven't declared that all three states' attacks are definitively tied together, they're not ruling that possibility out.
Supposing that all of these crimes are committed by the same unhinged individual, Captain Chris Swanson with the Genesee County (Michigan) Sheriff's Office notes that the suspect can handle a blade quite well.
"He has either done state time, or he's a hunter," Capt. Swanson said.
Also, his method of attack changes with each incidence, depending on how the victim fights back. The suspect either stabs in a flurry, or he slices the victim open. The attacker seems to be “opportunistic”, says Michigan State Police 1st Lt. John Card.
"Sometimes he stabs, sometimes he cuts," he says.
If you know anything about the knife-wielding killer terrorizing Michigan, Virginia and possibly Ohio, you've got to call our Hotline right away at 1-800-CRIME-TV.
Wanted For:
Murder (5 cts.) , Flint , MI ; Aug 02, 2010
Assault w/Intent To Kill (11 cts.) , Flint , MI ; Aug 02, 2010
(Information valid as of August 11, 2010)
Serial Killer Terrorizes Flint During Dog Days Of Summer
In late July 2010, cops in Flint, Mich., came to the shocking realization that they had a serial killer on their hands.
After a number of similarly startling stabbings in the greater Flint area, authorities concluded that the violent outbursts occurring throughout the summer couldn't just be mere coincidences.
"Citizens of this community have been the victims of a series of unprovoked attacks. These assaults may be related," Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said at an Aug. 9 press conference.
The spree of violence began on May 24 in Flint, when a 31-year-old man was stabbed repeatedly; his attacker quickly fled the area.
Tragically, the victim's injuries proved to be fatal.
Since that date, more than a dozen ambush-style attacks have taken place throughout the greater Flint area, as well as in nearby Flint and Genesee Townships. The most recent attack there took place on Aug. 2 -- just four blocks from the Flint Police Department headquarters. The victim in that attack, along with three additional men, died as a result of the injuries.
"These stabbings have been taking place during the early morning hours," Leyton said. "The victims have been on foot, and approached by the suspect in his vehicle. Oftentimes, the suspect is asking for directions or assistance."
All but one of the 16 Flint-area stabbing victims were black males -- a disturbing fact not lost on the investigators searching for the madman.
The race and gender of the victims seems to be the only real link tying them together. Age apparently plays no factor to the suspect, as the victims "range in age from 17 to 60 years of age. They have been short, they have been tall. Some have been slim, some have been stocky," Leyton said.
After the fatal Aug. 2 attack, however, the suspect may have moved on from Flint. The spate of stabbings there has come to a halt, but cops don't believe the killer is done carrying out his mission just yet.
While each [victim] was injured -- and understandably shaken up -- they were all able to provide cops with a similar description of their attacker.
Terror Spree Crosses State Lines
Less than 48 hours later, authorities think the killer struck again, this time, in Leesburg, Va. -- a small town just outside the nation's capital, nearly 600 miles from Flint.
On Aug. 3, 5 and 6, cops say three different Leesburg men were attacked, and all survived. Though two of the victims were stabbed, one was hit in the head with a hammer while offering assistance to the crazed attacker.
Two of those victims were black males, and cops tell AMW the other one was a Hispanic teen.
While each was injured -- and understandably shaken up -- they were all able to provide cops with a similar description of their attacker: a tall white male, in his late 20s to early 30s, with a goatee, and wearing a baseball hat.
They even described his vehicle as a dark green Chevy S-10 Blazer or GMC Jimmy with tan trim, with a model year ranging from 1995-2004 -- the exact same type of vehicle described to Michigan authorities from their surviving victims.
"We have been in contact with the authorities in Leesburg, and there are some similarities, specifically an identification that has been able to be obtained from the victims out there -- as well as the vehicle description," Leyton said.
From Michigan To Virginia, And Now Ohio?
As quickly as the Virginia attacks started, however, they would soon come to an end. Unfortunately, authorities believe the killer might have moved on to Toledo, Ohio, where a similar random attack took place on the night of Saturday, Aug. 7.
There, a 59-year-old man was stabbed outside of a church after helping a man who needed directions. His attacker twice plunged a knife into his stomach before fleeing in a green SUV.
While authorities haven't declared that all three states' attacks are definitively tied together, they're not ruling that possibility out.
Supposing that all of these crimes are committed by the same unhinged individual, Captain Chris Swanson with the Genesee County (Michigan) Sheriff's Office notes that the suspect can handle a blade quite well.
"He has either done state time, or he's a hunter," Capt. Swanson said.
Also, his method of attack changes with each incidence, depending on how the victim fights back. The suspect either stabs in a flurry, or he slices the victim open. The attacker seems to be “opportunistic”, says Michigan State Police 1st Lt. John Card.
"Sometimes he stabs, sometimes he cuts," he says.
If you know anything about the knife-wielding killer terrorizing Michigan, Virginia and possibly Ohio, you've got to call our Hotline right away at 1-800-CRIME-TV.
Wanted For:
Murder (5 cts.) , Flint , MI ; Aug 02, 2010
Assault w/Intent To Kill (11 cts.) , Flint , MI ; Aug 02, 2010
(Information valid as of August 11, 2010)
