The Stockton Serial Murders
Timeline
After a lot of speculation and questions in October of 2022 the City of Stockton, CA Police Chief Stanley McFadden announced that investigators believed that several murders in the city had been committed by one or more of the same perpetrators. Initially, investigators announced that 5 murders in Stockton were possibly connected but that quickly changed to include two more murders, one in Stockton and another in Oakland. They connected these 7 crimes because because they shared similarities. Many of them occurred at night or in early morning, in the dark, away from other people. There were also no witnesses and the perpetrator was able to avoid security cameras. While investigators worked with outside agencies to track down the person(s) responsible they warned the public to be careful, not be out alone and to stay alert. A tip line was also set up.
The Victims
All of the below crimes are alleged to be connected by the Stockton City Police Department. While there has been an arrest in this case there has not been a conviction and the alleged responsible has been charged with only three of the murders. More charges are expected.
Juan Miguel Vasquez Serrano
On April 10, 2021, Juan Miguel Vasquez Serrano was murdered near the corner of 57th and Harmon Avenue in Oakland, CA. He was 39 years and unhoused at the time. He was killed with a gun. He was well liked and known for fixing cars in the area. He left behind a wife and child.
Natasha Latour
Natasha Latour is the only known victim to have survived an attack from the alleged perpetrator of these crimes. She was attacked on April 16, 2021 at approximately 3:30 am. On the corner of Park Street and Union Street she was shot 10-12 times. She was able to get away from the assailant and flag a car down for help. She was in the hospital for 12 days.
Link to 209 Times Interview with Natasha Latour: https://youtu.be/7ao9LSs-8jA
Paul Yaw
Paul Yaw was only 35 years old when he was shot several times while walking in Holday Park in the area of 5600 Kermit Lane in Stockton at 12:30 am on July 8, 2022. Paul Yaw was unhoused at the time. He was described as a loyal and loving friend.
Salvador Debudey, Jr.
Salvador Debudey Jr. was 43 years when he was murdered on August 11, 2022 near a Popeye's Restaurant parking lot at 9:49pm. The Popeye's was at 4966 West Lane in Stockton, CA. He was described by his wife as a wonderful person.
Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez
pic via KCRA
Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez was murdered on August 30, 2022 while in a vehicle outside an apartment complex at 800 E. Hammer Lane. He was only 21 years old. His family loved him very much and set up a memorial to him near the complex.
Juan Cruz
Juan Cruz was 52 years old and murdered on September 21, 2022 near the 4400 block of Manchester Avenue.
Lorenzo Lopez
pic via KCRA
Lorenzo Lopez was murdered on September 27, 2022 on the 900 block of Porter Avenue. He was known for his music about violence in Stockton.
Suspect
Above: At the beginning of October when Stockton Police announced that all 7 murders were possibly connected they also released this still image of a possible person of interest.
Left: This image was taken from a video of the person of interest walking through an apartment complex in Stockton. This video was also released by the Stockton Police Department in an effort to gain tips. Police specifically asked the public to pay close attention to the persons of interests gait.
More Pics
Left: pics of 57th and Harmon Ave via google maps
Above: Map of Seminary Neighborhood via google maps
Above: Map of area around Park Street and Union Street via google maps
Left: pics of Park Street and Union Street via google maps
Above: Residential area of Kermit Lane via google maps
Right: Map of area around Kermit Lane via google maps
Top Left: map of area of Popeye's
Bottom Left: area behind Popeye's
Above: West Lane directly in front of Popeye's
Above: Apartments at 800 E Hammer Lane via google maps
Right: Map of area around apartments on Hammer Lane via google maps
Above: pic of apartments on 4400 block of Manchester Ave
Right: Map of area around Manchester Ave
Above: pic of residences around 900 Porter Avenue via google maps
Right: Map of area around Porter Ave via google maps
Sources
Leathley, Aaron. “Timeline: Key moments in police investigation of Stockton, Oakland serial killings.” The Record, Oct 3, 2022. Available at www.recordnet.com
Victor, Daniel. Michael Levenson & Eduardo Medina. “Police Say a Serial Killer Could Be Behind Shootings in Stockton, Calif.” The New York Times, Oct 3, 2022. Available at www.newyorktimes.com
Stockton Police Press Release. “Stockton Police Issue Update on Homicides and Look at Possible Connections.” Facebook, Sept 28, 2022.
