DNA Links Transient To Cold Case Deaths Of LA Women

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — An accused killer linked to at least three Southland deaths in the 1980s may be responsible for deaths in a half-dozen other states, investigators said Monday.

KNX 1070's Kim Marriner reports 72-year-old Samuel Little was arrested 26 times in 11 states over a nearly 20-year period - several times on murder charges that didn't stick.

California authorities and agencies in Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Mississippi are reviewing cold case files after DNA evidence connected Little with the deaths of three women in Los Angeles.

Despite having a 100-page rap sheet with criminal charges in 24 states over 56 years, Little has served less than 10 years in prison on assault, burglary, armed robbery, shoplifting and drug violations.

Little - a former boxer - would allegedly deliver a knock-out punch to his victims and then strangle them, according to LAPD Detective Mitzi Roberts.

"Once we knew what we were dealing with, which was a violent offender, a serial killer, then it became very important for us to get this guy in custody," Roberts said.

One of his alleged victims, Carol Alford was found murdered in a South L.A. alley on July 13, 1987.

"I still miss my mom like yesterday," said daughter Brenda Gordon. "I remember everything that happened."

Alford along with two more victims - Audrey Nelson, 35, found on Aug. 14, 1989; and Guadalupe Apodaca, 46, found on Sept. 3, 1989 - were all found manually strangled, according to investigators.

Little is due in court later this month for a hearing linked to the three charges, but no trial date has been set. If convicted, Little would face a minimum sentence of life in prison without parole.