Three Sketches of Grim Sleeper Released

Los Angeles (myFOXla.com) - Los Angeles police released three sketches of the "Grim Sleeper" -- a serial killer believed to have slain 11 people, mostly prostitutes, in South Los Angeles over the past quarter-century.

Until recently, police had only a single description of the suspect, based on the recollection of a woman who escaped his clutches in 1988, about the time the killer went dormant. Killings that fit his profile, however, resumed in 2001, leading detectives to dub him the "Grim Sleeper."

On Thursday, three sketches showing what the killer might look like now were released. The killer is believed to be 45-60 years old.

"We believe this case is very solvable," Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell said at a news conference.

The Los Angeles City Council is offering a reward of up to $500,000 for information that leads to his conviction.

Eight of the murders were committed from 1985 to 1988 and three occurred between 2001 and 2007.

All but one victim was a woman. Most were prostitutes or drug addicts, or both. Some were raped before being shot to death with a small-caliber handgun.

Bodies were found in alleys and trash bins around South Los Angeles, Inglewood and in unincorporated areas.

A woman who survived an attack in 1988 described the suspect as a black man in his 20s, driving an orange Ford Pinto. She said he picked her up, shot her in the chest, raped her, then pushed her out of his car.

Anyone with more information about the killer was urged to call police at (877) LAPD-24-7.