Leathey, Aaron. “Person of interest sought in series of connected killings.” The Record, Oct 1, 2022. Available at www.recordnet.com
Kelly, George. “East Oakland homicide from last year possibly linked to Stockton killing spree.” East Bay Times, Oct 4, 2022. Available at www.eastbaytimes.com
Muldowney, Decca, Justin Rohrlich. “Shot Woman Says ‘Serial Killer’ Could Have Been Stopped.” The Daily Beast, Oct 6, 2022. Available at www. Thedailybeast.com
Swan, Rachel. “Police release video of person of interest in possible serial killings in Stockton and Oakland.” Union Democrat (via San Francisco Chronicle), Oct 5, 2022. Available via uniondemocrat.com
https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/ca/stockton/KSCK/date/2021-4-16
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altamont_Corridor_Express
Serrin, Greta and Marciella De La Cruz. “What we’re learning about victim’s of the Stockton serial killings.” KCRA, Oct. 9, 2022: https://www.kcra.com/article/what-were-learning-about-stockton-serial-killings-victims/41516619
Mitri, Lysee. “Family of Victim in Stockton Serial Killings Calls for Justice.” KCRA, Oct 3, 2022: https://www.kcra.com/article/family-victim-stockton-serial-killings-calls-for-justice/41487762
Romo, Vanessa. “Police have linked several shootings to a possible serial killer in Stockton, CA.” NPR, Oct 5, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2022/10/05/1126865908/stockton-serial-killer-california-shooting-homicides
Lin, Summer. “Victims of Suspected Northern California Serial Killer Identified.” The Los Angeles Times, Oct 6, 2022.
De La Cruz, Marciela. “Family of 21 year old victim in Stockton remembers Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, calls for justice.” KCRA, Oct 6, 2022. https://www.kcra.com/article/stockton-serial-killings-mother-mourns-death-of-son/41538919
KCRA Staff. “Man Found Shot, killed inside vehicle in Stockton, police say.” KCRA, Aug 30, 2022. https://www.kcra.com/article/man-found-shot-killed-inside-vehicle-stockton-police-e-hammer-lane/41030273
WIngo, Melanie. “Family of Stockton Serial Killing’s Victim hopeful investigation will lead to arrest.” KCRA, Oct 1, 2022. https://www.kcra.com/article/family-stockton-serial-killings-victim-hopeful-investigation-will-lead-arrest/41476200
Walike, Lauren. “Man Killed in Overnight Shooting in Stockton.” ABC 10, September 27, 2022. https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/stockton/stockton-shooting-porter-avenue/103-8e903a70-1a3d-43d1-94ef-fcb430b83454
“54 year old man shot to death in North Stockton.” The Record, Sept. 27, 2022. https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2022/09/27/54-year-old-man-fatally-shot-north-stockton-california/10443140002/
Dickerson, Karma. “Brother of one of the men killed in Stockton speaks out.” Fox 40, Oct. 3, 2022. https://fox40.com/news/local-news/stockton/brother-of-one-of-the-men-killed-in-stockton-speaks-out/
San Joaquin County. , San Joaquin County Continuum of Care. San Joaquin Continuum of Care Report on the Point in Time Count of the Sheltered and Unsheltered Homeless. San Joaquin Continuum of Care., 2022. http://www.sanjoaquincoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/PIT-Count-Report-2022-FINAL.pdf
Leathley, Aaron. “We Need to be more Alert:’ Police Chief visits homeless residents amidst serial killings.” The Record, Oct 13, 2022. https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/crime/2022/10/13/police-chief-stanley-mcfadden-visits-stockton-homeless-residents-amid-serial-killings/10487825002/
Dienst, Jonathan and Mark Santia and Checkey Beckford. “30 year old arrested in homeless attacks, killings as new questions swirl.” NBC 4 New York, March 15, 2022. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/suspect-arrested-in-murders-of-homeless-men-in-nyc-dc/3599068/
Wang, Judy. “Northern California Serial Killings not connected to Chicago Murders, police say.” WGN 9 Chicago, Oct 14, 2022. https://wgntv.com/news/possible-chicago-connection-to-northern-california-serial-killings/
“Details emerge about alleged serial killer’s criminal past.” AP, Oct 17, 2022. https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-arrests-california-stockton-3e9e09b9854661fd5b63aaf36c35ea58
Planas, Antonio & Dennis Romero. “What we know of the victims of the possible Serial Killer in Stockton, CA.” NBC News, Oct 4, 2022. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/know-far-victims-possible-serial-killer-stockton-california-rcna50491
Video ABC 10 of comparison with Duck Walk Murderer in Chicago: https://youtu.be/a2Izay-7Knk