The Skid Row Stabber

Serial Killer

The Skid Row Stabber: The Unsolved Murders of Eleven Men in Los Angeles

A Killer Preying on Skid Row

The Skid Row Stabber was the name given to an unidentified serial killer who murdered eleven men in and around the Skid Row district of downtown Los Angeles, California, between October 1978 and January 1979. Most of the victims were homeless, economically disadvantaged, or living on the streets. They were attacked in locations where vulnerable people commonly slept or gathered, including sidewalks, alleys, parking lots, and public benches. The murders occurred during a concentrated period of violence that frightened residents of Skid Row and placed enormous pressure on the Los Angeles Police Department. The killer generally used a knife and appeared to choose victims who were isolated, sleeping, intoxicated, or otherwise unable to defend themselves. Several bodies were discovered within a relatively small section of downtown Los Angeles, creating the impression that the murderer knew the neighborhood and moved through it comfortably. The case has sometimes been confused with the earlier crimes of Vaughn Orrin Greenwood, who was known as the Skid Row Slasher. Greenwood had murdered vulnerable men in Los Angeles during an earlier period and was already imprisoned when the Skid Row Stabber murders began. Although the two nicknames sound similar and both offenders targeted disadvantaged men, the crimes were separate series committed by different killers.

The Beginning of the Murder Series

The first recognized murder occurred on October 23, 1978, when 50-year-old Jessie Martinez was found stabbed to death in a parking lot in the Skid Row area. Five days later, 32-year-old Jose Cortez was killed. The rapid appearance of another victim suggested that Martinez's death had not been an isolated act of violence. On October 30, 46-year-old Bruce Emmett Drake became the third known victim. Within little more than a week, three men had been killed in the same general part of Los Angeles. The victims had been attacked with a knife and left in public or semi-public locations where their bodies would eventually be discovered by residents, workers, or police officers. The attacks continued into November. On November 4, 65-year-old J.P. Henderson was stabbed to death. Henderson was reportedly found on a sidewalk during the early morning hours. His age and vulnerable circumstances reinforced the growing belief that the murderer was deliberately selecting people who would be unlikely to resist or attract immediate attention. ...

Confirmed Victims: (11)

Jesse Martinez Age: (50), Date of Death: 1978-10-23

Skid Row Stabber - Wikipedia