Police have created a special squad to investigate the recent rash of strangling deaths after the body of a woman was found behind a church in West Baltimore late Monday night.
The yet-to-be-identified victim, who police say was strangled and beaten to death, marks the fifth women strangled in the city since April ? and the fourth in less than six weeks. The four previous victims had been convicted of prostitution.
“At this time it is way too early to tell if any of the cases are related,” said Sterling Clifford, spokesman for the police department.
“However, Lieutenant Terry McClarney, the acting head of homicide, has assembled a squad of four veteran homicide detectives to review all murder cases involving prostitutes.”
Clifford said police also would beef up patrols in areas known for prostitution.
“We want to not only discourage activity but to ensure their safety as well.”
At 10:34 p.m. Monday, officers responding to an anonymous tip went to the 4500 block of Old Frederick Avenue and found a dead woman in the wooded area behind an auxiliary parking lot in the back of New Psalmist Church.
The woman had “bruising on her neck and throat area with no other obvious signs of trauma,” according to a police report. “The deceased was naked and had an apparent blue arm sling around her head.” A white bra, pink underwear, an earring and a pair of eyeglasses were recovered from the scene.
On July 1, the body of Nicole Sesker, the stepdaughter of former police Commissioner Leonard Hamm, was found under a porch in northwest Baltimore ? a victim of strangulation. Police believe Sesker?s slaying may be related to drug activity, but have not yet made an arrest.
Amanda Bishop, 22, was found strangled on June 22 on the 1300 block of Nanticoke Street in South Baltimore. Elizabeth Garrett, 25, who died of asphyxiation, was found June 11 on the 3500 block of Buena Vista Avenue in North Baltimore in a vacant apartment in Hampden.
On April 8, Yolanda Brown, 36, was found strangled in Southwest Baltimore on the 3600 block of Winterbourne Road.
Police are reviewing the five open cases along with five other unsolved strangulation killings of women since 2003.
“I?m very concerned about this,” said City Councilman Jack Young, D-12th District, chairman of the Public Safety Committee.
“There certainly seems to be a pattern here that I think is worth taking a look at.”
Sidney Ford, executive director of You Are Never Alone, said her group would be out on the streets nightly to alert prostitutes. The outreach service provides clothing, food and temporary shelter to prostitutes.
“Some women don?t know about the killings, so we are making them aware and teaching basic self-defense techniques on the street.”
