Suitland Murders
Unsolved Serial Murder Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Suitland, Maryland
TIME PERIOD
October 1986 - January 1987
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
The Suitland murders involve a series of unsolved homicides of young black women and girls that occurred between October 1986 and January 1987 in Suitland, Maryland. The victims were sexually assaulted and stabbed, with the investigation leading to the arrest of Alton Alonso Best, who has not been charged in connection with the murders. The case remains unsolved, with multiple victims identified and the killings ceasing after Best's arrest.
Theories surrounding the Suitland murders speculate that the crimes may be linked to a single serial killer, given the similarities in the victims' profiles—young, dark-skinned girls with slender builds. Some community members also suggest that the arrest of Alton Alonso Best, although not officially charged with the murders, may have halted the killings, leading to speculation about his potential involvement. The investigation continues to draw attention to the possibility of a broader pattern of violence against marginalized women in the area.
The Suitland Murders
Overview
The Suitland murders, a chilling unsolved serial murder case, unfolded between October 1986 and January 1987 in Suitland, Maryland, a suburb just outside Washington, D.C. This harrowing series of crimes centered around the brutal killings of young girls and women, all of whom were black. Each victim had been subjected to sexual assault and subsequent stabbing, leaving a community in fear and investigators scrambling for answers.
Quick Facts
- Victims: 5–9
- Span of Crimes: 1986–1987
- Country: United States
- States: Maryland, possibly Washington, D.C.
Victims
The killer specifically targeted young, dark-skinned girls of slender build, generally short in stature and often with short hair. The first identified victim was 20-year-old Dorothy Ann Miller, whose body was discovered on December 13, 1986, in a wooded area of Suitland. An autopsy revealed she had been brutally raped; however, the cause of death was determined to be a drug overdose, adding a layer of complexity to the case.
On January 12, 1987, local employees at the Bradbury Recreational Center stumbled upon women's clothing hanging from a tree, which led to the grim discovery of Pamela Malcolm, 25, just shy of a mile from her home. She had also been raped and stabbed, her death marking a horrific escalation in the series of killings.
The following day, as investigators focused on Malcolm’s murder, a sizable task force—75 officers strong—cordoned off an eight-acre area for an extensive search. This operation yielded two additional victims: Cynthia Lee Westbury, 22, and Juanita Marie Walls, 26. Both women exhibited signs of having been raped and suffered multiple stab wounds. Just a day later, the body of Angela Maria Wilkerson, another 22-year-old reported missing on January 5, was found nearby, bearing the same gruesome injuries as the others.
A background check revealed that four out of the five victims lived in southeast Washington, D.C., within a kilometer of each other. They were predominantly unemployed, except for Malcolm, who worked for the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The medical examiner was unable to pinpoint the exact dates of death, which only deepened the mystery surrounding these murders.
Disappearances
Investigators delved into the circumstances leading to the victims' disappearances. Malcolm was last seen on October 21, 1986, when she left her Suitland apartment, shared with her mother, to buy cigarettes and never returned. Nine days later, Walls went missing after leaving her home in D.C. for a family birthday party but never arrived. Westbury vanished on November 10 while heading to meet a friend. The decomposition state of the bodies indicated that they had likely been killed shortly after their disappearances, prompting law enforcement to categorize Miller as the fourth canonical victim due to her less decomposed body.
Investigation
In January 1987, the Prince George's County Police Department formed a dedicated task force of 25 officers to tackle the investigation. They initiated raids on various establishments in D.C.'s red-light districts and conducted interviews with a wide range of individuals—friends, family members, local shopkeepers, and bar owners—seeking any leads. During these interviews, officers learned that at least two victims had frequented a local bar, Clancy's, only to have the bar's owner deny any familiarity with them.
Interestingly, a young man claimed to have seen Westbury in a gold-colored car near her home on the day of her disappearance. This car sped away, allegedly driven by a stranger wearing a hat. Meanwhile, it emerged that Walls had recently been fired from her job due to accusations of fraud, leading to a confrontation with her supervisor. This incident raised questions about her state of mind and possible connections to her disappearance. Additionally, it surfaced that at least one victim had engaged in prostitution, drawing police focus toward individuals with past sexual offenses, although many leads were later dismissed.
In a twist of community dynamics, the Prince George's County police faced tension with the local chapter of the Guardian Angels, who had begun patrolling the streets of Suitland. The police accused them of obstructing the investigation, as residents were reportedly more willing to speak with Guardian Angels due to the police's tarnished reputation from the 1980s.
