Police create suspect list in Michigan stabbings

August 12, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

DETROIT

Police investigating a string of stabbings, including five deaths, linked to a serial killer are putting together a list of potential suspects, Genesee County’s prosecutor said.

David Leyton told The Associated Press Wednesday that members of a task force are making progress in the search for a man believed responsible for at least 20 stabbings in Michigan, Virginia and Ohio.

“The task force is working around the clock,” said Leyton, the likely Democratic nominee for Michigan attorney general. “I’m confident we will identify him and close in on him. We have good solid information and the task force is working hard to whittle down the potential list of individuals.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, the task force — headed by the Michigan State Police and now including the FBI — had received 469 tips. Those tips have been passed out to the various law enforcement teams involved in the case, Leyton said.

The task force released a list Wednesday of the dates, times and locations of the 16 stabbings in the Flint area, about 50 miles northwest of Detroit.

That list showed the suspect was most active during pre-dawn hours and on Mondays.

Of the 16 attacks, six were committed between 12:15 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Mondays. Four of the fatal attacks also were on Mondays, according to a list provided by the task force.

Six attacks happened in the hour or so just before dawn on other days.

The attacks started May 24 in Flint.

Police had been focusing on that area until police in Leesburg, Va., reported three similar attacks there last week. Toledo, Ohio, authorities also said a stabbing in that city Saturday appears to be linked to the Michigan cases.

Survivors have described their attacker as a tall, white man with a muscular build.

All but three of the 20 victims have been black.

“We should always remember the victims of these crimes,” Leyton said. “They have been either murdered or badly assaulted. They all have families who are suffering. It’s a terrible tragedy.”

Leyton is expected to face Republicans Bill Schuette or Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop in the November general election. Republicans will nominate their candidate for the attorney general’s office at their Aug. 28 state convention.