History shows: When serial cases get lots of attention, it makes a difference

Law enforcement experts point to importance of many eyes being on serial crimes cases

Law enforcement experts point to importance of many eyes being on serial crimes cases

LOTS OF ATTENTION, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. THE EYES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PAST AND PRESENT WATCHING THE STOCKTON SERIAL KILLINGS CASE CLOSELY. >> WHENEVER YOU HEAR SERIAL KILLER, THAT’S NOT A NORMAL THING SO IT DOES GRAB YOUR ATTENTION. MELANIE: FORMER SACRAMENTO POLICE CHIEF DANIEL HAHN EXPLAINING ATTENTION IS EXACTLY WHAT MAY HELP THIS INVESTIGATION THE MOST. >> I DON’T THINK THAT ANY DEPARTMENT WOULD REPORT OUT THAT THERE’S A SERIAL KILLER IN THEIR COMMUNITY WITHOUT HAVING REALLY GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE SO, BECAUSE THAT GETS PEOPLE’S ATTENTION AND MAKES PEOPLE VERY NERVOUS FOR THEIR SAFETY. MELANIE: SAFETY CONCERNS, HAHN HOPES, MAKE PEOPLE MORE AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS AND MORE WILLING TO REPORT EVEN THE SEEMINGLY SMALLEST OF LEADS TO POLICE THAT COULD HELP CRACK THE CASE. >> THE MORE INFORMATION THEY GET AND THE MORE INFORMATION THEY PUT OUT, THE MORE LIKELY IT IS THAT THIS PERSON IS GOING TO BE CAUGHT. MELANIE: FORMER SACRAMENTO COUNTY SHERIFF JOHN MCGINNESS. >> WE HAD A SERIES CALLED THE THRILL KILLER SERIES. MELANIE: REMEMBERING ONE SUCH SERIAL MURDER CASE IN THE COUNTY. >> IT SHUT THIS COMMUNITY DOWN. MELANIE: A SERIES OF SIX SLAYINGS THAT RATTLED THE GREATER SACRAMENTO REGION FOR MONTHS IN EARLY 1991. >> THERE WERE CLERKS WORKING IN BUSINESSES THAT WERE VICTIMS OF A KILLER ON CONSECUTIVE TUESDAY NIGHTS. MELANIE: UNTIL EXTENSIVE ATTENTION ON THE CASE AND RESOURCES DEVOTED TO IT PAID OFF. >> WE SATURATED THAT AREA WITH EVERY AVAILABLE RESOURCE, PATROL WISE. MELANIE: SACRAMENTO SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES EVENTUALLY ARRESTING ERIC LEONARD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SO-CALLED THRILL KILLINGS. BUT UNTIL THE KILLER OR KILLERS IN THE STOCKTON CASE IS CAUGHT -- >> I’M PRETTY SURE THIS PERSON WILL EVENTUALLY BE CAUGHT. MELANIE: HAHN AND MCGINNESS ARE IN AGREEMENT, PEOPLE REGION-WIDE NEED TO BE ON ALERT. >> IT’S A TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS. MELANIE: MCGINNESS SAYING IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO BE ON GUARD. DO THE THINGS STOCKTON PD IS TELLING US. TRAVEL IN PAIRS, DON’T BE OUT ALONE ESPECIALLY AFTER DARK. AND BE MINDFUL OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. HAHN SAYING DON’T BE AFRAID TO REPORT ANYTHING YOU THINK MIGHT BE SUSPICIOUS. NO MATTER HOW SMALL IT MAY SEEM. IF IT SEEMS OFF TO YOU, THAT MAY BE THE ONE DETAIL THAT HELPS DETECTIVES

History shows: When serial cases get lots of attention, it makes a difference

Law enforcement experts point to importance of many eyes being on serial crimes cases

The eyes of law enforcement, past and present, are watching the Stockton serial killings case closely.Former Sacramento police Chief Daniel Hahn told KCRA 3 that attention is exactly what may help this investigation the most."Whenever you hear 'serial killer,' that's not a normal thing, so it does grab your attention," Hahn said. "I don't think that any department would report out that there's a serial killer in their community without having really good reason to believe so, because that gets people's attention and makes people very nervous for their safety."Safety concerns, Hahn hopes, make people more aware of their surroundings and more willing to report even the seemingly smallest of leads to police that could end up helping to crack the case."The more information they get and the more information they put out, the more likely it is that this person is going to be caught," Hahn said.Former Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness recalled a serial murder case that gripped the greater Sacramento region for months in early 1991."We had a series called the Thrill Killer series," McGinness said. "It shut this community down."The series of six slayings – three clerks at local businesses killed on consecutive Tuesdays and performed just "for the thrill of it," according to investigators at the time – went unsolved for months. That is until extensive attention on the case and resources devoted to it — paid off."We saturated that area with every available resource, patrol-wise," McGinness said.Sacramento sheriff's deputies eventually arrested Eric Leonard, who was convicted of the so-called "Thrill Killings."Until the killer or killers in the Stockton case are caught, however, both Hahn and McGinness are in agreement. People region-wide need to be on alert."It's a time for the public to be very, very cautious," McGinness said.

STOCKTON, Calif. —

The eyes of law enforcement, past and present, are watching the Stockton serial killings case closely.

Former Sacramento police Chief Daniel Hahn told KCRA 3 that attention is exactly what may help this investigation the most.

"Whenever you hear 'serial killer,' that's not a normal thing, so it does grab your attention," Hahn said. "I don't think that any department would report out that there's a serial killer in their community without having really good reason to believe so, because that gets people's attention and makes people very nervous for their safety."

Safety concerns, Hahn hopes, make people more aware of their surroundings and more willing to report even the seemingly smallest of leads to police that could end up helping to crack the case.

"The more information they get and the more information they put out, the more likely it is that this person is going to be caught," Hahn said.

Former Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness recalled a serial murder case that gripped the greater Sacramento region for months in early 1991.

"We had a series called the Thrill Killer series," McGinness said. "It shut this community down."

The series of six slayings – three clerks at local businesses killed on consecutive Tuesdays and performed just "for the thrill of it," according to investigators at the time – went unsolved for months. That is until extensive attention on the case and resources devoted to it — paid off.

"We saturated that area with every available resource, patrol-wise," McGinness said.

Sacramento sheriff's deputies eventually arrested Eric Leonard, who was convicted of the so-called "Thrill Killings."

Until the killer or killers in the Stockton case are caught, however, both Hahn and McGinness are in agreement. People region-wide need to be on alert.

"It's a time for the public to be very, very cautious," McGinness said.

History shows: When serial cases get lots of attention, it makes a difference

Law enforcement experts point to importance of many eyes being on serial crimes cases

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