Serial Killer that targets the gays!!

[St-T]

Gay men's slayings may be linked
In slayings of 7 during past 5 years, police 'not ruling anything out'



11:46 AM CST on Thursday, December 15, 2005
By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News


Investigators in Dallas, Garland and Arlington are trying to determine whether seven unsolved slayings of gay men stretching back five years may be related.

No direct evidence links the killings, police said, but some of the victims were known to pick up sexual partners they barely knew.

"We're not ruling anything out," said Sgt. Kenneth LeCesne, a Dallas police homicide supervisor whose unit is investigating five of the slayings. "The similarities have been the lifestyles of the victims. We can't say it's a serial killer or anything like that."

Interest in the cases stems from reports in the Dallas Voice, a newspaper that covers the gay community, questions raised by Dallas City Council member Ed Oakley, and the concerns of gay and lesbian leaders. On Wednesday, Dallas homicide investigators prepared a report for Assistant City Manager Charles Daniels on the crimes, but the city has stopped short of forming a task force.

One of the victims was Lawrence Wheat, who served on the Dallas Plan Commission before he was found dead in his South Dallas loft June 5, 2004. At about 10:40 p.m., neighbors heard Mr. Wheat yelling for help. The medical examiner said he was beaten and probably strangled.

"Hopefully this will get the case back out there," said Frances Wheat, Lawrence's mother. "There's a part of me that wants to know [who killed her son] because I don't want anyone to suffer like this. There's a part of me that doesn't want to go through a trial."

The other victims are:

•Samuel Jarnigan Lea, 28, a University of Texas at Arlington student who was found the morning of Oct. 31 inside his ground floor apartment near campus. He appears to have been strangled, police said. He was last seen five days earlier in downtown Fort Worth. He was known to frequent gay bars in Dallas, where he may have met his killer and invited him to his apartment. Police are still looking for his 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche bearing Texas plate 34F YB1.

•Craig Ceson, 46, who was found at 4:15 p.m. Oct. 11 at his apartment on Forest Park Road near Love Field. He died from blunt force injuries to the head. There were no signs that anyone broke into the apartment, suggesting the killer was invited inside.

•James Stephen Watts, 64, who was found by his brother the evening of March 12, 2004, in his house in the 1000 block of North Edgefield Avenue in north Oak Cliff. Mr. Watts, an antiques collector and animal advocate, died from head trauma.

•Agustin Fernandez Jr., 44, who was found critically injured with head injuries in a field in the 600 block of North Franklin Street in west Oak Cliff on the evening of July 27, 2003. Police found $617 in cash on him. He was taken to Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead four days later.

•Bobby Dalton Berry, 63, who was found dead April 23, 2001, in the corner of a garage in the 6700 block of Mockingbird Lane near White Rock Lake. Police did not find his body for several days after his family reported him missing. Mr. Berry, a former Mobil Oil employee, lived in Athens, Texas, and frequently stayed at a Dallas house belonging to a friend who was in a nursing home. His car was found in a park near the lake.

•Keith Alexander Calloway, 33, who was found fatally stabbed Dec. 22, 2000, inside his Garland apartment on Chaha Road overlooking Lake Ray Hubbard. He was bound, and his throat was slashed. Investigators believe he had been to a bar in Dallas hours before he was found dead.

Arlington police have a suspect in the death of Mr. Lea, and that suspect's name has also emerged in the investigation into Mr. Wheat's slaying in Dallas. But detectives say they have no hard evidence that the man is connected to those cases, or to the other deaths.

The suspect is described as a Dallas man in his early 20s with a violent criminal past and no permanent address.

"He's a hustler. That's how he's taking care of his drug habit," said Arlington Detective Tommy LeNoir, who is investigating Mr. Lea's slaying. "Gay, straight, there's hustlers everywhere who want to go home with people and rip them off."

Anyone with information about the cases can call Dallas police at 214-671-3661, Garland police at 972-272-8477 and Arlington police at 817-459-5772.

E-mail jtrahan@dallasnews.com

[Boredkid]

There is nothing linking those cases together.

[Boredkid]

Rates of violence against homosexuals are the highest within the homosexual community (gay-on-gay violence). (www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ipva99.pdf) In the U.S. during the year 2000, only two out of 15,517 murders were motivated by hatred toward homosexuals. (www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm) The federal government’s statistics confirm that anti-homosexual crime is not only rare, but statistically irrelevant, (Violence toward any person, regardless, is not acceptable.) The total number of crimes in the U.S. in 2000 was 11.6 million. Roughly eight ten-thousandths (0.008) of that number were found to be hate crimes of any type.

