Ep 5. Lonnie David Franklin Jr

World's Most Evil Killers is a true crime documentary series that examines some of the most notorious and ruthless killers throughout history. In season 5, episode 5, the focus is on Lonnie David Franklin Jr., also known as the Grim Sleeper.

Franklin was a serial killer who operated in South Central Los Angeles from 1985 to 2007. His nickname, the Grim Sleeper, was given to him by the media because of the 14-year gap between his last known murder in 1988 and his re-emergence in 2002. In total, he was responsible for the deaths of at least ten women, although some estimates suggest that the number may be much higher.

The episode begins by examining Franklin's early life and upbringing. He was born in 1952 and grew up in South Central Los Angeles during a time of great social upheaval. Racism, poverty, and violence were prevalent in the area, and many young men turned to drugs and crime as a means of survival. Franklin was no exception, and he began a life of petty theft and drug dealing from an early age.

However, it wasn't until the mid-1980s that Franklin's crimes escalated to murder. He began targeting young African-American women who were working as prostitutes or drug addicts, luring them into his car before assaulting and killing them. The police initially struggled to connect the murders, as they were spread out over different areas, and the victims had very little in common.

It wasn't until 2002, when DNA evidence connected Franklin to one of the murders, that he was finally caught. The police began to piece together his crimes, and they discovered that he had been killing women for over two decades. Despite overwhelming evidence against him, Franklin pleaded not guilty to all charges, forcing the case to go to trial.

The trial lasted for over two years, during which time the prosecution presented testimony from several survivors who had narrowly escaped Franklin's attacks. They also introduced a wealth of forensic evidence, including DNA samples, fingerprints, and ballistics reports, that linked Franklin to the murders.

Despite his lawyer's attempts to discredit the evidence and paint Franklin as a victim of police bias, he was ultimately found guilty of ten counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. He was sentenced to death and is currently awaiting execution on California's death row.

Throughout the episode, the interviews with detectives who worked on the case, survivors and families of victims, as well as prosecutors and defense lawyers, provide a gripping and detailed account of the investigation and prosecution. Additionally, the episode delves into how the community was affected by the Grim Sleeper's crimes, and how his legacy continues to haunt the area to this day.

Overall, the episode provides a chilling insight into one of the most shocking and gruesome crimes in recent history, and serves as a powerful reminder of the devastating impact that serial killers can have on their victims and their families.