Morris Solomon

Serial Killer

Morris Solomon Jr.: The Sacramento Slayer

Early Life and Background

Morris Solomon Jr. was born on March 15, 1944, in Albany, Georgia. Raised primarily by his grandmother, Bertha, Solomon's childhood was marred by severe abuse. Bertha subjected him to daily beatings for minor infractions, often using electrical cords or switches, sometimes targeting sensitive areas of his body. This relentless abuse continued into his teenage years. At the age of 13, Solomon reunited with his parents in Isleton, California, but the environment remained tumultuous, characterized by domestic violence and further abuse. After completing high school, Solomon attended community college and held various jobs, including carpenter, car repairman, and bus driver. In 1966, he served a tour in Vietnam, returning in 1967. Upon his return, he became engaged, but the relationship ended before marriage. He later married another woman, with whom he had a daughter; however, this marriage also ended in divorce. Settling in Sacramento, Solomon worked as a handyman, a role that provided him with access to numerous properties across the city.

Crimes and Modus Operandi

Between June 1986 and April 1987, Sacramento experienced a series of disappearances and murders, primarily targeting young women involved in prostitution and struggling with drug addiction. The victims were often found bound, nude, and wrapped in bedding materials, buried in shallow graves at properties where Solomon had lived or worked. Due to the advanced decomposition of the bodies, determining the exact causes of death was challenging, though asphyxia was suspected in several cases.

Victims

• Yolanda Johnson (22) – Found June 18, 1986, inside a closet of a residence where Solomon had previously lived. She was partially nude with ligature marks on her neck.
• Angela Polidore (25) – Discovered July 20, 1986, buried under debris at a Sacramento home where Solomon worked as a handyman. She was bound, partially nude, and appeared to have been strangled.
• Maria Apodaca (18) – Unearthed March 19, 1987, in the yard of a home in Sacramento's Oak Park neighborhood. She was wrapped in bedding and buried in a shallow grave.
• Cherie Washington (26) – Found April 20, 1987, in a shallow grave in the Oak Park area. Due to decomposition, the exact time and manner of death were difficult to determine.
• Linda Vitela (24) – Discovered April 22, 1987, buried at a residence associated with Solomon. She had been deceased for about a year before her body was found.
• Sheila Jacox (17) – Also found April 22, 1987, at the same property as Vitela. She had been dead for approximately a year.
• Sharon Massey (29) – Uncovered April 29, 1987, in the same yard where Apodaca was found. Massey had been deceased for around six months.

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Confirmed Victims: (7)

Yolanda Johnson Age: (22), Date of Death: 1986-06-18

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Morris Solomon Jr. - Wikipedia

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