[US75Guy]

The number of reported crimes can be radically different from the number of actual crimes. Also, whatever the true number of hate crimes against gays in this country, it is significantly higher than hate crimes against straights.

[gc]

The number of reported crimes can be radically different from the number of actual crimes. Also, whatever the true number of hate crimes against gays in this country, it is significantly higher than hate crimes against straights.


Aceplace?

[Columbus Civil]

All crime should be punished equally. Penalties for "hate" murders shjouldn't outweigh penalties for regular murders.

[Boredkid]

Out of 15, 517 murders in the U.S. during the year 2000, 19 were found to be hate crimes-and only two were based on sexual orientation. (U.S. Department of Justice Statistics: www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm ) "We know the name of Matthew Shepard not because his case is representative of something common, but precisely because it is so rare." (Matt Kaufman, "Inflating the Hate," www.boundless.org/2002_2003/regulars/kaufman/a/0000652.html)

[Boredkid]

The U.S. Justice Department’s study found an epidemic of violence between homosexuals. The annual average is 13,740 male victims of violence by homosexual partners and 16,900 victims by lesbian partners. (U.S. Department of Justice, "Intimate Partner violence and Age of Victim, 1993-99," http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ipva99.pdf) By contrast, the 1999 statistics for hate crimes based on sexual orientation totaled 1,558 victims. (U.S. Department of Justice Statistics: www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm )

[Boredkid]

...

[drumguy8800]

Should this thread really be titled as such? A quick glance implies that there is, without a doubt, a serial killer.

[Boredkid]

No it should be called 7 gays killed over 5 years.

[Columbus Civil]

Maybe it's the BTS killer

[Boredkid]

Maybe it's the BTS killer

What is that?

[US75Guy]

BoredKid. You obviously have stacks of statistics surrounding you, and I appreciate you sharing the sources of your statistics. I would just caution you on the use of subjectives like "epidemic", "rare" and "statistically irrelevant." These numbers you share are coming at us with little to no context: "13,740 male victims of violence by homosexual partners" is quoted as an "epidemic". Well, we can't judge that without knowing how many total gay male couples there are in the US, and how this percentage compares to violence betwen other types of couples. You say its an "epidemic" but haven't proven that.

As with most statistics there are lots of numbers that can be made to support lots of arguments. Picking and choosing statistics can support any argument without proving anything. Read different articles from different sources to form your own opinion, and then you'll be better prepared to present your argument.

You may be right, you may be wrong. I just can't tell from your postings.

[rjlevins]

Here in Austin last year, we had a group of straight guys go to a gay club, posing as gay. A guy that had just moved here invited them back to his place for drinks. When they got there, they tortured him, raped him with certain types of objects, held a sword to his neck threatening to cut him, and forced him to overdose on HIV medication. They guy barely lived. That's the type of crime that's not reported in a murder figure.

And what that article is showing you, is even if these events are isolated, they are happening in Dallas every year! Any figure is too high when you are taking about a murder, especially one brought on by someone's sexual orientation. You can't tell me that given today's current political climate, these events are insignificant. Ofcourse I'm not threatened everyday when I walk out on the street, but it just gives homosexuals a reason to be extremely cautious given a certain tendacy towards promiscuity. Any gay man knows the risks that a large number of men take by 'hooking up'. It's not worth your trick playing a trick on you.

[msutton]

^ stats are facts, exposition is opinion. well within his rights.

I agree with CCivil. Every murder outside of involuntary manslaughter is a crime of hate, to some extent or another.

[hamiltonpl]

^ stats are facts, exposition is opinion. well within his rights.

I agree with CCivil. Every murder outside of involuntary manslaughter is a crime of hate, to some extent or another.

I agree too.

[St-T]

There is nothing linking those cases together.

Did you read the article? It states that two of the deaths are tied to the same hustler!

....you better watch out boredkid, you could be next! :eek:

[Boredkid]

Not gay, so not worried. But I also sleep with a gun with in hands length.

[Markedallas]

Rates of violence against homosexuals are the highest within the homosexual community (gay-on-gay violence). (www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ipva99.pdf) In the U.S. during the year 2000, only two out of 15,517 murders were motivated by hatred toward homosexuals. (www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm) The federal government’s statistics confirm that anti-homosexual crime is not only rare, but statistically irrelevant, (Violence toward any person, regardless, is not acceptable.) The total number of crimes in the U.S. in 2000 was 11.6 million. Roughly eight ten-thousandths (0.008) of that number were found to be hate crimes of any type.

This is just spin from GW Bush's administration.

[mikedsjr]

boredkid,

I hate to break it to you, but it doesn't matter if its a rare event or very common. The question at hand is whether these specific deaths have a common killer. And if they do, this would certainly be a huge story only for the fact that it is a serial killer. But because of it being a situation dealing with a big topic of the day it will get more play.

