Woman Wasn’t Victim of Serial Killer, Police Say
A Los Angeles police task force has decided that a serial killer was probably not responsible for the death of Patricia L. Martin, whose body was found Thursday in Jesse Owens Park.
That determination followed a coroner’s report Saturday, finding that Martin died of a blow to the head and suffocation. Lt. John Zorn of the task force said the autopsy results did not reflect the usual methods of a man police believe has killed 15 prostitutes during the last two years. Most of the victims have been both stabbed and strangled.
A task force of officers from the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was formed last week to investigate the murders.
Zorn also said police have found no information to connect Martin, who had been employed as a hairdresser, with prostitution. Her death will now be investigated by regular city police, Zorn said, and the case will be monitored by the task force.
“We’re flexible, but at this point we have not established a connection,” Zorn said.
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