Port Elizabeth – Serial killer experts within the police are investigating the possibility that a family man, who is currently behind bars in connection with the death of a prostitute last week, might have been responsible for the deaths of four other sex workers.

There were several similarities between this murder on Freedom Day and a series of horror murders over the past three years.

Deputy area commissioner Roland Koll, said the women, all coloured, were picked up by a white man in Govan Mbeki Avenue near the municipal offices.

They were taken to another place where they were raped and strangled. The bodies were then thrown from a car somewhere else. Koll said the murderer “didn’t even take the trouble to hide the body”.

The first in the series of murders took place in August 2001 when the body of Chantel Theron, 26, was found in the Lakeside area along the Kraggakamma-Seaview road.

The next murder happened a month later and the third in October 2001 when Mauricia Carolus, 16, was killed.

The only victim that wasn’t a sex worker was a 60-year-old woman from Walmer.

In the most recent murder, the body of Gaylene Stevens, 19, was found on April 27 near where the first body was found.

She had been strangled with an electrical cord and a plastic bag was allegedly pulled over her head.

Picked up by a white man

Other sex workers told police that she had been picked up by a white man earlier.

Llewellyn van Wyk from Bridgemead, who apparently fished at the lake in Lakeside regularly, handed himself over to police five days later.

A source said police found valuable clues in the area where the body was found, including a CD, a beer bottle with fingerprints and a piece of sandpaper. Part of a motorcycle cover, with which the body was wrapped, made their task easier.

Van Wyk is married and the father of a young child.

Van Wyk’s wife and a group of her friends apparently drove to Cape Town on April 26 to attend the Enrique Iglesias concert.

That evening, Van Wyk and his friends allegedly met at the Old Barn and announced that they had stayed behind to “shake”.

The group of friends apparently went their separate ways after spending time at the Old Barn. The prostitute was picked up sometime after that.

Area commissioner, Director Malizo bNtshwahlana, said although police did not condone prostitution, sex workers were still citizens and their safety had to be guaranteed.

Anyone with more information about the case should contact the investigating officer, Inspector Kruger on 072 487 2629.

Source: News24.Com
URL: http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/New…/p>