New sketch of assailant linked to 1970s "Doodler" serial killings
/ CBS/AP
San Francisco — Police released an age-progressed sketch Wednesday depicting an unidentified assailant linked to a cold case involving at least five stabbing deaths of gay men in the mid-1970s in San Francisco.
The killer targeted men he met at after-hours gay clubs and restaurants in San Francisco, and police say he killed at least five men between January 1974 and June 1975. He became known as "The Doodler" because he usually sketched them before having sex and stabbing them.
The sketch on the left is the 1975 sketch of “The Doodler”, sketch on the right is age progression of suspect. @KPIXtv pic.twitter.com/lfnXVMaZ1E
— Andria Borba (@AndriaKPIX) February 6, 2019
The bodies of four men were found along the beach. Another stabbing victim was found in Golden Gate Park.
Police at the time believed a suspect who assaulted two gay white men at the same apartment complex after the murders in July 1975 was a person of interest in the string of homicides. One victim who survived a stabbing assault said the attacker told him that he was a cartoonist. Police say the attacker was doodling while he and the man talked at a late-night diner. Both assault victims gave similar descriptions of the assailant, and one victim was able to help develop a suspect sketch in 1975.
The age-progressed image released Wednesday was developed from the 1975 sketch, police said. A man was detained in the assaults in 1976, but he was never charged.
Police said they were never able to positively link the assault cases to the five slayings, reports CBS San Francisco. However, in June, police said investigators with the police department's cold case unit were working on a connection.
Police also offered a $100,000 reward Wednesday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer and released audio from a 1974 phone call to police reporting a body found along Ocean Beach. The caller did not give his name. On Wednesday, police asked the caller or anyone who knew who the caller might be to come forward.
Transcript of 1974 dispatch audio released by SFPD today in connection to “The Doodler” case @KPIXtv pic.twitter.com/3Pw47QyowE
— Andria Borba (@AndriaKPIX) February 6, 2019
Police said the man detained in 1976 remains a person of interest, but wouldn't comment as to whether that person resembles the age-progressed sketch.
An Associated Press story from 1977 quotes police saying they needed testimony from victims in order to charge the suspect. However, three survivors, including a "well-known entertainer" and a diplomat, were reluctant to "come out of the closet" to testify against him, the AP reported.
AP interviewed gay rights advocate Harvey Milk at the time about the victims' refusal to testify.
"I can understand their position," Milk said. "I respect the pressure society has put on them."
The interview with AP came just over a year before Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in the U.S., was assassinated.
First published on February 6, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
New sketch of assailant linked to 1970s "Doodler" serial killings
Age-progressed image released of man linked to five 1970s killings targeting gay men in San Francisco
updated 9M ago 
WWII shipmates reunite 74 years later thanks to a daughter's Facebook post
When Duane Sherman was turning 96, his daughter Sue Morse turned to social media, asking for some birthday cards
updated 1M ago 
Transcript: Mike Pence on government shutdown possibility
In an interview with "CBS Evening News" anchor Jeff Glor, Pence said he couldn't "guarantee" there won't be another shutdown
updated 9M ago 
Uncertain future for Virginia's top Democrats amid several scandals
First, it was Virginia's governor. Then, the lieutenant governor. Now the state attorney general
updated 23M ago 
Warren apologizes for claiming Native American heritage
Warren apologized for claiming that she was of "American Indian" origin in a Texas Bar registration card from 1986
1H ago 
Transcript: Mike Pence on government shutdown possibility
In an interview with "CBS Evening News" anchor Jeff Glor, Pence said he couldn't "guarantee" there won't be another shutdown
updated 9M ago
Uncertain future for Virginia's top Democrats amid several scandals
First, it was Virginia's governor. Then, the lieutenant governor. Now the state attorney general
updated 23M ago
Warren apologizes for claiming Native American heritage
Warren apologized for claiming that she was of "American Indian" origin in a Texas Bar registration card from 1986
1H ago 
Woman details alleged sexual assault by Virginia lieutenant governor
Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax has repeatedly denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2004
1H ago 
Virginia AG admits to dressing in blackface as a student
Mark Herring dressed as the rapper Kurtis Blow as a 19-year-old college student
updated 22M ago 
Hunger pushing Maduro's troops to tipping point in Venezuela
