Two suspects

Throughout the investigation, only two suspects had reared their heads: one was Roger Hausmann, who the LA Weekly did an extensive profile on. Hausmann was an unlikely suspectfor one thing he didnt match the profile of a middle-aged black man. According to the LA Weekly, Hausmann had been arrested for having sex with a minor but then married the minor in question. Unquestionably unsavory, he had been picked up throughout the years for assault, pimping, lewd acts against a child, carrying loaded and concealed weapons, among other petty crimes, according to an LA Weekly profile. It didnt help that he had allegedly mouthed off to Fresnopolice about killing prostitutes, according to an LA Weekly story. But when his DNA was tested, he was off the hook. He wasnt the killer.

Los AngelesSheriffs Deputy Rickey Ross, though, was the first suspect pursued seriously by police.

In 1989, Ross was arrested in connection to the string of crimes now believed to be that of the 'Grim Sleeper.' He was arrested and found with a 9mm in February 1989, but after several months and an independent investigation discovered that the LAPD crime lab's ballistics tests were inaccurate, the charges were dropped. 

At first glance, Ross seemed like a good fit, especially considering the eyewitness details of Enietra Margiette. He was black and well dressed, but he didnt look a whit like the picture she had conjured with the sketch artist. And though he allegedly had personal problems and was picked up by police with a prostitute, he wasnt guilty. He was fired, and later sued the department for $400 million. The case was settled out of court.