Grim Sleeper Trial Opens in L.A.

In a courtroom full of witnesses, jury members, and family members of murdered victims, a L.A. County Deputy District Attorney, Beth Silverman, opens the trial with a statement concerning “a serial killer stalking a cocaine-filled neighborhood.” On February 16, the trial of Lonnie Franklin Jr. begins three decades after the discovery of his first alleged victim. Franklin was accused of killing 10 women between 1985 and 2007. The women were between the ages of 15 and 35, and were found strangled or shot to death. The "Grim Sleeper" nickname came about because of an apparent 14-year gap in the murders between 1988 and 2002. During the time of the murders, many of the victims were women looking for cocaine to sell their bodies for sex. The women believed Franklin would supply them with cheap drugs after they gave him sexual pleasure. Unfortunately, that was not Franklin’s goal. Every woman, except one, was found with drugs in their system and signs of sexual contact after meeting with the accused murderer. The only woman who was not found with drugs in her system was a fifteen year-old runaway who was found dead after taking advantage of by Franklin Jr. Franklin was arrested in July of 2010 after a substance of his DNA was only found at some of the crime scenes. Franklin pleaded not guilty on 10 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. The defense did not give an opening statement before the trial opened, but Franklin Jr.’s attorney, Seymour Amster, opened with a statement concerning the fact that the defensive side have might tampered with evidence. "The defense has thoroughly ... prepared for this case," Amster said. "And we believe that before it is done, there will be a different story told than what the prosecution is stating." In her report, L.A. coroner, Dr. Lisa Schenin, wrote that one of the victims she examined was shot by the accused, and believed the shot wasn’t fatal so Franklin strangled the victim to death. Schenin testified that the victim’s death was asphyxiation as evidenced by "petechial hemorrhaging". Amster fought Schenin’s testimony stating that no evidence of strangulation was found on the victim’s wound. No signs of finger prints or nails were found around the victim’s throat. After speaking with ABC news, Amster said "Lack of defensive wounds mean lack of struggling.” "I think it was a good day for the prosecution,” Silverman said after court wrapped for the day. The trial is expected to last four months.