73-year-old Warren Luther Alexander has been identified as the suspected killer in three cold cases from 1977 in Southern California. He has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of three women who were sex workers and were found across Ventura County 47 years ago. The women, Kimberly Carol Fritz, Lorraine Ann Rodriguez, and Velvet Ann Sanchez, were all allegedly picked up by Alexander for commercial sex. He was identified through DNA evidence collected from each crime scene and victim. Investigators believe there may be more victims locally and in other states and are looking into a fourth potential victim, Cassandra Lee Miller, who was found dead in 1975. Alexander, who grew up in Oxnard and worked as a long-haul truck driver, has been extradited to California from North Carolina, where he was facing murder charges in a separate cold case. Despite the possibility of facing the death penalty, the district attorney is seeking life in prison without the possibility of parole for Alexander due to the aging witnesses in the case. The case is being investigated by multiple agencies, including the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Oxnard and Port Hueneme police departments, and the FBI to determine if there are any patterns in other crimes. Alexander’s arraignment has been scheduled for August 21 in Ventura County Superior Court.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com
