John Floyd Thomas

Serial Killer

John Floyd Thomas Jr.: The Westside Rapist

Early Life

John Floyd Thomas Jr. was born on July 26, 1936, in Los Angeles, California. After his mother's death when he was 12 years old, he was alternately raised by his aunt and a godmother. He attended public schools, including Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. Thomas briefly served in the U.S. Air Force in 1956 but received a dishonorable discharge due to disciplinary issues. Following his discharge, he was convicted of burglary and attempted rape in Los Angeles in 1957 and sentenced to six years in prison. Due to parole violations, he remained incarcerated until 1966.

Criminal Activities

Thomas's criminal activities spanned several decades, primarily targeting elderly women living alone in the Los Angeles area. His modus operandi involved entering victims' homes, sexually assaulting them, and then strangling or suffocating them. Often, he would cover their faces with pillows or blankets after the attacks. His crimes were categorized into two main waves:

First Wave: The Westside Rapist (1972–1978)

During the mid-1970s, a series of assaults and murders plagued the western districts of Los Angeles. The perpetrator, dubbed the "Westside Rapist," attacked elderly women, leading to at least 17 deaths. The killings ceased in 1978, coinciding with Thomas's incarceration for the rape of a Pasadena woman. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (7)

Ethel Sokoloff Age: (68), Date of Death: 1972-11-25

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Suspected Victims:

Ethyl Grimes Age: (81), Date of Death: 1974-05-13

Maye Scialesi Age: (72), Date of Death: 1974-11-07

Lucy Grant Age: (92), Date of Death: 1974-11-08

Ramona Gartner Age: (74), Date of Death: 1974-12-04

Sylvia Vogel Age: (71), Date of Death: 1975-03-22

Una Cartwright Age: (78), Date of Death: 1975-04-08

Olga Harper Age: (75), Date of Death: 1975-04-20

Effie Martin Age: (86), Date of Death: 1975-05-22

Leah Leshefsky Age: (63), Date of Death: 1975-10-29

Lilian Kramer Age: (67), Date of Death: 1975-11-14

Isabel Askew Age: (85), Date of Death: 1983-10-11

John Floyd Thomas Jr. - Wikipedia

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