Philadelphia Cops Investigating Possible Serial Killer

(Nov. 19) -- Philadelphia police say a serial killer who could be responsible for recent assaults against women may be on the loose.

The bodies of two women who were half-naked and choked to death have been found within a mile of each other in the last three weeks, a local NBC affiliate reported. A third woman has come forward and said she survived a similar attack, with her assailant leaving her for dead behind an abandoned building in Kensington northeast of the city.

Homicide police are trying to determine if there's a connection between the deaths. Police have circulated a sketch of the third woman's alleged attacker.

"We're looking for a definitive link," Deputy Commissioner William Blackburn said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

As yet, there is no physical or forensic evidence to link the crimes.

The deaths all took place in a stretch of Kensington that is known for prostitution and drug dealing. The killings have left the neighborhood on edge.

"That's why, when it gets dark, everybody goes inside the house," resident Juan Lessend told the Inquirer. "This area is not good."

Lessend says he regularly sees drug deals and prostitution on the street.

The first victim found was Elaine Goldberg, 21, whose body was discovered in a trash-strewn lot Nov. 3. Then, on Saturday, police found the body of Nicole Piacentini, 35, behind an abandoned building, according to a local Fox affiliate.

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Both women had been strangled. Police said they appeared to have had sexual contact with their attacker, but it's not clear if the contact was consensual.

The third woman, who has not been identified, said she went behind an abandoned building with a man she met on the street. He assaulted her and choked her until she lost consciousness.

When she regained consciousness, she told police realized she had been sexually assaulted. The attack took place in October, but the woman did not report it at the time.

The suspect is described as being in his late 20s to early 30s, African-American or Latino, between 5 feet 8 and 6 feet tall.