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Grand Jury Indicts 'Grim Sleeper' Suspect

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The man authorities believe is responsible for the so-called "Grim Sleeper" serial killings of nearly a dozen girls and women over a 22-year span has been indicted by a grand jury on murder charges.

Prosecutors charged Lonnie David Franklin Jr. with 10 counts of murder last July but his case has not reached the preliminary hearing stage.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said Thursday he approached a grand jury because families of the victims deserve to have the case resolved as quickly as possible.

He says the jury's indictment, unsealed Thursday, will expedite the criminal proceedings against Franklin.

Prosecutors believe Franklin, 58, shot or strangled 10 women and girls between 1985 and 2007, dumping their bodies in alleys.

Victims ranged in age from 14 to 36.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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