It doesn't matter what those stats say. What matters is this instance.


Now I have a question for others, since I am not in the know and I get my local news information off the Ticket, instead of any metropolitan newspaper around here. They said on there that gay men are highly sexually active and have many partners because guys are still guys which means they don't worry about the relational part that much, whereas a heterosexual guy will not be able to go through as many women because they are seeking the emotional needs. And so they said lesbians are not nearly as sex crazed as the gays men are.

Is this true? So this seems like it might be easy for a serial killer to get around to many men if this is true.

[F4shionablecHa0s]

BoredKid, why do you refuse to let any thread remotely related to homosexuality pass without comment?

You're not gay. We get it. No need to tear apart all these threads.

[VectorWega]

Serial Killer that targets the gays!!

Let me guess...his name starts with a "J" and ends with an "effrey Dahmer"

[rjlevins]

Now I have a question for others, since I am not in the know and I get my local news information off the Ticket, instead of any metropolitan newspaper around here. They said on there that gay men are highly sexually active and have many partners because guys are still guys which means they don't worry about the relational part that much, whereas a heterosexual guy will not be able to go through as many women because they are seeking the emotional needs. And so they said lesbians are not nearly as sex crazed as the gays men are.

Is this true? So this seems like it might be easy for a serial killer to get around to many men if this is true.

Yes, and no. For the most part, there is a very large sexually active part of the gay community. Hooking up with random people online is not uncommon, and going home with a trick at the end of the night at the clubs is a goal that most have (though that's not too different from the straights). As you said, guys are guys. There are thousands of horny straight guys looking for some chick to put out; it's just easier for a horny gay guy to find another horny gar guy. Guys are biologically more sex crazed.

At the same time, many gays value the meaning of relationships. I am more of the relationship type of guy. I am young, but I have been in 3 relationships that have lasted over a year. Currenlty, I have been seeing my boyfriend for a year and a half. When I go out to the clubs, I go with a group of people and leave with a group of people. I have been known to not allow my friends to go home with someone they just met. Way too many risks.

Basically, as with all stereotypes, there is some truth, but always plenty of exceptions. One thing I think should be remembered, is that a lot of the negative stereotypes of homosexulaity is attributable to the underground / closeted sector. Many people will hook up online because they are too ashamed or afraid to come out in real life. Sexual predators, when they make the news, are the preachers or husbands that have been sexually repressed. If there is a serial killer, I bet it is some guy who is closeted and can't comes to terms with it himself. He acts out violently against gays to prove to himself that he is not. Just my guess.

[Boredkid]

BoredKid, why do you refuse to let any thread remotely related to homosexuality pass without comment?

You're not gay. We get it. No need to tear apart all these threads.

I am Bi, Yet I hate being labeled.

[Boredkid]

And I do not tear apart these threads. I do not understand gay people, who you sleep with is a small aspect of whom you are. Gay people make it the center of their life.

[trolleygirl]

Wow!! What a great thread! Maybe I should reserve comment though because I do have a lot to say but just not sure if I should..............

[VectorWega]

who you sleep with is a small aspect of whom you are

Speak for yourself. Sex takes up at least 70% of my waking time.

[oak cliff p-wood]

one thing that suprised me and that i didnt know until i had some gay friends is all te domestic violence among gay and lesbian couples(espceially lesbians)

[Columbus Civil]

Lesbians are mean. I avoid them.

[oak cliff p-wood]

i shared a townhome in arlington with a lesbian couple for like 3 months, and they had some fistfights and slapping matches that would make ike turner mike tyson and bobby brown proud

[VectorWega]

I don't think Mike Tyson has ever had any "slapping matches"..LoL

[St-T]

Gays & lesbian couples are not any more violent than str8 couples.

[oak cliff p-wood]

uh St-T, I believe you statistically, but I can see why a gay would be more violent domestically because of the fact a couple is both the same gender.

like personally i have had ladyfriends that would make me so mad i wanted to ike turner their dumb asses, but i could hear my granpa sayin"only a sissy SOB hits a woman"
so i can see that maybe gay couples might not have that gender barrier to prevent them from hitting their partner

[vman]

I remember reading that male/male couples are the most violent, simply because they are both males, and males are naturally more aggressive than women. That makes total sense to me. Lots of gay men I've known have mentioned violent relationships. I hate it when gays try to compare their relationships to straight ones. How many heterosexual men do you know can walk into a public restroom or park, and have sex with an anonymous woman??? How many women do you kow who love glory holes?? I think part of the reason lots (not all) gay men have so many sexual partners is because sex is so easy for gay men to get. Straight guys, for the most part, still have to work a little for sex. Has there ever been any study tracking the infedelity rates in gay relationships???? I would love to see them. I could be totally wrong about lesbians, but since women tend to be more about love and emotions and all that, I've always thought they would have the most loving relationships of anyone.

