It appears this might be a big week for serial killer cold cases. First, a California woman yesterday claimed her dad was the infamous Zodiac killer, now CNN reports that police have linked 72-year-old John Floyd Thomas Jr. to a couple of Los Angeles murders that happened over 30 years ago. Police further indicated that Thomas could be connected to “as many as 30 murders and dozens of rapes during the 1970s and 1980s”, crimes which appear to have targeted older women.

Indeed, the L.A. Times noted that “‘When all is said and done, Mr. Thomas stands to be Los Angeles’ most prolific serial killer,’” according to an LAPD Robbery-Homicide Cold Case detective. John Floyd Thomas had previously been convicted of sexual assault, but was arrested last month for the murder of two elderly women in the 1970’s.

It was not until October of last year that police “collected DNA from Thomas as part of an ongoing process to swab registered sex offenders.” For anyone wondering, sex offenders are often legally subject to mandatory collection of their DNA. Mandatory DNA collection from a wide range of criminals has come under fire from civil rights advocates who claim they violate the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unwarranted searches and seizures, as well as privacy interests. However, most collection laws have been upheld by courts, especially those which apply to sex offenders (increased recidivism being a key factor there).

In fact, the LA Times piece noted how DNA databases have become a valuable tool for police and have “contributed to a number of arrests and convictions since the beginning of the decade”. The case of John Floyd Thomas Jr. may end up being another exemplar in the list, it appears.

  • CNN: DNA leads to suspect in 1970s Los Angeles serial killings
  • L.A. Times: LAPD ties 72-year-old man to two waves of serial killings
  • California Woman Claims Her Father, Guy Ward Hendrickson, Was Zodiac Killer; Skepticism Follows (FindLaw Blotter)
  • Sex Offenses Info. Center (provided by Law Offices of Bill Baskette)
  • Criminal Law Basics (FindLaw)

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