Joseph Martin Danks

Serial Killer

Joseph Martin Danks: The Koreatown Slasher

Overview

Joseph Martin Danks, commonly known as the "Koreatown Slasher," was an American serial and spree killer responsible for a concentrated series of murders targeting homeless men in the Los Angeles area during the winter of 1986 and 1987. Danks was ultimately convicted of six first-degree murders arising from the attacks and later murdered his prison cellmate, Walter Holt, while serving his sentence. In total, Danks accumulated seven murder convictions. The Los Angeles killings were especially frightening because the victims appeared to have been selected largely because they were homeless and vulnerable. Danks did not know the men personally. He approached people living or sleeping on the streets and attacked suddenly, most often with a knife. Investigators found enough similarities among the crimes to conclude that the same offender was responsible for the series.

Arrival in California and the Beginning of the Murders

Danks came to California from Michigan during the latter part of 1986. He was himself living a transient lifestyle when the killings began. Despite his own circumstances, statements later attributed to him showed intense contempt toward other homeless people. Prosecutors said that after his arrest he described himself as different from the homeless men he targeted and spoke about them in dehumanizing terms. The first murder included in the case against Danks occurred in Santa Monica on December 24, 1986. The victim was identified as Edwin Trujillo. Danks later admitted an attack in Santa Monica while discussing the murders with investigators, and prosecutors included Trujillo's death among the six murder charges filed against him. The more concentrated portion of the killing series began in January 1987 in and around Los Angeles' Koreatown district. Within approximately two weeks, five homeless men were killed in the area and two other men survived attacks attributed to Danks. Most of the victims were assaulted without warning, and several were stabbed from behind. ...

Confirmed Victims: (7)

Christopher Forsblade Age: (40), Date of Death: 1987-01-06

Survivors:

Almond Lord Age: (64), Date of Attack: 1987-01-18

James Lyons Age: (58), Date of Attack: 1987-01-20

Joseph Danks - Wikipedia