Chester D. Turner, L.A. Serial Killer, Charged With Four New Murders

By: Naimah Jabali-Nash
Topics: Daily Blotter

Los Angeles Serial Killer, Chester Turner, Charged With Four New Murders, Say Authorities

Chester D. Turner listening during a preliminary hearing at Los Angeles Superior Court, Nov. 1, 2005 (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)

(CBS/KCBS) Los Angeles authorities have linked four new killings to Chester D. Turner, who prosecutors described as the city's most prolific serial killer when he was sentenced to death in 2007 for murdering 10 women over a decade in Los Angeles County.

Turner, 44, was charged on Tuesday with the June 5, 1987, slaying of Elandra Bunn; the Nov. 16, 1992, murder of Debra Williams; the Dec. 16, 1992, killing of Mary Edwards; and the Feb. 22, 1997, slaying of Cynthia Annette Johnson, reports CBS station KCBS.

A DNA test recently linked Turner to Johnson's murder, which was considered cleared by the LAPD after another suspected was arrested and unsuccessfully prosecuted, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Turner had long been suspected in the three remaining murders, but charges were never filed against him, reports the paper.

In two cases, another man was wrongfully convicted and spent 11 years behind bars until his release in 2004, when DNA linked Turner to those killings. In the fourth case, DNA connected Turner to the case after he had been charged with multiple killings in 2004.

The criminal complaint includes the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a rape or attempted rape involving all four of the additional victims who were strangled to death, according to KCBS.

It was unclear how soon the death row inmate would be brought from San Quentin State Prison to the downtown Los Angeles courthouse to be arraigned on the new charges.

The Arkansas native -- who once worked as a pizza deliveryman -- reportedly lived within 30 blocks of each of murder scenes.

He was sentenced to death in July 2007 for murdering 10 women between 1987 and 1998.

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by irish2988 February 2, 2011 2:21 PM EST: Am I the only one who is OUTRAGED by the fact that atleat 3 innocent men were sent to serve out life sentences for crimes they did not commit??? WHO WAS THE PROSECUTOR ON THOSE CASES??? HOW MANY OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE SITTING BEHIND BARS?? Talk about a TRULEY innocent victem, that would be the people wrongfully convicted in these cases. The women he killed did not deserve what happened BUT it is alleged that he preyed on prostitues, so its safe to say their lifestyle made them easy targets. The people who were wrongfully convicted, their lives destroyed, their families lives destroyed!! its time over zealous prosecuters be held accountable!!! of course no one cares until it is themselves or someone they love who is being targeted for a crime they had nothing to do with. Whom ever prosecuted those cases needs to be on deathrow as well!!!!!!; Reply to this comment