'Grim Sleeper' Suspect's Attorney Criticizes LAPD
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The attorney for a mechanic accused of the "Grim Sleeper" serial killings criticized Los Angeles police for releasing photographs of women seized at the suspect's home.
In a statement, Louisa Pensanti said, "The release of the photographs seized by the Los Angeles Police Department included members and friends of the Franklin family, all now subject to the intense scrutiny of the public as well as the police. The public officials comments concluding guilt are a deliberate tainting of public opinion and the jury pool."
LAPD spokeswoman Norma Eisenman said investigators could not immediately be reached for comment.
Last week, police released the photos of about 160 women in the hopes of finding out who they are and if anything happened to them.
Police said they've received hundreds of calls. Several callers told investigators they were among the women in the photographs, but police must interview them individually to be sure.
Franklin is accused of killing 10 women beginning in 1985, and he has pleaded not guilty. The photos and videos were found in Franklin's home and garage during a search after his July arrest.
Investigators spent years trying to crack the case. Franklin's arrest finally came after his son was swabbed for DNA after being arrested on an unrelated matter, and the sample connected the father to evidence from the killings.
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