Homicide Report > Grim Sleeper killings: Princess Berthomieux, 15, in 2002
Grim Sleeper killings: Princess Berthomieux, 15, in 2002
Died March 19, 2002
Princess Berthomieux, a 15-year-old black girl, was found strangled and beaten March 19, 2002, in an Inglewood alley, authorities said.
Her nude body was found by a passerby in the shrubs, according to coroner's records. Although the coroner gave the date her body was found as March 9, 2002, officials from the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said her body was found 10 days later.
Berthomieux had last been seen by her family on Dec. 21, 2001, police said.
Los Angeles police believe she is the ninth of 11 victims of a serial killer known as "the Grim Sleeper."
![Map shows location of Franklin's home [purple marker] and locations where Grim Sleeper's victims were found [in red]. Click for more details.](http://www.latimes.com/includes/projects/homicide_report/grim_sleeper_homemap.jpg "Map shows location of Franklin's home [purple marker] and locations where Grim Sleeper's victims were found [in red]. Click for more details.")
On July 7, 2010, authorities 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 Berthomieux's killing, as well as others dating between 1985 to 2007.
Prosecutors said they have charged Franklin with 10 counts of murder, noting that he is eligible for the death penalty. He has not been charged in the 1986 shooting death of Thomas Steele, a 36-year old black man, although authorities believe Steele's killing is connected to the other cases.
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
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.
- Neighborhood: Inglewood
- Age: 15
- Gender: Female
- Cause: Other
- Day of the week: Tuesday
- Agency: Inglewood PD
- Race/Ethnicity: Black
- Crime scene: Alley
Related homicides:
- Janecia Peters [Grim Sleeper]
- Valerie McCorvey
- Alicia Alexander
- Lachrica Jefferson
- Mary Lowe
- Bernita Sparks
- Barbara Ware
- Thomas Steele
- Henrietta Wright
- Debra Jackson
10 reader comments about Princess Berthomieux
May her soul rest in peace god bless her .
July 8, 2010 at 12:57 p.m.
This childmolesater will never kidnap rape or kill another person for the rest of his sorry life
July 9, 2010 at 5:47 p.m.
Its so sad she was a runaway and her family hadnt seen her for four months.
God rest her soul.
July 9, 2010 at 7:17 p.m.
Could the LA Times please give us some background on this killer? His life as a youth, his relationship with his parents, especially with his mother? What turns these men into monsters without conscience? In Canada a senior Canadian Officer and Base Commander has been arrested for multiple rapes and several murders. The country was in shock. He too collected women's panties. He apparently went on hundreds of nighttime pantie raids over the years.
From a statement I read, the Grim Sleeper hated prostitutes. Was his mother a prostitute?
Ordinary people especially Youth Workers and Social Workers and Pastors need this sort of information so they can intervene and preventing the evolution of inately disturbed children and youth from becoming mad dog, robotic killers
July 9, 2010 at 9:34 p.m.
Alexis:
I've added links here to several stories by Times' reporters about the alleged Grim Sleeper killer Lonnie David Franklin, Jr. Two may be of particular interest. The first 'Everybody knew Lonnie' [ www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-grim-sleeper-profile-20100709,0,5635000.story ] details his neighbors impressions of Franklin as a small-time crook and the second "Grim Sleeper suspect stayed below LAPD's radar" [ www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-grim-sleeper-record-20100710,0,4461066.story ] looks at his extensive criminal history, including the revelation that Franklin had been sentenced to be in jail at the time he allegedly killed Valerie McCorvey in 2003 but had been released 4 months early due to overcrowding in L.A. County jails. We will continue to update these posts as new information becomes available.
July 9, 2010 at 10:25 p.m.
Why aren't people wanting to know what makes lovely young women prostitues??? What their lives were like that led them to the margins of society and a terrible death????? Because, let's face it, all women are on the margins of society given the statistics on deadly violence against women and the rise of domestic violence against women and children. Yes it's important to have information on mindless killers and abusers but it seems nobody is asking all the pertinent questions here!
July 10, 2010 at 7:54 a.m.
I went to school with her..she was a sweet person really..May her soul rest in peace.
July 10, 2010 at 6:38 p.m.
i went to middle school with her. it was around the time she vanished she kissed me once on the school yard. i was embarrased kind because it was in front of everyone. we were so young, i wish i could go back to that day.
Aug. 19, 2010 at 4:11 a.m.
ofcourse it's a tragedy to lose someone so sweet, to such vicious men..I hope someone puts justice to these poor wasted souls.. May her soul be blessed.
Aug. 25, 2010 at 11:37 a.m.
I dont understand why didnt someone try to reach out to this young person before she choose the streets as the answer maybe this terrible thing would have never happen to her if someone would have if listen to her crying out for help may god let peace rest in your hearts in knowing that she is sitting on the throne with god in peace and that he will have the final judgement on this person that took this child of god life away from the people that loved her may god bless her family during this hard time AMEN
April 6, 2011 at 8:12 a.m.
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