HOUSTON - Houston police believe they have solved the murders of a number of female prostitutes in the Acres Homes area.
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Arrest made in Acres Homes serial murders
September 14, 2009
Over a 22-month period starting in January of 2006, seven women were found murdered in the Acres Homes area.
Women, believed to be prostitutes, were found dumped in ditches, behind churches and a bar called the Parlay Cafe. According to witnesses, the suspect has the scales of justice tattooed on his forearm.
On Monday, police said Lamarques Devon McWilliams, 33, is responsible for the murders, and they said luck helped them catch him.
The break in the case occurred nearly three weeks ago, shortly after investigators said McWilliams kidnapped another woman and put her in the trunk of his car.
Police said McWilliams drove into some mud and somehow got his car stuck. He took his victim out of the trunk and told her to get behind the wheel while he pushed. When the car broke free from the mud the woman drove off and called police.
McWilliams was arrested, and with the help of the FBI, his DNA was sent off to be analyzed. In just a matter of 48 hours, authorities got the news that his DNA matched that of the Acres Homes serial killer.
Detectives said McWilliams also fits the description of the killer. Plus, he has the scales of justice tattooed on his arm and lived in the area where most of the murders occurred.
McWilliams is currently being held for aggravated sexual assault. He's expected to be charged with some, if not all, of the murders soon.
"I am elated at the news that Houston police have arrested the man they believe is responsible for these terrible murders.? I congratulate HPD and am grateful that they did not give up on this case.? The people of Acres Homes will sleep better tonight knowing that this suspect is behind bars," said State Rep. Sylvester Turner, whose district includes Acres Homes.
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Police say they don't want to reveal his photo to the public just yet, as they plan to put him in additional lineups.
McWilliams' arrest comes four years after the murders first started.? As many as 10 detectives were assigned to the case at different times in the investigation.
Officials held town hall meetings to discuss the slayings, and at one point arrested another man in connection with the crimes.
Working off a tip, police picked up Bilford Junious.? He was charged with multiple aggravated sexual assaults, even though he didn't have the scales of justice tattoo.
From day one, he denied killing anyone, but the killings stopped after his arrest.?
Despite the fact that they couldn't prove it, investigators believed Junious was likely responsible for some of the murders. He was sentenced to 40 years for the aggravated assaults.
Over the next few days, Lamarques Devon McWilliams is expected to be charged with multiple murders. Right now police sources say they are confident they have enough evidence to connect him to three. But their investigation is far from over.
