"Grim Sleeper" Photos: LAPD Inundated with Calls After Release of Pictures in Case

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) The Los Angeles Police Department received hundreds of calls since the release of 180 photos taken from the home of "Grim Sleeper" serial killer suspect Lonnie Franklin Jr.

PICTURES: "Grim Sleeper" Serial Killer Suspect's Private Photos

Investigators released the photos of the unidentified women Thursday.

Detective Dennis Kilcoyne said Friday that they had already received hundreds of phone calls, and he expected the total number of calls to reach 1,000 by the day's end.

"By the end of the weekend, we will be buried in work," said Kilcoyne, noting he has canceled leaves for the eight homicide detectives who worked the case.

Police Chief Charlie Beck told the Los Angeles Times that five women had been tentatively identified, but he would not discuss their well-being or status.

Investigators had attempted to identify the women in the thousands of photographs and hundreds of hours of home video. When they couldn't identify them, the detectives felt their best option was to go public with the images, in the hopes that someone will recognize them and contact the authorities

"Now that we know who he is and what type of activity he is involved in with women," Kilcoyne said, "we are very concerned for everyone in these photographs."

The photos and videos were found in the home and garage of suspect Lonnie Franklin Jr. during a three-day search after his July arrest. Many of the closely cropped images had depicted women in sexually explicit poses.

Nearly all the women in the photos are black, except for two or three white women and one Latina. Some of the women appear to be sleeping.

Clear Channel Outdoor has agreed to provide billboard space across Los Angeles to display the photos.

Franklin is accused of killing women from 1985 to 1988 and from 2002 to 2007. The 14-year pause led to the nickname "Grim Sleeper." He has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and murder in the deaths of 10 women in the Los Angeles area.

Anyone with information about the women in the photographs is asked to call 1-877-LAPD-24-7.

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF GRIM SLEEPER CASE