He earned the name by drawing flattering portraits of his targets on napkins or sketchpads at dimly lit bars and diners. He used these sketches to break the ice, spark conversation, and lower the guards of the men he targeted.
There are six confirmed murder victims who were killed between January 1974 and the autumn of 1975. However, community advocates suspect the actual number of murders could be as high as 14 to 16.
The survivors included a foreign diplomat, a nationally renowned entertainer, and a well-known local figure. They were stabbed inside apartments at Fox Plaza in July 1975 but survived the attacks.
Prosecutors needed surviving victims to identify the suspect under oath in open court. Because public disclosure of their homosexuality at the time could lead to job loss, eviction, and ostracization, the survivors refused to testify. Without their testimony, the district attorney could not indict the suspect.
Yes, the San Francisco Police Department formally reopened the case in 2018 to test preserved physical evidence for DNA. Detectives have since released age-progressed sketches of the suspect and are offering a $250,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.