DETROIT – Detroit Police Chief James Craig said investigators are working to identify a victim in the case of a possible serial killer targeting women on the city's east side.
The deaths of three women are believed to be connected to the same killer. All three women were sex workers in their late 40s and 50s who, police believe, were lured to vacant dwellings on the east side of the city.
Although the police are fearing a possible serial killer, the medical examiner has only confirmed one of the women's deaths is a homicide. That woman is Nancy Harrison. The cause of death for the other two victims has not been confirmed.
Victims
- Nancy Harrison - Body discovered on March 19 on Coventry Street -- she is considered the first victim.
- Travesene Ellis - Body discovered on May 24 on Linnhurst Street -- she is considered the second victim.
- Tamara M. Jones, who was found in a vacant house on Mack Avenue on Wednesday, June 5.
- Anyone with information needs to contact police at 313-596-2260.
Mayor, chief hold news conference (watch above)
Mayor Mike Duggan opened Friday's news conference denouncing the violent crime and applauding the Detroit Police Department's work to help make arrests. Duggan emphasized the help from community members in making the arrests in other violent crime cases.
"This violence is just not acceptable," he said. "It was members of the community coming forward that made these arrests possible."
In the case of this possible serial killer on the east side, Craig said he and his investigators decided to investigate these women's deaths as a possible serial killer based on the case similarities despite not having a confirmed cause of death for two of the victims.
"You have females, late 40s or 50s -- in the case of the two that have been identified, 52 and 53 -- again the third has not been identified and we're not certain of her age. So we're very transparent and quick to get the information out because this is about the business of keeping people safe, so we don't hide that," said the chief.
Craig said he was involved in a serial killer case when he worked in Los Angeles that spanned the course of 25 years.
"That serial killer went dark for 14 years. Turned out he was a city employee. Actually a civilian employee at one point of the police department," he said.
Craig also said he knows in the case of sex workers sometimes they are invisible in the community.
"They are not likely to report people missing, which offers yet another challenge for us," he said.
The chief also said of course there is the possibility of a second suspect, which he said is always the case. However, he said he and his staff still believe this is possibly the same person responsible for three deaths, based on their experience with these kinds of cases.
Blight fight continues
Craig also said he and Duggan have been talking about the blight in the city -- specifically abandoned homes where bodies have been found.
"What we're talking about today is focusing on an area where these tragedies have happened, and it makes good corporate sense," he said.
He said he believes this kind of focus, with the help of community volunteers like the Detroit 300, means the city will see a difference.
"I think this relationship is what makes a diffence in this city," he said.
Victim's family speaks out
This week the family of one of the victims spoke with Local 4 and is sharing why they believe investigators initially dropped the ball on the case.
Tim and Gary Harrison want people to remember their sister, Nancy Harrison, for who she was.
"A great, great heart. She would help anybody. Do anything," Tim Harrison said. "My sister didn't deserve this."
'My sister didn't deserve this' -- watch:
Nancy Harrison's body was located inside an abandoned home on Coventry Street on March 19. Detroit police Chief James Craig said the department initially believed Nancy Harrison died as the result of a drug overdose.
Her brother is not happy with that ruling, they said the signs pointed to murder from the very beginning.
"The woman had a broken nose, broken jaw, blunt trauma to the head," Gary Harrison said.
Detroit police are now actively looking for a possible serial killer and rapist in connection to the three deaths.
"Chief Craig, he wants to be the hero by saying his people are on it and stuff. No, no," Tim said.
Police believe the killer targeted women who worked in the sex industry. Gary Harrison said that's not the case with his sister.
"She wasn't down there working to make money or to support her habit, Gary Harrison said.
Her family is determined to get to the bottom of what happened to their loved one.
"If it takes a day, it takes a week, it takes a month, it takes a year. We're going to find out who did this," Gary Harrison said.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,500 reward for information on Nancy Harrison's death.
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