The evidence was enough to convince the jury to convict Franklin, a former sanitation worker, for 10 murders.
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Parents of other victims are now in their 60s and 70s and said they were thankful to be able to get justice for their daughters. “I’m just glad it’s over and that he’ll never get out to hurt anyone else”, she told the Los Angeles Times. Franklin Jr. stalked South Los Angeles streets and ravaged prostitutes and drug addicts, during a time when the city was at the height of a crack-cocaine epidemic, according to the report, citing officials.
Franklin was convicted of 10 counts of first-degree murder in the killing of nine women and a 15-year-old-girl who were all fatally shot or strangled and dumped in alleys.
The jury of seven women and five men deliberated for almost eight hours before making the decision on Monday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said.
1984 slaying of Sharon Dismuke, the August 1988 killing of Inez Warren, the December 2000 slaying of Georgia Thomas and the presumed killing of Rolenia Morris, a 31-year-old mother of two who “vanished under very mysterious circumstances” in September 2005, Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman said.
Since his indictment in March 2011, the 63-year-old has been linked to six further killings, according to police. Family members of the victims wept as the punishment was read out.
Most of the killings fit a similar pattern. Lab results connected him to evidence found on several discarded bodies.
The “Grim Sleeper” nickname came about because of an apparent 14-year gap in the murders between 1988 and 2002.
Franklin was convicted last month.
Ms Washington testified against him at the trial. She noticed her attacker taking a Polaroid picture of her as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Investigators found a photo of Washington, bleeding and partially naked behind a wall in Franklin’s garage. This trial has been focused on 11 victims, but police suspect there were more.
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The jury convicted him of attempted murder after he shot Washington in the chest, raped her and then pushed her out of a auto, leaving her for dead in 1988.