The Venezuelan armed forces are the kingmakers in an epic power struggle
updated 11M ago 
CBS News dodges ISIS bombs in Syria
U.S. forces and allies have reduced ISIS territory, but the fighting continues
updated 20M ago 
Earth could be headed for warmest period on record
The next five years could be even hotter than 2018, which was already near record territory
1H ago 
VP: "No question" U.S. was headed toward North Korea confrontation
President Trump will meet with Kim Jong Un for a second summit later this month
5H ago 
VP: U.S. will be "prepared to strike back at ISIS" after withdrawal
In December, Trump claimed ISIS was defeated and announced a plan to withdraw troops from Syria
5H ago 
2019 Grammys: How to stream online or watch on TV
Alicia Keys will host the 61st annual Grammy Awards from Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS
2H ago 
"NCIS" teases return of beloved character
The teaser trailer dropped during the Super Bowl, but fans will have to wait until February 12 to see if Ziva is really coming back
4H ago 
Bradley Cooper "embarrassed" about Oscars snub
"A Star is Born" received eight nominations, but Cooper is disappointed about the one he didn't get – best director
6H ago 
R. Kelly deletes tweet about tour
Some Twitter users expressed anger over the tour announcement – and then it vanished
7H ago 
More than 1M Patriots fans celebrate team's 6th Super Bowl win
New England Patriots and more than 1 million fans celebrated the team's victory in a celebratory parade down the streets of Boston
23H ago 
Earth could be headed for warmest period on record
The next five years could be even hotter than 2018, which was already near record territory
1H ago 
Snap reports record revenues, but struggles to add users
Struggling social media company gets a badly needed boost in growth, while its losses narrowed
Feb 5 
Dinosaur that used spiny back to defend itself found in Patagonia
The new species of dicraeosauridae, christened Bajadasaurus pronuspinax, was revealed in scientific journal Nature
Feb 5 
Facebook messenger rolls out unsend feature
After Facebook came under fire for letting Mark Zuckerberg alter message history, it gave all users an "unsend" option
Feb 5 
What happened when I asked Alexa and Google Assistant for my data
As smart home devices become increasingly popular, concerns about data collection aren't going away
Feb 5 
New moms hit especially hard by opioid crisis
Research shows new mothers with opioid use disorder are at a higher of overdose due to lack of resources, shame and stigma
4H ago 
Pet owners report dog deaths from recalled food
While one company is facing rash of unhappy consumers, it's one of at least 10 that distributed potentially toxic food
updated 26M ago 
Dad travels to Canada for son's medicine that would cost $53K in U.S.
In his State of the Union address, President Trump said his next major priority is lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs
6H ago 
Fact checking Trump's State of the Union
Here's a look at the president's claims on foreign and domestic policy
1H ago 
Trump promises to "defeat AIDS." His critics are skeptical
President Donald Trump announced that he planned to eradicate HIV/AIDS during his State of the Union address Tuesday night
2H ago 
Financial watchdog plans to scrap payday lending rules
Consumer advocates fear that federal agency's move to eliminate regulations will expose borrowers to risk
2H ago 
Fisher-Price recalls Barbie Campers sold at Walmart due to injury risk
About 44,000 of the pint-sized pink vehicles need repair as wheels may continue to run after foot pedal released
3H ago 
The Green New Deal is about to get real
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says rewiring the nation's energy system can create millions of jobs while helping the planet
1H ago
Pet owners report dog deaths from recalled food
While one company is facing rash of unhappy consumers, it's one of at least 10 that distributed potentially toxic food
updated 26M ago 
Latest U.S. trade gap falls on China slowdown
America's trade deficit falls to lowest level since June, as global sales from China — from cars to cellphones — slow
7H ago 
Man accused of kidnapping Jayme Closs appears in court
Jake Patterson faced a judge in person for the first time
6H ago 
Suicide texting trial: The case against Michelle Carter in the death of Conrad Roy
The groundbreaking trial of a crime of the digital age — should a young woman go to prison for sending texts to a friend who took his own life?
6H ago 
Officer won’t face charges in fatal mall shooting
Family of EJ Bradford, Jr. describes him as a "hero," decries "cover up" by Alabama attorney general
6H ago 
Sandusky to be re-sentenced for child molestation conviction
Jerry Sandusky lost a bid for a new trial Tuesday, but a Pennsylvania appeals court ordered him to be re-sentenced for a 45-count child molestation conviction
Feb 5 
Nurse accused of assaulting patient pleads not guilty
Nathan Sutherland is accused of raping a patient at Hacienda HealthCare
Feb 5 Original Article
