Detroit 'serial killer': Police search hundreds of vacant properties after third woman's body found

'We're going to find this violent predatory criminal'

Thousands of homes lie derelict across the city awaiting demolition (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Detroit police and members of the public are searching hundreds of vacant houses in a bid to find any additional victims of a suspected serial killer in the city.

Home inspections were launched in response to the bodies of three women being found separately in abandoned properties across the city’s east side since March.

Only one death has so far been ruled a homicide, but police chiefs said similarities between the victims had led them to declare a potential serial killer and rapist may be responsible.

Officials have called for the public’s help in identifying the third woman, whose body was found partially decomposed. She is described as an African American woman in her 50s, about 5ft tall and 100lbs (45kg).

Police declared DeAngelo Martin, 34, a homeless man known to live in the east side of the city, as a person of interest in the case but did not say why.

On Friday a person of interest was taken into custody but their identity has not been confirmed.

Police Chief James Craig believes the women could have been lured into blighted houses, raped and killed. He suspects two worked in the sex trade and issued a warning to anyone working in abandoned houses.

“It appears we may have a serial killer,” Chief Craig said.

While there is no suspicion of further victims, the delay of days, or weeks in discovering the previous bodies has led to a precautionary search of 1,000 remaining vacant properties on the east side.

Mayor Mike Duggan said teams of 40 police officers would be leading searches over the next two to three weeks, and after the properties were cleared they would be boarded up before being renovated or demolished.

The chief said the third victim was a 55-year-old woman whose name he declined to release because her family had not yet been notified. The other women have been identified as Nancy Harrison, 52, and Trevesene Ellis, 53.

“We have been getting regular leads, tips” about the deaths this week, Chief Craig said. “We’re following up on each and every one ... We’re going to find this violent predatory criminal.”

Abandoned houses have marred Detroit for years. The city has demolished about 18,000 properties since 2014 and has another 18,000 houses to go, Mr Duggan said.

“Getting these houses down is absolutely critical,” the mayor added.