The Grim Sleeper: 5 Shocking Facts About Serial Killer Lonnie Franklin Jr. And The DNA That Caught Him

The case of Lonnie David Franklin Jr., better known as the "Grim Sleeper," remains one of the most chilling and complex serial murder investigations in Los Angeles history. Spanning over two decades in South Central Los Angeles, his reign of terror targeted vulnerable young Black women and a teenage girl, leaving a devastating legacy in the community. As of December 13, 2025, the case continues to be a subject of intense media coverage, with recent documentaries and true crime specials re-examining the groundbreaking forensic science that finally brought him to justice and the profound impact on the victims' families. Franklin Jr.'s story is notable not just for the length of his crimes, but for the unprecedented 14-year hiatus that earned him his ominous nickname. He was a seemingly normal, integrated member of his community—a former sanitation worker and garage attendant—which allowed him to evade suspicion for years. His death in 2020 by natural causes while on death row marked the end of his legal saga, but the questions surrounding his full victim count and the systemic issues that allowed his crimes to go unsolved for so long continue to resonate.

Lonnie David Franklin Jr.: A Biographical Profile

Lonnie David Franklin Jr. was a former Los Angeles city employee who lived a double life that shocked his neighbors and family. He was a husband and father, operating a small repair shop out of his home in the South Central neighborhood of Los Angeles. * Full Name: Lonnie David Franklin Jr. * Nickname: The Grim Sleeper * Date of Birth: August 30, 1952 * Date of Death: March 28, 2020 * Cause of Death: Natural causes (while on death row) * Place of Death: San Quentin State Prison, California * Known Professions: Garbage collector (Sanitation Worker) for the City of Los Angeles, Garage Attendant for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) * Years Active: 1985–1988 (First Spree) and 2002–2007 (Second Spree) * Victims: Convicted of 10 murders and 1 attempted murder. * Conviction Date: May 9, 2016 * Sentence: Death Franklin Jr. was initially linked to the murders through DNA evidence collected from the crime scenes. The key breakthrough, however, came from an innovative and controversial forensic technique known as familial DNA searching.

The Chilling 'Cooling-Off Period' and the Grim Sleeper Nickname

The moniker "Grim Sleeper" was coined by the *LA Weekly* newspaper in 2008, referring to the killer’s long period of inactivity between his two murder sprees. This period of dormancy is a central, terrifying aspect of the case, suggesting a calculated control over his homicidal urges.

The First Spree (1985–1988)

The initial series of murders began in 1985, characterized by the killer preying on women in the impoverished areas of South Central Los Angeles. Most of the victims were sexually assaulted, shot with a small-caliber handgun, or strangled, and their bodies were often dumped in alleyways. The first spree ended abruptly in 1988 with the attack on Enietra Washington, the only known survivor of Lonnie Franklin Jr. Washington was shot, sexually assaulted, and pushed out of a car, but she lived to tell her story and later provided crucial testimony at the trial. Her survival was instrumental in linking the crimes together and provided a description of the killer.

The Great Silence (1988–2002)

Following the attack on Enietra Washington, the murders linked by DNA evidence suddenly stopped for approximately 14 years. This extended "cooling-off period" baffled investigators and led to the "Grim Sleeper" nickname. Criminologists and detectives still debate the reason for the pause, with theories ranging from incarceration for an unrelated crime to a change in personal circumstances or a deliberate attempt to avoid detection after Washington’s escape.

The Second Spree (2002–2007)

The killings resumed in 2002, following the same pattern: targeting vulnerable women, sexual assault, and murder. The final confirmed victim was Janecia Peters in 2007. The recurrence of the murders, coupled with the long gap, underscored the killer's chilling capacity to integrate back into society while harboring a dark secret.

The DNA Breakthrough: How a Pizza Crust Solved a 25-Year Mystery

Lonnie Franklin Jr.'s capture in 2010 was a landmark moment in forensic science, relying on a technique called familial DNA searching. The process began when law enforcement ran the killer's DNA profile (collected from the crime scenes) through the state's convicted offender database. While there was no direct match, the search returned a partial match to the DNA of Lonnie Franklin Jr.'s son, Christopher Franklin, who had a felony conviction. This familial match provided the crucial lead that had eluded the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) for decades, narrowing the list of potential suspects to the father or brother of Christopher Franklin. An undercover detective then followed Lonnie Franklin Jr. to a local pizza restaurant. The detective, posing as a waiter, collected a piece of discarded food—a pizza crust—that Franklin had left behind. DNA extracted from the saliva on the crust was a perfect match to the DNA profile of the "Grim Sleeper" found at the crime scenes, leading to his immediate arrest.

The Victims: A Legacy of Loss in South Los Angeles

Lonnie Franklin Jr. was convicted of the first-degree murders of 10 individuals. The victims, predominantly young Black women from South Los Angeles, were: * Debra Jackson (Age 29): Murdered August 10, 1985 * Henrietta Wright (Age 34): Murdered August 12, 1986 * Thomasa Trevail (Age 37): Murdered January 14, 1987 * Mary Lowe (Age 26): Murdered November 10, 1987 * Lachrica Jefferson (Age 22): Murdered January 30, 1988 * Alicia Alexander (Age 18): Murdered September 11, 1988 * Princess Berthomieux (Age 15): Murdered March 19, 2002 * Valerie McCorvey (Age 35): Murdered July 11, 2003 * Janecia Peters (Age 25): Murdered January 1, 2007 * Georgia Mae Thomas (Age 45): Murdered May 16, 2007 The case of the Grim Sleeper highlighted the tragic reality of serial murder disproportionately affecting marginalized communities, where cases involving young women of color were historically under-resourced or overlooked by law enforcement. The conviction and subsequent death of Franklin Jr. brought a measure of closure, but the memory of the victims remains a powerful force in the community.

The Final Years and Post-Conviction Status

In 2016, a Los Angeles jury found Lonnie David Franklin Jr. guilty on all ten counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. He was subsequently sentenced to death. Franklin Jr. was held on death row at San Quentin State Prison in California. His death on March 28, 2020, at the age of 67, was determined to be from natural causes, ending the possibility of any further appeals or execution. While his confirmed victim count stands at 10, investigators believe the Grim Sleeper may have been responsible for as many as 25 murders. The case continues to be studied by forensic experts, criminologists, and true crime enthusiasts for its unique characteristics, including the unprecedented cooling-off period and the pioneering use of familial DNA that ultimately led to the capture of one of America's most elusive serial killers. The story is frequently revisited in media, including the A&E special *Cold Case Files: The Grim Sleeper*, ensuring that the victims and the groundbreaking investigation are not forgotten.