FBI seeks help in identifying decades-old cold cases through killer’s sketches

Nine sketches of Samuel Little's victims. CBS News

The FBI has recently released five new sketches of victims drawn by one of the most prolific serial killers in United States’ history, Samuel Little.

Most people have heard of serial killers Ted Bundy or John Wayne Gacy, but after the FBI was able to confirm Little killed at least 50 women and transgender women, he became more deadly than those notorious murderers.

While serving three life sentences for the murders of three women in 1987 and 1989, Little confessed to 93 murders between 1970 and 2005 across dozens of cities and states.

Over the course a year and a half, Little told Texas Ranger James Holland about each strangling he had committed by making portraits in watercolor, acrylics and chalk of his victims from memory.

Little has described the haunting characteristics of each murder with accuracy, including the car he was driving, which city he was in, what his victim was wearing and even some of their final gestures or words.

Many of these deaths were originally ruled accidental overdoses, which meant that investigators were not even aware there was an active serial killer in these cities.

The dozens of colorful pictures are very detailed, some women with bright lipstick and others with specific jewelry or hairpieces, with titles such as “Tampa Dope Girl” or “Akron Left in Woods 1990.”

This nationwide investigation between Texas Rangers and FBI detectives has resulted in closing 57 of these cold cases, bringing answers and closure to families after several decades.

However, more than 30 of his confessions still need to be corroborated. By releasing new drawings, the FBI is hoping to receive tips from the public that may assist in closing every case.

“For many years, Samuel Little believed he would not be caught because he thought no one was accounting for his victims,” said Christie Palazzolo, crime analyst for the FBI’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Program, in an online statement. “Even though he is already in prison, the FBI believes it is important to seek justice for each victim - to close every case possible.”

Investigators stated they worry 79-year-old Little’s once-photogenic memory is beginning to fade, so they hope to gather answers about these Jane Does as quickly as possible.

The five unmatched cases in question, according to Little, were murders of women in Miami, Little Rock, Arkansas, Covington, Kentucky, Las Vegas and New Orleans.

The details of each murder, as well as a video of Little’s confession, can be found on the FBI’s official website.

The FBI states that Littles’ recollection of dates or clothing worn by a victim has not always been accurate and individuals should still report any potential link they may have.

Any individual with information about these murders is instructed to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.