PICS + VIDEO:

PICS + VIDEO:
New Watch It! (Or Not) Slideshow

°

Homepage / Orlando News
Text Size

Daytona Prostitutes Hunting Serial Killer

Woman: 'We Will Get Him First'

POSTED: Monday, March 13, 2006
UPDATED: 2:27 pm EST March 14, 2006

Women involved in prostitution in Daytona Beach, Fla., have reportedly armed themselves and are searching for a serial killer behind the slayings of three residents, according to a Local 6 News report.


IMAGES: Victim Photos
IMAGES: Prostitutes Hunt Serial Killer

"Rather than run from the man police labeled a serial killer, streetwalkers here in Daytona Beach along Ridgewood Avenue say they are seeking the serial killer out," Local 6 reported Tarik Minor said. "They believe the man responsible for murdering three women here is someone they have come in contact with."

"We will get him first," streetwalker Tonya Richardson said. "Yeah, we are going to get him first. When we find him, he is going to be sorry. It is as simple as that."

Richardson said she and other women are carrying weapons on the streets after Laquetta Gunther, Julie Green and Iwana Patton were found dead in the city.

"I carry a switch blade with me now," Richardson said. "Everyone else does now too."

  • "We will get him first," streetwalker Tonya Richardson said. "Yeah, we are going to get him first. When we find him, he is going to be sorry. It is as simple as that."

    The women are apparently teaming up and promising their own kind of justice, the Local 6 News report said.

    Last week, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement criminal profiler said a serial killer committed the three unsolved murders.

    Special Agent Tom Davis said he believes the suspect is a male who targeted the three victims because of other stressors in his life, according to a police statement.

    No evidence so far indicates any of the women was taken against her will, according to the report.

    In recent days, local ministers have also hit Daytona streets warning prostitutes about the killer, Local 6 News reported.

    "We are asking them to buddy up," Street ministry spokeswoman Denise Horsman said. "To stay in lighted areas and get off the street if they can. If they can't, to do anything they can."

    Police in Daytona Beach are being assisted in the investigation by the same criminal profiler who helped detectives track a killer in the case of Lillian Martin and Josh Bryant in 2001.

    "The average Joe, when they see somebody on the street, a prostitute or homeless person, they turn their head and look away," Horsman said.

    Officers have been cracking down on prostitution in the area. Ten people were arrested over the weekend in a prostitution sting.

    Anyone with information concerning this crime is urged to call Crimeline at (800) 423-TIPS.

    Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

    Text Size

    Sponsored Links

    Links We Like
    Sponsored Content
    Boost your home value and make buyers bite with these bathroom updates. More

    Employers generally have options when it comes to hiring. Makes sure you present yourself as professionally as possible, or else. More

    The signs of Cancer can sometimes be very subtle. Here's a guide to help you recognize them early. More

    Snacking can be a healthy part of your diet, as long as you choose the right snacks. Get tips for eating between meals. More

    Most Popular