Thirty years ago a serial killer emerged known as the Grim Sleeper, given this name because of the long break he took in between the murders he committed. A face was given to the man committing these vicious crimes in late 2000, even though these crimes date back over 30 years ago.

Sixty-three-year-old Lonnie David Franklin Jr., a former garbage man, was convicted for the murders of nine women. Pleading not guilty, he and his lawyer insisted that he was incapable of  doing the crime because he is “…friendly, reliable, and helpful,” said Seymour Amster, Franklin’s lawyer, on CNN news.

Because of the large time span, the LAPD had a hard time getting the right evidence.  At the crime scene there was DNA found, but with lack of technology in the 80s that created a huge delay with the police being able to put the blood with the person who committed the crime. They weren’t able to find the right killer because of that. In that long time period the police wrongfully arrested two men who they suspected were the ones behind the murders, but both were later released.

Currently, Franklin is on trial and may be facing nine counts of murder, and one count of attempted murder.