Mesa police seek help to solve slayings

With few clues to go on, Mesa police reached out to residents Thursday night for help in solving the case of a possible serial killer who strangled at least two women and sexually assaulted another.

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Only about 30 people attended a community meeting at Edison Elementary School, 545 N. Horne, where police said they are aggressively searching for witnesses to an Aug. 17 abduction and sexual assault near Main Street and Horne.

"We are certain there is someone out in the community who saw this abduction," said Mesa spokesman Detective Steve Berry. "That's something that you don't forget."

Police announced Monday that they are searching for a man whose DNA was found on the three women. The cases include the November 2004 strangulation of 21-year-old Alisa M. Beck, the October 2007 killing of 44-year-old Karen Jane Campbell and the sexual assault of an unnamed 47-year-old woman who survived the attack.

The one known survivor was abducted off the street and taken to a home in an unknown part of the city, before finally freeing herself and running nude down the street.

The woman caught a taxi and was given a ride home, where she then called police.

Berry said investigators are still searching for the taxi driver, so they can narrow down where in the city the woman was taken.

"That could be one of the major breaks in the investigation ... helping us get a predator off the street," Berry said.

Many residents attending the meeting said they would like more information on the physical appearance of the killer, but police said they aren't releasing a composite sketch until they are certain the information is accurate.

"I'm home during the day, so if they have a description, I might see something," said Cheryl DeBoom.

DeBoom said she doesn't feel as safe in Mesa as she once did, due to a growing population and crime that has increased since 1980 when she moved into the city.

Another resident, Arturo Perez, 37, said in Spanish that he just wants to stay up to date on the case and hopes police catch a suspect.

Mesa police Cmdr. Tony Lythgoe said the department has thrown "a lot of resources" into its investigation, such as an FBI profiler and Silent Witness.

Lythgoe and Berry also reminded people not to panic, but to take precautions against becoming a victim of any crime.

"We've all gotta keep living, we've gotta take kids to school, go to work, do all these things ... now after this meeting, we'll be able to look out for each other," Berry said.

Thursday's meeting was held in the same gymnasium where in September 2006, more than 400 concerned residents met with police to discuss the Serial Shooter case. In that community meeting, police also said they were working with limited evidence.

Police ask anyone with information on the two slayings and the sexual assault to call Silent Witness at (480) 948-6377.