William Lester Suff, a serial killer in Southern California sentenced to death for a dozen murders in the late 1980s and early 1990s, has confessed to another killing after his DNA was linked to the victim, Cathy Small, who was found dead in 1986 at the age of 19. Small’s case remained unsolved until a coroner’s investigator found evidence linking Suff to the murder. Despite initial suspicions of another man, DNA analysis confirmed Suff’s involvement.
Suff, known as the “Lake Elsinore Killer” and the “Riverside Prostitute Killer,” targeted sex workers in the area. Small, a mother of two, had left her home with a man named “Bill” on the night of her murder, planning to go to Los Angeles for $50. Suff later admitted to picking her up and getting into an argument that turned violent, leading to Small’s death.
Small’s younger sister, in a statement to authorities, described her as a protective and talented sister who was seeking sobriety at the time of her murder. She expressed gratitude for the closure provided by the detective working on the case.
Suff, who was already on death row for his previous murders, confessed to authorities and provided details of the crime after DNA evidence linked him to Small’s case. California Governor Gavin Newsom had halted executions in the state in 2019 due to concerns about wrongful convictions. Suff’s prior convictions and sentence led prosecutors to present the case for declination purposes only.
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