The Suitland Murders

Serial Killer

The Suitland Murders: A Detailed Account

Overview

The Suitland murders refer to a series of brutal killings that occurred between October 1986 and January 1987 in Suitland, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. The victims, all African-American women, were sexually assaulted and subsequently stabbed. The murders instilled fear in the community and presented significant challenges for law enforcement.

Victims

• Dorothy Ann Miller
  • Age: 20
  • Disappeared: Not specified
  • Body Found: December 13, 1986
  • Location: Wooded area in Suitland, Maryland
  • Details: Miller was viciously raped before her death. The autopsy determined that the cause of death was a drug overdose.
• Pamela Malcolm
  • Age: 25
  • Disappeared: October 21, 1986
  • Body Found: January 12, 1987
  • Location: Near Bradbury Recreational Center, Suitland, Maryland
  • Details: Malcolm was raped and stabbed to death. She lived less than a mile from where her body was discovered.
• Cynthia Lee Westbury
  • Age: 22
  • Disappeared: November 10, 1986
  • Body Found: January 13, 1987
  • Location: Wooded area near Bradbury Recreational Center, Suitland, Maryland
  • Details: Westbury was raped and had multiple stab wounds.
• Juanita Marie Walls
  • Age: 26
  • Disappeared: October 30, 1986
  • Body Found: January 13, 1987
  • Location: Wooded area near Bradbury Recreational Center, Suitland, Maryland
  • Details: Walls was raped and had multiple stab wounds.
• Angela Maria Wilkerson
  • Age: 22
  • Disappeared: January 5, 1987
  • Body Found: January 14, 1987
  • Location: Not far from previous victims' discovery site, Suitland, Maryland
  • Details: Wilkerson was raped and had multiple stab wounds.

Investigation

In mid-January 1987, the Prince George's County Police Department established a special task force of 25 officers to investigate the crimes. They conducted raids in various establishments in the red-light districts of Washington, D.C., and interviewed numerous individuals, including relatives, friends, neighbors, shopkeepers, bar owners, and other residents who might provide useful information. During these interviews, officers learned that at least two of the women frequented a local bar, Clancy's, in southeast D.C., but this lead was later disproven by the bar's owner and employees. On January 30, 1987, police identified a potential suspect: 30-year-old unemployed D.C. resident, Alton Alonso Best. He had recently been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Janice Elaine Morton, a nurse's aide in D.C. Morton was killed inside a van belonging to Best's nephew, a D.C. police officer who had been placed on leave. While no evidence linked Best to the Suitland murders, he remained a prime suspect. It was later determined that Best knew at least three of the victims. Despite the circumstantial evidence, Best denied any involvement in the Suitland murders. Ultimately, Best was charged with the murder of Morton. He accepted a plea deal, confessing to the crime in exchange for reduced charges and dismissal of an unrelated drug charge. On June 10, 1987, Best pleaded guilty to the murder and sodomy of Morton. He admitted that during his spare time, he would date, offer drugs, and ask for sexual favors from marginalized young girls and women. Under the terms of the plea deal, Best was sentenced to 18 years and 4 months imprisonment in August 1987. Although no clear evidence linked him to the Suitland murders, the killings ceased after his arrest, leading police and media to speculate about his involvement. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (5)

Dorothy Ann Miller Age: (20), Date of Death: 1986-12-13

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Suitland murders - Wikipedia

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