[Boredkid]

There is no reason whatsoever to assume that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people are less violent than heterosexual men and women. Research on same-sex domestic violence can be difficult, given the fact that many of us are not comfortable being open about our relationships, let alone abusive ones. Research that has been done indicates that battering in same-sex relationships is about as common as in heterosexual relationships. It is increasingly agreed that battering presents one of the most significant health risks to GLBT communities today.
http://www.aardvarc.org/dv/gay.shtml

Ongoing physical violence is estimated to exist in 2-3 percent of marriages in the United States. Every year, about 1,200 women and 500 men in this country die at the hand of a spouse or partner, and some 200,000 women and 40,000 men seek emergency room help due to domestic violence.

http://www.iwf.org/specialreports/specrpt_detail.asp?ArticleID=815

[mikedsjr]

I heard that the first gay couple in America to be married is getting a divorce.

[mikedsjr]

Yes, and no. For the most part, there is a very large sexually active part of the gay community. Hooking up with random people online is not uncommon, and going home with a trick at the end of the night at the clubs is a goal that most have (though that's not too different from the straights). As you said, guys are guys. There are thousands of horny straight guys looking for some chick to put out; it's just easier for a horny gay guy to find another horny gar guy. Guys are biologically more sex crazed.

At the same time, many gays value the meaning of relationships. I am more of the relationship type of guy. I am young, but I have been in 3 relationships that have lasted over a year. Currenlty, I have been seeing my boyfriend for a year and a half. When I go out to the clubs, I go with a group of people and leave with a group of people. I have been known to not allow my friends to go home with someone they just met. Way too many risks.

Basically, as with all stereotypes, there is some truth, but always plenty of exceptions. One thing I think should be remembered, is that a lot of the negative stereotypes of homosexulaity is attributable to the underground / closeted sector. Many people will hook up online because they are too ashamed or afraid to come out in real life. Sexual predators, when they make the news, are the preachers or husbands that have been sexually repressed. If there is a serial killer, I bet it is some guy who is closeted and can't comes to terms with it himself. He acts out violently against gays to prove to himself that he is not. Just my guess.


Thanks for the info.

[ksig121]

Wow, you guys have been really busy the past couple of weeks. I think that I am also going to let this play out just a little before I make any major comments. I will say though, that sex is not the center of my life. The reason why I label myself is because it puts a face to a group. Being gay is more than a sexual act, it is a lifestyle and a distinct community of people. --- Oops, I was starting to get on a soap box. I won't do that until later. Please carry on...

[St-T]

:angryfire
I heard that the first gay couple in America to be married is getting a divorce.


Well isn't that exciting. 75% of marriages in Dallas County end in divorce.

[Boredkid]

Being gay is more than a sexual act, it is a lifestyle and a distinct community of people.

So by that, people who sleep with people of the same sex but do not go out to the gay part of town; Do not have gay friends; are not gay?

[Columbus Civil]

So by that, people who sleep with people of the same sex but do not go out to the gay part of town; Do not have gay friends; are not gay?

Those people are gay positive; the ones who go to bars and whatnot are full blown gay.

[Boredkid]

Ah thanks... Did not know there were differnt classes of gayness

[ksig121]

So by that, people who sleep with people of the same sex but do not go out to the gay part of town; Do not have gay friends; are not gay?

What I meant by community is a group of people who share common experiences and values in life because of a specific reason. I didn't mean it in the geographic sense of the word. Just like when we refer to the Black community in town, we don't just mean those who live south of I-30, but all black people in Dallas. I apologize if my statement was confusing. I keep forgetting that people can't read my mind.

[Boredkid]

I do not see myself as the african american community, nor do I see myself part of the gay community.

[Columbus Civil]

These "communities" usually fall victim to groupthink, and if you don't toe the company line, you're considered "self-loathing" or some such other pejorative.

[Boredkid]

I dont really fit into either group. Not all african americans are black, some of us are pasty white. And not all gay/bi people look or act gay.

[Columbus Civil]

People will identify with any group they feel comfortable in..perhaps for a sense of belonging. I don't think you have to look or act a certain way to identify yourself, even though most people that don't know you may feel compelled to label you based on external characteristics.

[WestTexan]

As the saying goes, I would not want to be a part of any group that would accept me (or Boredkid for that matter) as a member.

[Boredkid]

what about this group?