Cleophus Prince Jr.
Clairemont Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
San Diego, California
TIME PERIOD
January 1990 - September 1990
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
Cleophus Prince Jr. is an American serial killer convicted in 1993 for the rape and murder of six women in San Diego County, California, during a crime spree that spanned from January 12 to September 13, 1990, primarily in the Clairemont Mesa and University City neighborhoods. Prince, born on July 24, 1967, was apprehended on March 3, 1991, after police linked him to the murders through DNA evidence and established patterns of entering victims' homes through unlocked doors or windows. The victims, all women, were attacked in their residences, often while they were bathing, and Prince used knives from their kitchens to commit the murders. He is currently imprisoned at San Quentin State Prison, where he remains on death row following his conviction for six counts of first-degree murder, among other charges. Significant evidence includes DNA matches and witness accounts that helped establish his modus operandi and connection to the victims.
Investigators and the public theorize that Cleophus Prince Jr. was a "disorganized opportunist," as he targeted women in their homes during daylight hours, often entering through unlocked doors or windows. Some speculate that his military background and previous court-martial for larceny may have contributed to his criminal behavior. Additionally, there is speculation about potential undiscovered victims or connections to other unsolved cases in the region.
The Clairemont Killer: The Chilling Saga of Cleophus Prince Jr.
Introduction
On the surface, Cleophus Prince Jr. seemed like an ordinary individual. Born on July 24, 1967, in Birmingham, Alabama, he later served as a Navy mechanic. But beneath his mundane exterior lurked a sinister persona that would later earn him the moniker "The Clairemont Killer." Convicted and sentenced to death in 1993, Prince's crimes were heinous—a series of rapes and murders that terrorized San Diego County, California, between January and September 1990.
Dark Beginnings
Before Cleophus Prince Jr. became infamous for his brutal crimes, he faced a court-martial in October 1989 while serving in the U.S. Navy, convicted of larceny. This conviction led to a brief sentence and a recommendation for discharge. Following his release, Prince moved into the Buena Vista Gardens apartment complex in December 1989, a location ominously close to the site of his first three murders. It was here that a lethal pattern began to emerge.
The Crimes
Between January 12 and September 13, 1990, the community of Clairemont Mesa and University City in San Diego became the hunting grounds for Prince. Police identified the then-unknown serial killer as a "disorganized opportunist." His modus operandi was chillingly consistent—entering through unlocked doors or windows during daylight, targeting women as they bathed, and using knives from their own kitchens to stab them to death. Investigators speculated that Prince stalked some victims, such as Pamela Clark, tracking them from a nearby fitness club in the Miramar neighborhood.
Prince's criminal activities extended beyond murder. He was also convicted of multiple burglaries and attempted burglaries from April 1990 to February 1991.
Murder Victims: Six Lives Lost
Tiffany Paige Schultz - On January 12, 1990, 20-year-old Schultz was discovered dead in an apartment complex adjacent to Buena Vista Gardens. Initially, her boyfriend faced arrest, only to be released three days later.
Janene Marie Weinhold - The 21-year-old was murdered on February 16, 1990, in a neighboring apartment complex. DNA testing later linked Prince to her murder, prompting her parents to contribute to a memorial playground in her honor.
Holly Suzanne Tarr - On April 3, 1990, 18-year-old Tarr, visiting her brother at Buena Vista Gardens, was found dead. This murder sparked police suspicions of a serial killer. A ring taken from Tarr by Prince was gifted to his girlfriend as a Christmas present.
Elissa Naomi Keller - The 38-year-old victim was killed on May 21, 1990, in an East San Diego apartment where Prince had moved. A gold nugget ring belonging to Keller was traced back to Prince.
Pamela Gail Clark - On September 13, 1990, 42-year-old Clark was found dead in University City. Prince's roommates testified that he possessed her wedding ring.
Amber Clark - On the same day, 18-year-old Amber, Pamela's daughter, was also murdered. At the time, the connection to Elissa Keller's murder had not been made. This case triggered the largest manhunt in San Diego Police history.
