Cleophus Prince was court-martialed in October 1989 and convicted of larceny. After serving a brief sentence he was recommended for discharge from the Navy. Two months later, he moved into the Buena Vista Garden apartment complex, which was close to the location of the first three murder victims. He lived at the Buena Vista complex until. Before his arrest, police characterized the then-unknown serial killer as a 'disorganized opportunist' for the common patterns in the crimes. In each case, Prince entered the female victim's residence during daylight hours through an unlocked door or window, surprising them during or just after bathing, and stabbed them to death with knives taken from the kitchen. Police also theorized Prince may have stalked some of his victims, including Pamela Clark at a nearby Miramar fitness club, near his former girlfriend's residence. In addition to the murders, Prince was convicted of multiple burglaries and attempted burglaries from April 1990 through February 1991.
Murder victims
Tiffany Paige Schultz, died, lived in an apartment complex adjacent to Buena Vista Gardens. Schultz's boyfriend was initially arrested for her murder, but was released three days later.
Janene Marie Weinhold, died, also lived in an adjacent apartment complex. Prince was tied to her murder through DNA testing. Her parents donated money to purchase playground equipment at the South Clairemont Park and Recreation Center in her memory.
Holly Suzanne Tarr, died, was visiting her brother and staying at his Buena Vista Gardens apartment. Tarr's slaying led police to believe a serial killer was stabbing women. A ring belonging to Tarr was given to Prince's girlfriend in December 1990.
Elissa Naomi Keller, died, lived in the East San Diego apartment complex where Prince moved in May 1990. A gold nugget ring belonging to Keller was traced to Prince. Keller's mother and daughter did not suspect Prince.
Pamela Gail Clark, died, lived in University City. Two of Prince's roommates testified he had been in possession of Clark's wedding ring.
Amber Clark, died, lived in University City with her mother Pamela. At the time the bodies of the Clarks were discovered, Elissa Keller had not been identified as a victim of the same killer, but San Diego police characterized the case as the largest manhunt in the history of the force.
Apprehension
A composite drawing of the killer was distributed in April 1990 based on an eyewitness description; a maintenance worker had seen the killer fleeing the apartment complex following Holly Tarr's death. San Diego police initially focused their attention on an accused rapist in January 1991, citing similarities in the suspect's description, method and opportunity. Prince was caught in February 1991 after he tried to break into a Scripps Ranch house. A woman, whom he had followed home from the Miramar Road health club, was getting ready to shower when she heard a noise at the front door. She ran from the house and sought help from a neighbor who came and confronted Prince. Prince claimed he was trying to find a female friend who had entered the woman's home but eventually gave up and scuttled away. The eyewitnesses took down Prince's license plate number and identified Prince from photographs, and he was arrested on in the parking lot of a health club after police alerted health club workers to be on the lookout for Prince's automobile. After his arrest, he agreed to provide blood and saliva samples, and the DNA results connected him to the murder of Janene Weinhold. That murder connected him to the others by the pattern presented by the murders. Pamela Clark regularly exercised at the Miramar Road health club before noon, and a swimming pool attendance log placed Prince in the vicinity of Holly Tarr. Prince struck when he knew his victims would be showering and thus be less attentive to their surroundings. He later bragged about the killings to a friend and took to wearing the dead woman's wedding ring on a chain around his neck. He gave another ring to his girlfriend as a Christmas present after taking it from Tarr.
Arrest
Prince was arrested on in Birmingham, Alabama, where he had returned to visit family following his discharge from the Navy. He had been arrested on an unrelated theft charge and had just been released on bail. Birmingham police, East Precinct, Officer Steven Lampley, contacted Prince by phone and told him that there was more paperwork that had to be completed and if he would come in to the precinct, they would not have to send marked police units to his home. After six hours of talking back and forth on the telephone Prince walked into the precinct with his mother and he was taken into custody. He was extradited to San Diego where the trial was held.
Trial
After viewing physical evidence, a judge ordered Prince to stand trial in March 1992. The defense argued unsuccessfully that Prince should be cleared of three murder charges from lack of evidence. Prince was found guilty on on all six counts of first-degree murderand 21 other felony charges. After later deliberations, the jury rendered a verdict of death. and the judge handed down the death sentence on. He is now on death row at San Quentin. Prince appealed his sentence, claiming that extensive media coverage had created a presumption of guilt in the jury pool, but the Supreme Court of California denied his appeal in 2007.
