Fosaville Serial Killer

The Fosaville serial killer is an unidentified serial killer who murdered 13 women between 1999 and 2003 in Newlands West, near Durban, South Africa.[1]

Fosaville Serial Killer

Other names| Newlands serial killer Durban's Killing Fields
Years active| 1999 - 2003
Details
Victims| 13
Country| South Africa

Date apprehended

| Unapprehended

## Murders[edit]

In March of 2002, the skeletal remains of a woman were found in a secluded area in Newlands West, an area near the city of Durban, South Africa.[2] No more victims were discovered until 2003, when locals burnt an overgrown field to make room for housing.[3]

In August of 2003, police found the body of a woman aged 20 to 30. Police searched the area for evidence and discovered 4 more bodies. 3 of the victims were skeletonized, and formed a triangle. The other victim was partially decomposed. All of the women were half-dressed, face down, and had a plastic bag on their heads. Their hands were also bound behind their backs.[4] 2 days later, 2 more bodies were found by police nearby.[5]

2 weeks later, on August 23, 2003, people stumbled upon the body of another woman not far from where the previous 6 were found.[6] On the following day, police discovered the remains of 3 more women. One of the victims was in an advanced stage of decomposition.[5] A few days later, on August 27, 2003, the authorities found another victim while conducting a K9 search of the area.[7]

The victims were found in Fosaville, an area just outside of Durban and close Newlands West.

All of the victims were strangled to death, half-dressed, and had their hands bound behind their backs.[3] It's believed that the victims were murdered where they were discovered as opposed to being dumped there postmortem.[1]

## Investigation[edit]

The perpetrator is believed to be intelligent, charismatic, and appears trustworthy to his victims. Some have theorized that he lures his victims to secluded places by promising them employment.[1]

Due to the victims being heavily decomposed, they could not be identified. Locals informed the authorities of missing relatives, but it was futile. In 2006, a composite sketch was made of each victim, but that also didn't help to identify the women.[8]

There is a possibility that the serial killer could be "Riverman," another unidentified serial killer who murdered 13 women in the Greenwood Park area from 1999 to 2001.[1] Others think the perpetrator died.[8] However, it would be difficult to identify the serial killer because the police never found his DNA.[8]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "Who is the Newlands serial killer?". www.iol.co.za. 2003-11-01. Archived from the original on 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
2. ^ "Serial killer: Four more victims". News24. 2003-05-24. Archived from the original on 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
3. ^ a b Hall, Susan (2021). The World Encyclopedia of Serial Killers, Volume Four T-Z. WildBlue Press. p. 252.
4. ^ Mthembu, Bongani (2003-08-11). "Grisly discoveries point to serial killer". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
5. ^ a b Singh, Anil (2003-08-11). "Skeletons found in Durban's 'killing fields'". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
6. ^ Tibbatts, Emily (2003-08-25). "Nouvelles victimes du tueur de Durban". TUEURS EN SERIE.org (in French). Archived from the original on 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
7. ^ "Serial killer count rising". News24. 2003-08-27. Archived from the original on 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
8. ^ a b c Maughan, Karyn (2007-05-01). "Murdered by serial killers, buried as paupers". www.iol.co.za. Archived from the original on 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2022-07-11.