The Hunt for the Killer
In April 1990, a crucial development emerged when a maintenance worker provided a description leading to a composite sketch of the suspect, seen fleeing after Holly Tarr's murder. Despite initial focus on another suspect in January 1991, Prince's eventual capture came after a failed burglary attempt in Scripps Ranch in February 1991. A vigilant woman, whom he followed from a health club, heard him trying to break in and sought help. Prince, confronted by a neighbor, attempted a feeble excuse before fleeing. His license plate was noted, leading to his arrest on February 4, 1991, after being identified by witnesses.
The Arrest and DNA Breakthrough
Prince's arrest in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 3, 1991, initially for unrelated theft, proved pivotal. Persuaded by Birmingham Police Officer Steven Lampley to come to the precinct, Prince was taken into custody after a lengthy phone negotiation. Extradited to San Diego, he faced trial where DNA evidence sealed his fate. The DNA linked him to Janene Weinhold's murder, and the pattern of his crimes connected him to the other killings.
The Trial and Aftermath
In March 1992, after reviewing compelling physical evidence, a judge ordered Prince to stand trial. His defense's plea to dismiss three murder charges due to insufficient evidence was denied. On July 13, 1993, Prince was convicted of all six counts of first-degree murder and 21 other felonies. The jury sentenced him to death on November 5, 1993. Despite appealing over alleged media bias in 2007, the Supreme Court of California upheld his sentence. Cleophus Prince Jr. remains on death row at San Quentin State Prison, a grim fixture of America's justice system.
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First Murder
Tiffany Paige Schultz is murdered, marking the start of the Clairemont serial killings.
Second Murder
Janene Marie Weinhold is killed, with DNA later linking Prince to the crime.
Third Murder
Holly Suzanne Tarr is murdered, leading police to suspect a serial killer.
Fourth Murder
Elissa Naomi Keller is killed, with evidence later traced to Prince.
Fifth and Sixth Murders
Pamela Gail Clark and her daughter Amber Clark are murdered, prompting a massive manhunt.
Arrest
Cleophus Prince Jr. is arrested after attempting a burglary, leading to his identification as the serial killer.
Trial Begins
Prince's trial begins after a judge orders him to stand trial based on physical evidence.
Guilty Verdict
Prince is found guilty on all six counts of first-degree murder and 21 other felony charges.
Death Sentence
Prince is sentenced to death for his crimes, officially marking the resolution of the case.
Cleophus Prince Jr. is an American serial killer convicted in 1993 for the rape and murder of six women in San Diego County, California, during a crime spree that spanned from January 12 to September 13, 1990, primarily in the Clairemont Mesa and University City neighborhoods. Prince, born on July 24, 1967, was apprehended on March 3, 1991, after police linked him to the murders through DNA evidence and established patterns of entering victims' homes through unlocked doors or windows. The victims, all women, were attacked in their residences, often while they were bathing, and Prince used knives from their kitchens to commit the murders. He is currently imprisoned at San Quentin State Prison, where he remains on death row following his conviction for six counts of first-degree murder, among other charges. Significant evidence includes DNA matches and witness accounts that helped establish his modus operandi and connection to the victims.
Investigators and the public theorize that Cleophus Prince Jr. was a "disorganized opportunist," as he targeted women in their homes during daylight hours, often entering through unlocked doors or windows. Some speculate that his military background and previous court-martial for larceny may have contributed to his criminal behavior. Additionally, there is speculation about potential undiscovered victims or connections to other unsolved cases in the region.
The Clairemont Killer: The Chilling Saga of Cleophus Prince Jr.
Introduction
On the surface, Cleophus Prince Jr. seemed like an ordinary individual. Born on July 24, 1967, in Birmingham, Alabama, he later served as a Navy mechanic. But beneath his mundane exterior lurked a sinister persona that would later earn him the moniker "The Clairemont Killer." Convicted and sentenced to death in 1993, Prince's crimes were heinous—a series of rapes and murders that terrorized San Diego County, California, between January and September 1990.
Dark Beginnings
Before Cleophus Prince Jr. became infamous for his brutal crimes, he faced a court-martial in October 1989 while serving in the U.S. Navy, convicted of larceny. This conviction led to a brief sentence and a recommendation for discharge. Following his release, Prince moved into the Buena Vista Gardens apartment complex in December 1989, a location ominously close to the site of his first three murders. It was here that a lethal pattern began to emerge.
