The Skid Row Stabber

Overview

The Skid Row Stabber is an unidentified American serial killer linked to the tragic murders of 11 individuals in the infamous Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles. Known for its high population of homeless individuals who often face victimization, this area became a hunting ground for a killer wielding a knife. One man, Bobby Joe Maxwell, was arrested, charged, and sentenced for these heinous acts, but his conviction was overturned in 2010, leaving the true identity of the Skid Row Stabber a haunting mystery.

Quick Facts

• Span of Crimes: 1978–1979
• Country: United States
• State: California
• Date Apprehended: 1979
• Suspect Convicted: 1979; exonerated in 2010 but never aware due to a heart attack resulting in a coma until his death in 2019.

The Murders

The horrific spree began on October 23, 1978, when the Skid Row Stabber claimed his first victim, 50-year-old Jesse Martinez. The choice of victims was chillingly consistent—most were homeless individuals whose bodies were discarded in nearby alleyways, a grim reflection of the brutality and disregard for life that characterized the killer’s actions.

• October 29, 1978: 32-year-old Jose Cortes was murdered.
• October 30, 1978: 46-year-old Bruce Emmett Drake fell victim a day later.
• November 4, 1978: 65-year-old J.P. Henderson was killed.
• November 9, 1978: 39-year-old David Martin Jones was brutally attacked and killed near Los Angeles City Hall.
• November 11, 1978: 57-year-old Francisco Pérez Rodriguez became the next victim.

Just two days later, the killer committed a shocking double murder, taking the lives of 36-year-old Frank Floyd Reed and 49-year-old Augustine E. Luna. The pattern continued, with 34-year-old Milford Fletcher, a Native American, being murdered on November 17, 1978. The killer struck again three days later, claiming 45-year-old Frank García, whose body was found on November 23. Incredibly, this murder occurred in a bustling area, yet the killer managed to escape without detection.

An intriguing piece of evidence emerged—a palm print found next to García’s body, which investigators believed could have belonged to the killer. The last confirmed victim, 26-year-old Luis Alvarez, was brutally stabbed on January 21, 1979.

Investigation

The investigation into these murders was both complex and chilling. Witnesses to David Jones’ murder provided descriptions of the assailant: a 30-year-old Black man who spoke with a Puerto Rican accent and introduced himself as "Luther." This name would take on a sinister significance in the ongoing investigation.

In an eerie twist, three months later, a message scrawled in a Los Angeles Bus Terminal toilet read: "My name is Luther, I kill wine o’s. I put them out of their misery!" This ominous note hinted at the killer’s possible identity and mindset.

Suspect: Bobby Joe Maxwell

As the investigation unfolded, authorities pursued several leads and suspects. In early 1979, forensic examination of the palm print found near García’s body revealed it belonged to 29-year-old Bobby Joe Maxwell, a man with a troubled past. Released from prison in Tennessee, Maxwell had moved to Los Angeles in 1977, where he was known to frequent the Skid Row area.

Maxwell’s history included disturbing behavior towards sleeping homeless individuals, leading to his arrest for disturbing the peace in December 1978. A knife was confiscated during this arrest, raising further suspicions. Notably, after his incarceration, the Skid Row Stabber did not claim any more victims, a fact that certainly contributed to the investigation's focus on him.

Maxwell was arrested in April 1979 on suspicion of murder. During a search of his apartment, investigators seized shoes, clothing, and personal diaries. Disturbingly, they concluded that Maxwell was a satanist, adding another layer of complexity to his profile.

The trial commenced in early 1984, after several delays. The prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of 37-year-old Sidney Storch, a felon who had been Maxwell’s cellmate. Storch claimed Maxwell confessed to the murders, providing harrowing details about the killings.

Adding to the circumstantial evidence, a knife found on Maxwell was determined to be the same size as the weapon used in the murders, and a graphological analysis concluded that he had written the note found at the bus terminal. Despite the lack of direct material evidence linking him to the other murders, the jury found Maxwell guilty of two murders at the end of 1984, sentencing him to life without parole. Over the years, public outrage and media frenzy firmly established Maxwell as the Skid Row Stabber.

Further Developments

The debate surrounding Bobby Joe Maxwell's guilt persisted for decades. He consistently maintained his innocence, filing appeals and seeking justice. In 2010, Maxwell's lawyers successfully demonstrated that the witnesses in David Jones' murder had been coerced, leading to their unreliable testimonies. It was revealed that Sidney Storch had a history of providing false testimony for personal gain, tainting the integrity of the trial.

In 2010, an appellate court overturned Maxwell's conviction, leading to a new trial. Tragically, in 2017, he suffered a severe heart attack, resulting in a coma. By the time the Los Angeles County Prosecutor's Office dropped all charges against him in August 2018, Maxwell was unable to comprehend the monumental shift in his fate. He was officially exonerated, but he died in April 2019, never knowing he had been cleared of the crimes he had been accused of.

And so, the identity of the Skid Row Stabber remains shrouded in mystery, a chilling reminder of the darkness that can lurk in society's shadows.

Sources

• "Sex Killing. Girl Begs for Mercy on Recording of Rape and Torture in Los Angeles." Evening Independent, February 15, 1980.
• Cummings, Judith. "LOS ANGELES POLICE IDENTIFY A SUICIDE AS KILLER OF 10 MEN." The New York Times, February 6, 1987.
• "Suspect Booked in L.A. Stabbings." Spokane Daily Chronicle, December 8, 1978.
• "Skid Row Stabber Guilty in Two Deaths." July 13, 1984.
• "Bobby Joe Maxwell Other Los Angeles Exonerations with Official Misconduct."
• Pelisek, Christine. "Will L.A.'s Skid Row Stabber Get Sprung?" The Daily Beast, September 7, 2012.
• "Maxwell v. Roe, 628 F.3d 486 (9th Cir. 2010)." Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
• "His convictions were overturned; he's in failing health." Los Angeles Times, April 28, 2018.
• "Prosecutors drop all criminal charges against suspected 'Skid Row Stabber.'" Los Angeles Times, August 11, 2018.
• "Bobby Joe Maxwell, the once accused Skid Row Stabber whose convictions were later overturned, died." Los Angeles Times, May 17, 2019.

For further details, check out the original article on Wikipedia.