Grim Sleeper killings: Barbara Ware, 23, in 1987

Died Jan. 10, 1987

Barbara Ware, a 23-year old black woman, was found dead Jan. 10, 1987, in the 1300 block of East 56th Street in the Central-Alameda area, authorities said. 

A man who said he saw Ware's body being dumped called 911 to report what he had seen. According a transcript of the call, the man, who said he wished to remain anonymous because he "knew too many people," said someone "threw her out ... the only thing that's hanging out of 'dis ... like he threw a gas tank on top of her and, uh ... and, uh only thing you can see out is her feet."

He also reported a full license plate number for the van the body had been dumped from: 1PZP746. 

The van described by the caller was located by police in a church parking lot about 4 1/2 miles away from where Ware's body was found. 

In February 2009, LAPD officials released a tape of the 911 call and photos of the van in hopes of generating new leads in what by then they knew was a serial killer case involving 11 homicides over three decades.

On July 7, 2010, Los Angeles police arrested Lonnie David Franklin Jr., a 57-year old black man, at his home in South Los Angeles after police said they made DNA matches linking him to the killings of 11 people over the last three decades, including Ware.

Prosecutors charged Franklin with 10 counts of murder, noting that he is eligible for the death penalty.

Franklin is a former city trash collector who at one time worked as a vehicle mechanic at an LAPD station, sources said.

—Times staff reports

Photo: Van matching license plate described by 911 caller. Credit: LAPD

Map shows location of home of Lonnie David Franklin, Jr. and the locations of where the Grim Sleeper's victims were found. Click for more details.