Suspect
On January 30, 1987, a significant breakthrough occurred when police identified Alton Alonso Best, a 30-year-old unemployed D.C. resident, as a potential suspect. He had recently been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Janice Elaine Morton, a nurse's aide. Morton’s murder occurred inside a van belonging to Best’s nephew, a D.C. police officer.
Amid rising community unrest, approximately 120 Suitland residents picketed outside the police station on February 3, demanding updates on the investigations and expressing fears about further murders. Despite no direct evidence linking Best to the Suitland murders, investigators maintained that he was a prime suspect.
Investigators soon discovered that Best had ties to at least three of the victims. A witness reported seeing one victim in Best’s black van shortly before her disappearance. The circumstantial evidence against him included a history of drug addiction shared with several victims and a troubling past involving armed robbery and kidnapping, where he had forced two young women into his van at gunpoint.
As the investigation unfolded, Best’s black van was sent for forensic analysis at Quantico, Virginia. Unfortunately, in late April, police announced that no forensic evidence could be found linking the vehicle to the Suitland crimes. Best denied knowing any of the victims, but suspicions grew when it was revealed that he had a history of violent crime.
Ultimately, Best was charged with Morton’s murder and, on June 10, 1987, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and sodomy. In a shocking confession, he described how he had lured Morton into his world of drugs and violence, but maintained his innocence regarding the Suitland murders, even as the killings ceased following his arrest.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation
Despite Best's conviction, the lingering question of whether he was the Suitland murderer remained. Police even investigated Best for a series of murders of black prostitutes in Los Angeles, but were unable to establish any connections. Years later, the notorious "Southside Slayer" was identified as a compilation of different serial killers, further complicating the narrative surrounding Best's involvement.
On April 5, 1987, a naked woman’s body was discovered on a D.C. street, leading to further investigations. Five days later, while Best was incarcerated, a Suitland resident reported an attempted kidnapping by a stranger in a dark-colored van, alarmingly close to Malcolm’s home. Additional bodies were found in subsequent months, including Donna Nichols, beaten to death, and Cheryl Henderson, whose throat had been cut. However, no definitive connection was made between these murders and those in Suitland, as the official stance remained that the killings ceased with Best's capture.
Conclusion
The Suitland murders remain one of the most haunting unsolved cases in the area, a dark chapter that continues to evoke fear and intrigue. The combination of circumstantial evidence against Alton Best and the chilling nature of the crimes have left a lasting impact on the community, forever marked by the grim memory of these young women.
Sources
- Pressley, Sue Anne (December 12, 1987). "SUITLAND MURDERS UNSOLVED BUT FAR FROM FORGOTTEN". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Keith Harriston, Ed Bruske (January 17, 1987). "CLUES SOUGHT IN LIVES OF 5 VICTIMS". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Ferraro, Thomas (February 11, 1987). "Serial murders baffle police". United Press International. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- A. Franklin, Ben (January 18, 1987). "SIX SLAYINGS STIR ANXIETY IN CAPITAL". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Harriston, Keith (January 25, 1987). "SORTING OUT THE JUMBLED PIECES OF THE SUITLAND SLAYINGS PUZZLE". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Harriston, Keith (April 22, 1987). "D.C. SUSPECT LINKED TO SUITLAND VICTIMS". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Walsh, Elsa (June 10, 1987). "SUSPECT IN 3 SUITLAND SLAYINGS PLEADS GUILTY TO NE MURDER". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Page, Paul (June 10, 1987). "Suspect In Maryland Serial Killings Pleads Guilty In Washington Case". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Webb, Tracey (June 10, 1987). "Suspect in Maryland killings pleads guilty to separate murder". United Press International. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- "The Region". Los Angeles Times. February 5, 1987. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Newton, Michael (2009). The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes. New York: Facts on File. pp. 234–235. ISBN 9781438119144.
- Cawthorne, Nigel (2011). The Mammoth Book of Killers at Large. Constable & Robinson. ISBN 9781780333625.
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First Victim Found
20-year-old Dorothy Ann Miller's body discovered, indicating the start of the Suitland murders.
Murders Cease
The Suitland murders stop following Best's arrest, though the case remains unsolved.
Second Victim Discovered
25-year-old Pamela Malcolm found dead, raped and stabbed, escalating the investigation.
Task Force Formed
A 75-member task force is established to investigate the Suitland murders following the discovery of additional bodies.
Two More Bodies Found
Bodies of Cynthia Lee Westbury and Juanita Marie Walls discovered during the task force's search.
Suspect Identified
Alton Alonso Best is identified as a potential suspect in the Suitland murders.
Best Pleads Guilty
Alton Alonso Best pleads guilty to the murder of Janice Morton, though not charged with the Suitland murders.
Best Sentenced
Alton Alonso Best is sentenced to 18 years and 4 months for the murder of Janice Morton.
