‘I-5 Strangler’ Blamed for 7 Deaths in North

Authorities are warning women to take care when driving alone on Northern California freeways to avoid the so-called “I-5 Strangler,” who may be responsible for as many as seven slayings.

“I am personally satisfied that we have one individual responsible for those seven cases,” said Sacramento County Sheriff Glen Craig.

The killer was nicknamed for the interstate freeway that runs through Sacramento on its route from the Mexican border all the way to Canada. Three women were killed in the Sacramento area between April and November, 1986.

Craig said in news reports published Friday that he believes four other women whose bodies were found near U.S. 395, Jackson Highway and California 50 between May and September of 1987 were victims of the same killer.

‘We think he is a frequent lone traveler on major highways in the Central Valley, the Highway 50 corridor and the Tahoe Basin,” Craig said.

Familiar With Area

“He’s probably a resident of one of those areas, more likely the general (Central) Valley and he’s familiar, very familiar, with the rural areas and the back roads.

“He has owned or had access to several different makes of vehicles during the recent years and he’s probably familiar with and frequents prostitution strolls in the Central Valley cities.”

Charles Jones, special agent in charge of the state Justice Department’s Bureau of Investigation, said detectives have found evidence that “there is a common thread” among the seven slayings.

However, not all the other investigators in a task force involving the state department and five counties are convinced the killings are related.

“We’re all throwing our hands up in the air and saying, ‘Gee, maybe they’re connected,’ ” said Amador County Sheriff’s Detective Don Ehmsen. “But there’s no single thing that ties all these together.”