Stockton Serial Killer Has Been Active for Over a Year, New Details Show

As the search continues for a possible serial killer in Stockton, California, new details recently released by police indicate that the killer could have been active for over a year.

On Monday evening, the Stockton Police Department said that they have confirmed two additional cases are linked to the series of similar killings in the area. On April 16, 2021, a 46-year-old Black woman was shot at "Park Street and Union Street," but she survived her injuries. A few days prior, on April 10, 2021, a 40-year-old Hispanic man was fatally shot near Oakland.

Monday's announcement comes just a few days after the Stockton Police Department linked five fatal shootings to one "person of interest."

On September 30, the Stockton Police Department posted a photo of the "person of interest" in the series of similar killings which included the fatal shootings of five victims. Each of the five victims were men, they were all killed by gunfire and police previously confirmed to Newsweek that they were all "ambushed."

Newsweek reached out to the Stockton Police Department to see if the other victims in 2021 were also ambushed.

"Once again, these homicides occurred in the evening or early morning hours and our victims were alone," police said in the previous news release. "Again, our detectives and task force officers have been working around the clock on these investigations. We are committed to protecting our community and solving these cases utilizing all the resources at our disposal including YOU. We need YOUR help!!!! If anyone, has information regarding these investigations, call us immediately."

A reward of $85,000 for information on the person of interest was being offered but as of Tuesday morning, that reward has since increased to $95,000, following a donation from a local business owner.

"The Stockton Police Department is encouraging anyone with information to call our tip line at (209) 937-8167. You can also email your information to policetips@stocktonca.gov," police said.

David Wilson, a criminology professor at Birmingham City University in the U.K. told Newsweek on Monday that the suspected serial killer is being "geographically stable," as they have remained in a small area.

"He's concentrating his victims in the city of Stockton. And if you're geographically stable in that way, as opposed to being geographically transient, the chances of you being caught are that much higher," Wilson said.

During a recent press conference, Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden spoke about the recent series of crimes and said, "by definition, you could probably very well call this serial killings," and noted that detectives and investigators "haven't ruled out anything yet."