The Suitland murders involve a series of unsolved homicides of young black women and girls that occurred between October 1986 and January 1987 in Suitland, Maryland. The victims were sexually assaulted and stabbed, with the investigation leading to the arrest of Alton Alonso Best, who has not been charged in connection with the murders. The case remains unsolved, with multiple victims identified and the killings ceasing after Best's arrest.
Theories surrounding the Suitland murders speculate that the crimes may be linked to a single serial killer, given the similarities in the victims' profiles—young, dark-skinned girls with slender builds. Some community members also suggest that the arrest of Alton Alonso Best, although not officially charged with the murders, may have halted the killings, leading to speculation about his potential involvement. The investigation continues to draw attention to the possibility of a broader pattern of violence against marginalized women in the area.
The Suitland Murders
Overview
The Suitland murders, a chilling unsolved serial murder case, unfolded between October 1986 and January 1987 in Suitland, Maryland, a suburb just outside Washington, D.C. This harrowing series of crimes centered around the brutal killings of young girls and women, all of whom were black. Each victim had been subjected to sexual assault and subsequent stabbing, leaving a community in fear and investigators scrambling for answers.
Quick Facts
- Victims: 5–9
- Span of Crimes: 1986–1987
- Country: United States
- States: Maryland, possibly Washington, D.C.
Victims
The killer specifically targeted young, dark-skinned girls of slender build, generally short in stature and often with short hair. The first identified victim was 20-year-old Dorothy Ann Miller, whose body was discovered on December 13, 1986, in a wooded area of Suitland. An autopsy revealed she had been brutally raped; however, the cause of death was determined to be a drug overdose, adding a layer of complexity to the case.
On January 12, 1987, local employees at the Bradbury Recreational Center stumbled upon women's clothing hanging from a tree, which led to the grim discovery of Pamela Malcolm, 25, just shy of a mile from her home. She had also been raped and stabbed, her death marking a horrific escalation in the series of killings.
The following day, as investigators focused on Malcolm’s murder, a sizable task force—75 officers strong—cordoned off an eight-acre area for an extensive search. This operation yielded two additional victims: Cynthia Lee Westbury, 22, and Juanita Marie Walls, 26. Both women exhibited signs of having been raped and suffered multiple stab wounds. Just a day later, the body of Angela Maria Wilkerson, another 22-year-old reported missing on January 5, was found nearby, bearing the same gruesome injuries as the others.
A background check revealed that four out of the five victims lived in southeast Washington, D.C., within a kilometer of each other. They were predominantly unemployed, except for Malcolm, who worked for the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The medical examiner was unable to pinpoint the exact dates of death, which only deepened the mystery surrounding these murders.
Disappearances
Investigators delved into the circumstances leading to the victims' disappearances. Malcolm was last seen on October 21, 1986, when she left her Suitland apartment, shared with her mother, to buy cigarettes and never returned. Nine days later, Walls went missing after leaving her home in D.C. for a family birthday party but never arrived. Westbury vanished on November 10 while heading to meet a friend. The decomposition state of the bodies indicated that they had likely been killed shortly after their disappearances, prompting law enforcement to categorize Miller as the fourth canonical victim due to her less decomposed body.
Investigation
In January 1987, the Prince George's County Police Department formed a dedicated task force of 25 officers to tackle the investigation. They initiated raids on various establishments in D.C.'s red-light districts and conducted interviews with a wide range of individuals—friends, family members, local shopkeepers, and bar owners—seeking any leads. During these interviews, officers learned that at least two victims had frequented a local bar, Clancy's, only to have the bar's owner deny any familiarity with them.
Interestingly, a young man claimed to have seen Westbury in a gold-colored car near her home on the day of her disappearance. This car sped away, allegedly driven by a stranger wearing a hat. Meanwhile, it emerged that Walls had recently been fired from her job due to accusations of fraud, leading to a confrontation with her supervisor. This incident raised questions about her state of mind and possible connections to her disappearance. Additionally, it surfaced that at least one victim had engaged in prostitution, drawing police focus toward individuals with past sexual offenses, although many leads were later dismissed.
In a twist of community dynamics, the Prince George's County police faced tension with the local chapter of the Guardian Angels, who had begun patrolling the streets of Suitland. The police accused them of obstructing the investigation, as residents were reportedly more willing to speak with Guardian Angels due to the police's tarnished reputation from the 1980s.
Suspect
On January 30, 1987, a significant breakthrough occurred when police identified Alton Alonso Best, a 30-year-old unemployed D.C. resident, as a potential suspect. He had recently been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Janice Elaine Morton, a nurse's aide. Morton’s murder occurred inside a van belonging to Best’s nephew, a D.C. police officer.
