DNA Evidence Leads to Arrest of Suspected Serial Killer in Three Ventura County Murders from 1977

Warren Luther Alexander has been arrested for allegedly killing three women in Ventura County in 1977 (courtesy)

Update by the edhat staff
August 9, 2024

After decades of investigation and the cold hand of time weighing heavily on unsolved cases, Ventura County authorities announced a significant breakthrough in a series of gruesome murders dating back nearly 50 years.

A 73-year-old man, Warren Luther Alexander, has been identified and charged as the suspect in the 1977 strangulation deaths of three women, thanks to modern DNA technology and collaborative efforts among law enforcement agencies.

This groundbreaking development came as Alexander was extradited from North Carolina, where he faces charges in a separate 1992 cold case killing. He is now being held in Ventura County Jail without the possibility of bail, awaiting trial for three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Kimberly Carol Fritz, 18, Velvet Ann Sanchez, 31, and Lorraine Ann Rodriguez, 21. The three were found strangled in Ventura County in a series of killings that left detectives puzzled for decades.

Kimberly Carol Fritz, left, Velvet Ann Sanchez, center, and Lorraine Ann Rodriguez were strangled within Ventura County in 1977. (Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.)

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko emphasized the significance of these advancements in a press conference on Thursday, stating, “This is an ongoing investigation, and we will continue to pursue all leads that become available. This is not in any way closed.” Nasarenko also suggested the likelihood of additional victims beyond these cases, hinting at a more extensive series of crimes potentially spanning multiple states.

Alexander, who had worked variously as a cab and long-haul truck driver, lived intermittently in Oxnard during the periods the crimes were committed. The utilization of a national DNA database connected Alexander to the Ventura County murders after his DNA was matched to evidence from the 1992 North Carolina case involving 29-year-old Nona Cobb, another strangulation victim.

The Ventura County cold case unit, along with Oxnard and Port Hueneme Police Departments, never ceased their efforts to solve these murders, despite the considerable challenges faced over the years. Their determination was fueled by memories of the victims, who were remembered by their families and community as loving and devoted individuals.

Warren Luther Alexander pictured in the 1970s (left) and present day (right) [courtesy]
Authorities are now collaborating with the FBI’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Program and the Highway Serial Killings initiative to investigate potential connections between these cases and other unsolved crimes across the country.

Alexander, awaiting his arraignment, represents a significant step forward in law enforcement’s ability to bring long-sought justice for the victims and their families. As DA Nasarenko poignantly noted, “These murders may have occurred 47 years ago, but the investigators … never gave up seeking justice for these three victims, their loved ones, and their families. Just because a case has gone cold does not mean it should ever be forgotten.”


Suspected Serial Killer Charged with 1977 Murders in Ventura County

News Conference Scheduled for Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 10:30 a.m.

By the edhat staff
August 7, 2024

Investigators from the Ventura County Cold Case Unit have arrested Warren Luther Alexander, 73 of Diamondhead, Mississippi; on three counts of murder, related to a series of strangulation murders that occurred in 1977.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed three counts of first-degree murder against Alexander. He was extradited to California and arrived on August 6, 2024, from Surry County, North Carolina, where he is awaiting prosecution for a 1992 cold case murder committed in that jurisdiction.

Warren Luther Alexander (courtesy)

Alexander’s first appearance in Ventura County Superior Court was Wednesday morning. The arraignment was continued to August 21, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 11. He is being held in Ventura County Jail without bail.

In February 2023, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit began re-examining the 1977 murders of Kimberly Carol Fritz, Velvet Ann Sanchez, and Lorraine Ann Rodriguez.

In all three cases, an autopsy revealed the cause of death was strangulation. DNA evidence was collected from the crime scenes and the victims.

This was an investigation between the Ventura County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit, Oxnard Police Department, and Port Hueneme Police Department. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit is comprised of detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and investigators from the District Attorney’s Office, who collectively review and investigate unsolved homicide cases.

A joint news conference with District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, Sheriff Jim Fryhoff, Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benites, and Port Hueneme Police Chief Michael Federico will be held on Thursday morning.

More information will be updated to this article following the press conference.

Edhat Staff

Written by Edhat Staff

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