The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted on June 8 to renew an offer of reward of up to $500,000 for information leading to the identification, apprehension and arrest of Los Angeles’ only outstanding serial killer, known as the “Grim Sleeper”.

“It is very important that we continue to offer a cash reward to provide an incentive for people to come forward with information”, said Los Angeles City Councilmember Bernard Parks, 8th District, a former Los Angeles Police Department Chief. “For nearly 25 years, the suspect has been at large, and continues to threaten the safety and security of the residents of South Los Angeles. I encourage anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact the police.”

Detective Dennis Kilcoyne, the lead investigator on the case for the LAPD, addressed the Council and urged support for renewing the reward.

“It’s very important that my phone continues to ring,” Kilcoyne said. “One of the catalysts that keeps my phone ringing with information and tips is the substantial reward offered by the City.”

The suspect has been at-large since the first victim was discovered, nearly 25 years ago on August 10, 1985.

A total of nine murders in the City of Los Angeles, one in the City of Inglewood, and one in unincorporated Los Angeles County have been attributed to the killer.

As Chief of the LAPD in 2001, Parks ordered the department to begin delving into a backlog of unsolved cases from the 1990s, ‘80s and earlier, testing DNA from bits of hair and skin saved from cold crimes.

Parks’ action led the LAPD to find matches between the recent killings of the “Grim Sleeper” in 2002, 2003 and 2007 and old human traces left at eight shootings around Western Avenue in the ‘80s.