Serial Killers

Police gather tips after release of photos apparently taken by convicted Calif. serial killer. California police say they are receiving calls from the public after releasing more than 100 photos apparently taken by convicted serial killer Rodney Alcala in the 1970s, but tip gathering has been hampered by phone problems at police headquarters.

Kenneth C. Ponte, a New Bedford man once suspected of being a serial killer in the late 1980s, has been found dead in his home in New Bedford, authorities said yesterday. Ponte was indicted in 1989 in the slaying of Rochelle Dopierala, one of nine women whose bodies were found alongside Southeastern Massachusetts highways between July 1988 and April 1989. The charge was dropped in 1991 for lack of evidence. ``Years after the case was dismissed, people still would talk about him, whisper about him,'' said Kevin J. Reddington, the Brockton attorney who represented Ponte. ``He was obviously infamous for allegedly being the serial killer.'' Reddington added: ``In my opinion, there was no basis for it, never was, and never will be . . . But he obviously takes it to the grave. It just dogged him.'' At the time of the killings, the Bristol district attorney was Ronald A. Pina, who was voted out of office in 1990 in part because of the high-profile investigation. He is now in private practice

One-time suspect in Massachusetts highway serial killings 2 decades ago found dead. A man who was once a suspect in the unsolved serial slayings of nine Massachusetts women has died, more than 20 years after the so-called "highway killings" terrorized women in the New Bedford area.

Man suspected in 11 Cleveland deaths sends letters, cards to Internet memorabilia company. An Internet site devoted to selling memorabilia from serial killers has posted envelopes, letters and a Christmas card sent by a Cleveland man accused of killing 11 women and hiding their remains in and around his home.

FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - The Italian prosecutor who secured a 26-year murder conviction against American Amanda Knox last year was convicted Friday of abuse of office and illegal telephone tapping in an earlier murder case.

Italian magistrate in trial of Knox is convicted in unrelated case of abusing his office. The Perugia magistrate who prosecuted U.S. student Amanda Knox for murder was convicted Friday of abusing his office in an unrelated case, officials said.

26 years later, Oregon teen girl's remains identified, may be serial killer victim. The remains of a 16-year-old Portland, Ore., girl reported missing in 1983 have been identified ? reopening an investigation into whether there's a link to a convicted serial killer.

Ohio man suspected in 11 homicides pleads not guilty by reason of insanity to all charges. A registered sex offender accused of killing 11 women pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to all charges Thursday, a plea that will leave the legal system to decide whether a sane person can live for years with 10 bodies and a skull.

A suspected serial killer on Thursday pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the murders of 11 women whose remains were found in and around his Ohio home, prosecutors said.

Cleveland bodies case hard on nearby sausage shop that was once blamed for neighborhood odor. The owners of a sausage shop once blamed for a rotten neighborhood stench said they are trying to regroup now that police have determined the odor was coming from the home of an alleged serial killer.

Canada's Supreme Court agreed Thursday to hear the appeal of the country's most prolific serial killer, a pig farmer sentenced to life in prison for murdering six prostitutes.

LA police release sketch of man believed to have killed at least 11 people since 1985. Los Angeles police have released a composite sketch of a man believed to have killed at least 11 people since 1985.

Crowd rallies at Cleveland house where 11 bodies found to thank coroner for speedy ID work. Residents have come together in Cleveland to thank the coroner's office for quickly identifying women whose remains were found at the home of a suspected serial killer.

A medical examiner in Texas believes she has found another victim of a serial killer who terrorized Houston in the early 1970s.

FBI agents sifts for evidence in backyard of Cleveland home where remains of 11 women found. FBI agents sifted through dirt with rakes and shovels Saturday in the backyard of a suspected serial killer's home and ran a thermal-imaging device across the ground near the area where the decomposing bodies of several women were found.

A suspected serial killer pleaded not guilty Friday in a rape and kidnapping case that led to the discovery of the remains of 11 women in and around his Ohio home.

A suspected serial killer pleaded not guilty Friday in the rape and kidnapping case that led to the discovery of the remains of 11 women in and around his Ohio home.

A medical examiner in Texas believes she has found another victim of a serial killer who terrorized Houston in the early 1970s.

Wisconsin man accused in serial killings seeks to have 7 cases tried separately. A man accused in a string of Milwaukee killings is seeking to have the cases tried separately. If granted, that would be harder for prosecutors to link details from the seven cases.

Convicted LA serial killer charged with 3 more murders, including 15-year-old girl. A Los Angeles County grand jury has charged a convicted serial killer with three more murders based on DNA evidence.