1986 Cold Case Murder Tied to Serial Killer Linked to 13 Other Victims

The decades-old murder case of a teenager has been resolved after DNA evidence linked the crime to a convicted serial killer, currently on death row. The case revolves around the tragic death of Cathy Small, who was only 19 when her life was brutally taken in 1986.

William Lester Suff, a 70-year-old serial killer, confessed to the crime when confronted with DNA findings. According to Patricia Thomas from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Suff recounted how he stabbed Small multiple times after an argument, ultimately leaving her body on a California street.

On February 22, 1986, South Pasadena police were alerted to a woman lying unconscious in the middle of the street. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Small’s lifeless body, clad only in a nightgown and marked by multiple stab wounds. Tragically, she was initially categorized as Jane Doe No. 17, with no identification available.

Small was confirmed dead at the scene, with the cause of death attributed to a combination of stab wounds and strangulation. Just a few days later, on February 25, a resident from Lake Elsinore recognized her from a photograph and contacted the police. He identified her as Small, noting that she had lived with him for a while and had been working as a prostitute.

In a chilling detail, the man noted that Small planned to meet a man named “Bill” who had offered her money in exchange for a ride to Los Angeles. He mentioned that he never heard from Small again after she left in that man’s vehicle.

The investigation into Small’s murder remained cold for years, despite ongoing efforts to pursue various leads. Then, in October 2019, detectives were called to a natural death scene near where Small’s body was discovered. The coroner’s investigation revealed troubling materials in the home, including numerous photographs of women who appeared to have been victims of assault, as well as a newspaper article about Small’s identification after her murder.

While the deceased man’s DNA did not connect him to any crimes, the search led investigators to uncover that none of the evidence from Small’s case, including a sexual assault kit and her clothing, had ever been tested for DNA.

After more than 34 years since the crime, DNA testing was finally conducted in August 2020. This revealed the presence of two male DNA contributors—one being Suff and the other an unknown individual.

Suff is notorious in criminal circles, known as the Riverside Prostitute Killer or the Lake Elsinore Killer. He was found guilty in July 1995 for the murders of 12 women in Riverside County between 1989 and 1991.

During questioning, Suff admitted he was living in Riverside County and working at a computer repair shop in Lake Elsinore when Small approached him that fateful day in 1986. After giving him her phone number at the shop, Small later received a call from him. However, the meeting turned fatal when an argument escalated after she accidentally knocked his glasses off. In a fit of rage, Suff retrieved a knife from his vehicle and stabbed Small multiple times while she was seated in the passenger seat.

At the time of her murder, Small was a mother of two young children and had a younger sister who has since expressed relief that justice has been served. Sadly, their mother had passed away years before Suff’s confession.

Kathryn Barger, a member of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, expressed her outrage and sorrow during a press conference regarding the case. “Cathy had a family who cared about her deeply. It is horrifying that her life was taken in such a brutal and tragic manner,” she stated. Barger emphasized, “Justice will be served for Cathy and her family.”