Amid rising community unrest, approximately 120 Suitland residents picketed outside the police station on February 3, demanding updates on the investigations and expressing fears about further murders. Despite no direct evidence linking Best to the Suitland murders, investigators maintained that he was a prime suspect.
Investigators soon discovered that Best had ties to at least three of the victims. A witness reported seeing one victim in Best’s black van shortly before her disappearance. The circumstantial evidence against him included a history of drug addiction shared with several victims and a troubling past involving armed robbery and kidnapping, where he had forced two young women into his van at gunpoint.
As the investigation unfolded, Best’s black van was sent for forensic analysis at Quantico, Virginia. Unfortunately, in late April, police announced that no forensic evidence could be found linking the vehicle to the Suitland crimes. Best denied knowing any of the victims, but suspicions grew when it was revealed that he had a history of violent crime.
Ultimately, Best was charged with Morton’s murder and, on June 10, 1987, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and sodomy. In a shocking confession, he described how he had lured Morton into his world of drugs and violence, but maintained his innocence regarding the Suitland murders, even as the killings ceased following his arrest.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation
Despite Best's conviction, the lingering question of whether he was the Suitland murderer remained. Police even investigated Best for a series of murders of black prostitutes in Los Angeles, but were unable to establish any connections. Years later, the notorious "Southside Slayer" was identified as a compilation of different serial killers, further complicating the narrative surrounding Best's involvement.
On April 5, 1987, a naked woman’s body was discovered on a D.C. street, leading to further investigations. Five days later, while Best was incarcerated, a Suitland resident reported an attempted kidnapping by a stranger in a dark-colored van, alarmingly close to Malcolm’s home. Additional bodies were found in subsequent months, including Donna Nichols, beaten to death, and Cheryl Henderson, whose throat had been cut. However, no definitive connection was made between these murders and those in Suitland, as the official stance remained that the killings ceased with Best's capture.
Conclusion
The Suitland murders remain one of the most haunting unsolved cases in the area, a dark chapter that continues to evoke fear and intrigue. The combination of circumstantial evidence against Alton Best and the chilling nature of the crimes have left a lasting impact on the community, forever marked by the grim memory of these young women.
Sources
- Pressley, Sue Anne (December 12, 1987). "SUITLAND MURDERS UNSOLVED BUT FAR FROM FORGOTTEN". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Keith Harriston, Ed Bruske (January 17, 1987). "CLUES SOUGHT IN LIVES OF 5 VICTIMS". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Ferraro, Thomas (February 11, 1987). "Serial murders baffle police". United Press International. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- A. Franklin, Ben (January 18, 1987). "SIX SLAYINGS STIR ANXIETY IN CAPITAL". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Harriston, Keith (January 25, 1987). "SORTING OUT THE JUMBLED PIECES OF THE SUITLAND SLAYINGS PUZZLE". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Harriston, Keith (April 22, 1987). "D.C. SUSPECT LINKED TO SUITLAND VICTIMS". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Walsh, Elsa (June 10, 1987). "SUSPECT IN 3 SUITLAND SLAYINGS PLEADS GUILTY TO NE MURDER". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Page, Paul (June 10, 1987). "Suspect In Maryland Serial Killings Pleads Guilty In Washington Case". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Webb, Tracey (June 10, 1987). "Suspect in Maryland killings pleads guilty to separate murder". United Press International. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- "The Region". Los Angeles Times. February 5, 1987. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022.
- Newton, Michael (2009). The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes. New York: Facts on File. pp. 234–235. ISBN 9781438119144.
- Cawthorne, Nigel (2011). The Mammoth Book of Killers at Large. Constable & Robinson. ISBN 9781780333625.
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
Loading comments...
First Victim Found
20-year-old Dorothy Ann Miller's body discovered, indicating the start of the Suitland murders.
Murders Cease
The Suitland murders stop following Best's arrest, though the case remains unsolved.
Second Victim Discovered
25-year-old Pamela Malcolm found dead, raped and stabbed, escalating the investigation.
Task Force Formed
A 75-member task force is established to investigate the Suitland murders following the discovery of additional bodies.
Two More Bodies Found
Bodies of Cynthia Lee Westbury and Juanita Marie Walls discovered during the task force's search.
Suspect Identified
Alton Alonso Best is identified as a potential suspect in the Suitland murders.
Best Pleads Guilty
Alton Alonso Best pleads guilty to the murder of Janice Morton, though not charged with the Suitland murders.
Best Sentenced
Alton Alonso Best is sentenced to 18 years and 4 months for the murder of Janice Morton.