A Miami man has confessed to killing four women whose beaten and burned bodies were found in a rundown part of the city, police said.
Francisco Del Junco, 38, was arrested Monday and charged with the slayings of Vida Hicks, 43; Diane Helms 44; Cheryl Lee Ray, 37; and Janice Cox, 37.The women, all killed between August and March, were found beaten, burned and partially clothed in or near Allapattah, an inner city neighborhood north of downtown Miami.
"He said voices told him to do it," said Assistant Police Chief John Brooks.
The victims all used crack cocaine and some of them supported their habit through prostitution, Lt. Bill Schwartz said.
Del Junco's arrest ends a 10-month investigation into the deaths by a serial killer task force, police said. Police declined to give information about the confession and scheduled a news conference for Tuesday morning.
Police said they were led to Del Junco by a homeless woman who said he had beaten her nine months ago after she refused his offer for a date. The woman got away and called police after recently seeing him again.
Del Junco was picked up for questioning Friday but was released while authorities completed evidence tests. Crime lab tests later matched the size and sole pattern of Del Junco's combat boots with prints found at one of the crime scenes.
Brooks also said Del Junco had a container of gasoline and wooden matches with him when he was first picked up by police.