Mississippi man charged in 1977 California strangulation murders
73-year-old extradited and charged with three 1977 strangulation murders in California
A 73-year-old Mississippi man has been charged with the 1977 strangulation murders of three women in Southern California. Prosecutors in California identified the suspect as Warren Luther Alexander, who faces three counts of first-degree murder and special allegations of multiple murders. He was extradited from Surry County, North Carolina, where he was awaiting prosecution for a 1992 homicide.
The cold case unit of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department reopened the investigation in February 2023. The victims, Kimberly Carol Fritz (18), Velvet Ann Sanchez (31), and Lorraine Ann Rodriguez (21), were all sex workers who died by strangulation. District Attorney Erik Nasarenko stated that Alexander is suspected of picking up each woman for sexual activity before committing the murders. Despite similarities in the cases, they went cold for decades.
Nasarenko stressed that cold cases should never be forgotten and emphasized the importance of bringing suspects to justice. Authorities also suspect there may be more victims both locally and nationally.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that Warren Luther Alexander (DOB 01/12/51), of Diamondhead, Mississippi, pled not guilty at today’s arraignment.
Alexander is charged with three counts of first-degree murder related to a series of strangulation murders… pic.twitter.com/wGWZDGXRv2
— Ventura County District Attorney's Office (@VenturaCountyDA) August 22, 2024
Advances in DNA technology helped link Alexander to the murders. Ventura County Sheriff James Fryhoff noted that evidence from the North Carolina case matched evidence collected from the three California victims. The 1992 North Carolina murder also involved strangulation.
Alexander pleaded not guilty to the charges during his August 21 arraignment and is being held without bail. His defense attorney, Rebekah Mathis, declined to comment.
The murders occurred over seven months in different areas of Ventura County. Prosecutors have opted not to seek the death penalty due to the age of the evidence and witnesses, aiming to expedite the trial process.
What Other Media Are Saying
- ABC7 Chicago reports that 73-year-old Warren Luther Alexander has been arrested and charged with three 1977 cold case murders in Ventura County, California.(read more)
- The Guardian reports on the arrest of a suspect in a 1977 California strangulation death, highlighting a case over 40 years old, where the perpetrator was finally apprehended.(read more)
- USA Today reports that Warren Luther Alexander has been charged with the 1977 strangulations of two California women, a cold case reopened through DNA technology.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Warren Luther Alexander?
Warren Luther Alexander is a 73-year-old man charged with the 1977 strangulation deaths of three women in Southern California.
What led to Warren Luther Alexander’s arrest?
Advances in DNA technology and well-preserved evidence linked him to the murders.
Why won’t prosecutors seek the death penalty?
Prosecutors aim to expedite the trial process due to the age of the witnesses and evidence.
Are there more potential victims?
Officials believe there may be additional victims both nationally and locally.
What was the cause of death for the victims?
All three victims, who were sex workers, died by strangulation.
