Suspected Serial Killer: The Crimes of Warren Luther Alexander
Introduction
In August 2024, authorities arrested 73-year-old Warren Luther Alexander, a former long-haul truck driver, in connection with a series of cold case murders from 1977 in Ventura County, California. Advances in DNA technology and persistent investigative efforts have linked Alexander to the strangulation deaths of three women, shedding light on crimes that remained unsolved for nearly five decades.
The Victims and Their Tragic Fates
Kimberly Carol Fritz
On May 29, 1977, 18-year-old Kimberly Carol Fritz was found deceased in Room 18 of the Marv-Inn Motel in Port Hueneme, California. Originally from Michigan, Kimberly had moved to California seeking new opportunities. Her life was tragically cut short, and an autopsy confirmed that she died from strangulation.
Velvet Ann Sanchez
Approximately three months later, on September 8, 1977, the body of 31-year-old Velvet Ann Sanchez was discovered at the Villa Motor Court Motel on South Oxnard Boulevard in Oxnard, California. A mother of three and a native of Amarillo, Texas, Velvet had been residing at the motel. Witnesses reported seeing her enter a room with an unidentified man shortly before her death. Like Kimberly, Velvet was strangled.
Lorraine Ann Rodriguez
On December 27, 1977, the lifeless body of 21-year-old Lorraine Ann Rodriguez was found near the Laguna Road Bridge in the Oxnard plains area of Ventura County. Originally from Kansas, Lorraine had moved to Oxnard and was known for her devotion to her young children. Her cause of death was also determined to be strangulation.
Investigation and Breakthrough
At the time of the murders, detectives observed similarities in the cases, particularly the method of killing and the victims' backgrounds. However, despite extensive efforts, the investigations went cold due to a lack of leads. In February 2023, the Ventura County Sheriff's Cold Case Unit revisited these cases, utilizing preserved DNA evidence collected from the crime scenes. By re-entering this evidence into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), investigators obtained a match to Warren Luther Alexander, whose DNA had been added to the system following his 2022 arrest in North Carolina for a separate 1992 murder case.
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