Tenth body discovered in suspected serial killings

South Africa police say 'some cases are linked'

Nation outraged over violent crimes targeting women

Members of a women's church group sing hymns at a memorial near the site where a woman's body was found in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg, on Sept. 17, as fears spread over a suspected series of killings targeting women in their 20s and 30s near South Africa's largest city. [AP]
Members of a women's church group sing hymns at a memorial near the site where a woman's body was found in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg, on Sept. 17, as fears spread over a suspected series of killings targeting women in their 20s and 30s near South Africa's largest city. [AP]

Fear is spreading near Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, after a suspected serial killer targeting women in their 20s and 30s claimed what appears to be a tenth victim.

South African police discovered the tenth woman's body Saturday in the Ekurhuleni area east of Johannesburg and have launched an investigation, according to AP and other reports.

"At this stage we can only confirm the discovery of a body," police said, adding that all necessary specialists had been deployed to the scene to examine it. The victim's identity has not been released.

Earlier, three women's bodies had been found within a 7-kilometer radius in Ekurhuleni between July and August. Concern that a serial killer might be responsible deepened earlier this month when six more bodies were discovered within just 10 days.

All nine victims found through Saturday were women in their 20s or 30s, police said. Many were found naked or partially undressed, abandoned in open lots near major roads.

Given the gravity of the situation, authorities deployed the Investigative Psychology Unit, a specialized profiling team that handles complex cases and serial violent crimes.

In connection with the ninth victim, found on Sept. 17, police arrested two women on murder charges and indicted them — though investigators have not linked them to the other killings.

"Investigators are treating the ninth murder as a standalone incident, but some of the remaining cases may be connected," national police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni said.

Police said they have identified similarities in the manner of killing across some of the cases, but have yet to secure conclusive evidence that the crimes were committed by the same person or group.


greg@heraldcorp.com