Homicide Report > Grim Sleeper killings: Thomas Steele, 36, in 1986
Grim Sleeper killings: Thomas Steele, 36, in 1986
Died Aug. 14, 1986
Thomas Steele, a 36-year-old black man, was found dead on Aug. 14, 1986, at the intersection of 71st Street and Halldale Avenue in Harvard Park, authorities said.
Los Angeles police believe he is one 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 Steele'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 Steele, 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: Harvard Park
- Age: 36
- Gender: Male
- Day of the week: Thursday
- Agency: LAPD South Bureau Homicide
- Race/Ethnicity: Black
Related homicides:
- Janecia Peters [Grim Sleeper]
- Valerie McCorvey
- Princess Berthomieux
- Alicia Alexander
- Lachrica Jefferson
- Mary Lowe
- Bernita Sparks
- Barbara Ware
- Henrietta Wright
- Debra Jackson
Two reader comments about Thomas Steele
I am so glad they caught this guy. I used to live off century and western and moved last year. I have family in the area. Im glad hes off the streets
July 8, 2010 at 5:40 a.m.
I think this man was killed because he witnessed the Murder of Henrietta Wright, if you pay close attention you will notice that there was a 2 day time span between the death of Wright and the death of Steele. This is the closest time span between murders.
July 8, 2010 at 3:20 p.m.
Share a memory or thought about Thomas Steele