More Victims in Gay Killings

by Riverside (UPI)

A murder suspect in what the biggest homosexual slaying case since Houston murders has led authorities to an area two unidentified bodies were found more than a year ago. Imperial County sheriff’s detectives said Patrick Kearney, who with David Hill is accused of killing and dismembering eight young men, has indicated there may be least 43 victims.

Kearney Monday accompanied deputies on a search of an area near the U.S. Mexico border. No bodies were found, but county Coroner Lon Hettinger said suspect pointed out two places where unidentified bodies have been found before, one in February 1973, other in April 1976. Hettinger said police were now trying to identify two bodies based on information supplied by Kearney. Both victims were male, but no other information available.

Kearney, 37, and Hill, 34, both of Redondo Beach, were to be arraigned in Riverside Municipal Court today on two counts of murder. Their case is similar to that of two Houston youths who were charged in 1973 with murdering 27 young over a three-year period. Police eventually found 27 in three different south Texas locations. Monday’s search was prompted by a request by authorities in neighboring Riverside County that the sheriff’s Imperial County search its records for any unsolved or missing persons in the last three years.

Since last month, Kearney and Hill have been wanted in four counties where authorities found the nude and bodies of eight young men ranging in age from 16 to 28, with homosexual backgrounds. All had been shot through head and four were found stuffed in plastic trash bags. The suspects, who reportedly fled to El Paso, when warrants were issued for their arrest, surrendered Friday and were booked on two counts of murder.