Cops Link Two More Murders To Baseline

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A recent wanted poster for the Baseline Killer.

America's Most Wanted has learned from Phoenix police that two murders that occured in February, 2006 were the work of the Baseline Killer.  The deaths of Romelia Vargas and Mirna Palma-Roman brings the Baseline Killer's number of known victims to eight. 

The two women were murdered while driving a lunch wagon in southeast Phoenix.  Police say they've linked these deaths to the other crimes committed by the Baseline Killer through forensic evidence.

Police first discovered that they had a serial killer on the loose on on March 16, 2006. Liliana Sanchez-Cabrera had just completed her first day of work on her very first job, at Yoshi's Restaurant in Phoenix.  Her boss, George Chou, offered to take her home.  Neither would be seen alive again. 

George's body was found in an alley not far from the restaurant, and Liliana's body was discovered a mile away in a deserted parking lot. She'd been shot in the head.  Immediately, police noted a striking similarity to another homicide that had occurred on March 13.

By March 29, when another similar incident occured and police had eyewitness accounts, they were sure the person responsible was a suspect they already knew of...a man they were calling the Baseline Killer.

Phoenix Reckons With Two Serial Madmen

Cops had linked a string of sexual assaults and robberies that centered around Baseline Road on the southern edge of Phoenix to the Baseline Killer.  Dating back to August 6, 2005, investigators now believe that 14 rapes, 7 robberies, and 6 murders are all linked to this single individual.

But Phoenix police already had another killer on their hands and wanted to be sure not to confuse the two.  Currently, they believe that the Phoenix Serial Shooter(s) has been responsible for a number of shootings, animal killings, and murders dating back to May 2005 and the most recent being July 8, 2006.  The total number of shootings now stands at 34 ... 21 of the victims are people and 13 animals.

Phoenix cops, city officials and residents of Phoenix are now facing the hard reality that not one, but two, serial killers are loose in their city.

Who Is The Baseline Killer?

Police say that one of the robberies linked to the Baseline Killer was actually caught on surveillance video.  Although blurry, it shows a black male close to six feet tall with a gun and long black hair. 

While this matches other victim's descriptions, police say that others who saw the suspect described as being bald or having a shaved head.  This prompted police to believe that they may have a disguise artist on their hands. 

Cops say that he usually wears the same khaki pants and long sleeve shirt when committing the crimes.  Most worrisome is the fact that authorities say that the Baseline Killer is not only extremely violent, but as of late seems to be escalating his activity. 

Timeline:

Cops: The Baseline Killer Has Been Caught

On December 7, 2006 police announced that they have caught the Baseline Killer, the gunman responsible for nine slayings that spread terror across the Phoenix area for nearly a year.  Police Chief Jack Harris said investigators are recommending that Mark Goudeau, a 42-year-old construction worker who has been in jail since September, be charged with 71 counts, including nine murders. 

Goudeau was arrested in September 2006 on two sexual assaults involving two sisters.  But at the time, police stopped short of pronouncing him the Baseline Killer while they built a case against the ex-convict.

A ninth murder was not publicly revealed until Thursday. The victim was a woman found dead in her Phoenix home by her 8-year-old son in April 2006. Other cases were dropped from the investigation, leaving a total of 19 in which Goudeau is a suspect.  Police said they followed up on as many as 8,000 leads. 

Cops Arrest Suspect In Baseline Case

On September 6, 2006, Phoenix cops arrested 42-year-old Mark Goudeau outside his Phoenix home near where many of the Baseline Killer's robberies, rapes, and homicides took place. Police have linked the Baseline Killer to eight deaths and a total of 23 incidents dating back to August 2005.

Authorities in Phoenix say that they have forensic evidence linking Goudeau to two sexual assaults that occurred on September 20, 2005, but are quick to note that they have not connected him to any other of the Baseline incidents.  Currently, police are considering the numerous other Baseline-related cases open and subject to an ongoing investigation.

Police are not releasing photos of Goudeau until witnesses from the 2005 attack are called in for a photo line-up.  Authorities had recently identified Goudeau as a possible suspect in the sexual assault case and had him under surveillance for the last few days.