SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) Police have a suspect in 14 unsolved homosexual murders but are unable to charge him because three survivors of attacks are unwilling to testify, it was disclosed Friday.
The witnesses who are unwilling to "come out of the closet" include a well-known entertainer and a diplomat, according to Inspector Rotea Gilford.
The suspect, a young man known as "The Doodler" has been questioned for the past year about 14 slayings and three assaults that occurred in the city's homosexual community between January, 1974, and September, 1975.
Gilford said the suspect, whom they would not name, has talked freely but has not admitted any crimes.
Police are "fairly certain" that "The Doodler" is involved in the slayings, but court testimony of the survivors would be needed to identify him.
In the 17 incidents recorded, Gilford said, the murderer met his victims in gay clubs and had sex with them before stabbing them.
Besides the entertainer and diplomat who decline to be witnesses, a third surviving victim has left the city and does not respond to police calls or letters.
"My feeling is they don't want to be exposed as homosexuals," the investigator said.
Gilford said the suspect has had a history of mental difficulties involving sex and has been under psychiatric care.
