HOUSTON – A homeless man already jailed for one murder has been linked to four others, according to Houston police.
"He is considered, by definition, a serial killer," said HPD Sgt. Eli Cisneros.
On Monday, Lucky Ward was charged with capital murder in the strangulation of Carlos T. Rodriguez. The 40-year-old transgendered individual was found dead inside his north Houston home on Sept. 13, 2010.
Ward, 46, was arrested last November and charged with capital murder in the strangulation death of 52-year-old Retia Faye Long.
Long was found dead on Sept. 30 in a stairwell behind the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart at 1700 San Jacinto.
Homicide detectives say they have linked Ward's DNA to three other unsolved murders:
Raquel Mundy: The 24-year-old was found in a field at 300 St. Charles on June 18, 2010. She was last seen getting into a vehicle outside the downtown Greyhound bus station. She was stranded there her car was towed from the McDonald's across the street.
Carol Flood: Her body was found on Oct. 10, 2010 in a stairwell behind the old YMCA building. She'd been strangled and was nude from the waist down. Flood was also homeless.
Ruben D. Ical: The 51-year-old transgendered individual was found partially clothed in a field at 4300 Garrott around 2 p.m. on January 10, 2010.
"He seemed to be targeting homeless females, homosexuals, anybody, I believe, in his mind he would consider as vulnerable," said Cisneros.
All of the victims were strangled, but detectives say there were other similarities.
"If you were on the scene of these murders, and you looked at each one of them side by side, you would realize or you would believe the same person committed every murder," said HPD Capt. David Gott.
The suspect has a long rap sheet dating back to 1984 for charges including assault, robbery and theft.
Police are asking anyone with information on these cases or on Lucky Ward to contact HPD Homicide at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. A $5,000 reward is being offered in each case.
Detectives plan to check other unsolved murders in Houston over the last few years for possible links to Ward.
