August 30, 1952 - Grim Sleeper
Active over more than two decades in South Los Angeles, Franklin targeted Black women and girls at a time when their disappearances drew little sustained public attention — a fact that shaped both the duration of his crimes and the slow pace of the investigation. The "Sleeper" portion of his nickname refers to an apparent gap in killings during the 1990s, though investigators later concluded he may have continued throughout. His case became a focal point for broader discussions about how law enforcement prioritized — or failed to prioritize — cases involving victims from marginalized communities.
From Wikipedia
Lonnie David Franklin Jr. (August 30, 1952 – March 28, 2020), better known by the nickname Grim Sleeper, was an American serial killer who was responsible for at least ten murders and one attempted murder in Los Angeles, California from 1984 to 2007. He was also convicted for rape and sexual violence. Franklin earned his nickname when he appeared to have taken a 14-year break from his crimes, from 1988 to 2002.
In July 2010, Franklin was arrested as a suspect, and, after many delays, his trial began in February 2016. On May 5, 2016, the jury convicted him of killing nine women and one teenage girl. On June 6, 2016, the jury returned a verdict of guilty, and on August 10, 2016, the Los Angeles Superior Court sentenced him to death for each of the ten victims named in the verdict.
On March 28, 2020, Franklin was found dead in his cell at San Quentin State Prison. No cause of death was ever publicly revealed.
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