The Crimes
Between January 12 and September 13, 1990, the community of Clairemont Mesa and University City in San Diego became the hunting grounds for Prince. Police identified the then-unknown serial killer as a "disorganized opportunist." His modus operandi was chillingly consistent—entering through unlocked doors or windows during daylight, targeting women as they bathed, and using knives from their own kitchens to stab them to death. Investigators speculated that Prince stalked some victims, such as Pamela Clark, tracking them from a nearby fitness club in the Miramar neighborhood.
Prince's criminal activities extended beyond murder. He was also convicted of multiple burglaries and attempted burglaries from April 1990 to February 1991.
Murder Victims: Six Lives Lost
Tiffany Paige Schultz - On January 12, 1990, 20-year-old Schultz was discovered dead in an apartment complex adjacent to Buena Vista Gardens. Initially, her boyfriend faced arrest, only to be released three days later.
Janene Marie Weinhold - The 21-year-old was murdered on February 16, 1990, in a neighboring apartment complex. DNA testing later linked Prince to her murder, prompting her parents to contribute to a memorial playground in her honor.
Holly Suzanne Tarr - On April 3, 1990, 18-year-old Tarr, visiting her brother at Buena Vista Gardens, was found dead. This murder sparked police suspicions of a serial killer. A ring taken from Tarr by Prince was gifted to his girlfriend as a Christmas present.
Elissa Naomi Keller - The 38-year-old victim was killed on May 21, 1990, in an East San Diego apartment where Prince had moved. A gold nugget ring belonging to Keller was traced back to Prince.
Pamela Gail Clark - On September 13, 1990, 42-year-old Clark was found dead in University City. Prince's roommates testified that he possessed her wedding ring.
Amber Clark - On the same day, 18-year-old Amber, Pamela's daughter, was also murdered. At the time, the connection to Elissa Keller's murder had not been made. This case triggered the largest manhunt in San Diego Police history.
The Hunt for the Killer
In April 1990, a crucial development emerged when a maintenance worker provided a description leading to a composite sketch of the suspect, seen fleeing after Holly Tarr's murder. Despite initial focus on another suspect in January 1991, Prince's eventual capture came after a failed burglary attempt in Scripps Ranch in February 1991. A vigilant woman, whom he followed from a health club, heard him trying to break in and sought help. Prince, confronted by a neighbor, attempted a feeble excuse before fleeing. His license plate was noted, leading to his arrest on February 4, 1991, after being identified by witnesses.
The Arrest and DNA Breakthrough
Prince's arrest in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 3, 1991, initially for unrelated theft, proved pivotal. Persuaded by Birmingham Police Officer Steven Lampley to come to the precinct, Prince was taken into custody after a lengthy phone negotiation. Extradited to San Diego, he faced trial where DNA evidence sealed his fate. The DNA linked him to Janene Weinhold's murder, and the pattern of his crimes connected him to the other killings.
The Trial and Aftermath
In March 1992, after reviewing compelling physical evidence, a judge ordered Prince to stand trial. His defense's plea to dismiss three murder charges due to insufficient evidence was denied. On July 13, 1993, Prince was convicted of all six counts of first-degree murder and 21 other felonies. The jury sentenced him to death on November 5, 1993. Despite appealing over alleged media bias in 2007, the Supreme Court of California upheld his sentence. Cleophus Prince Jr. remains on death row at San Quentin State Prison, a grim fixture of America's justice system.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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First Murder
Tiffany Paige Schultz is murdered, marking the start of the Clairemont serial killings.
Second Murder
Janene Marie Weinhold is killed, with DNA later linking Prince to the crime.
Third Murder
Holly Suzanne Tarr is murdered, leading police to suspect a serial killer.
Fourth Murder
Elissa Naomi Keller is killed, with evidence later traced to Prince.
Fifth and Sixth Murders
Pamela Gail Clark and her daughter Amber Clark are murdered, prompting a massive manhunt.
Arrest
Cleophus Prince Jr. is arrested after attempting a burglary, leading to his identification as the serial killer.
Trial Begins
Prince's trial begins after a judge orders him to stand trial based on physical evidence.
Guilty Verdict
Prince is found guilty on all six counts of first-degree murder and 21 other felony charges.
Death Sentence
Prince is sentenced to death for his crimes, officially marking the resolution of the case.