<br>Investigators meet in Toledo to discuss serial killer stabbings

8/11/2010

Investigators from three agencies met with Toledo police Wednesday afternoon to continue the hunt for a serial killer accused of predominantly targeting black men during stabbings in Michigan, Virginia, and Ohio.

Toledo officials spent just over an hour with Michigan State Police, Flint Police detectives, and FBI agents from Michigan and Toledo in a closed door meeting downtown. Toledo Police Chief Mike Navarre said the group sat down with Public Safety Director Shirley Green and local detectives to share information about the tri-state manhunt.

Representatives from all agencies who met are planning a conference call Thursday with police in Leesburg, Virginia.

"We have to have a coordinated effort," Chief Navarre said. "We want to make sure we are all on the same page, and comparing notes, and sharing information and the leads that come in."

All of but three of the victims in the stabbing attacks have been black.

The same man is believed responsible for fatally stabbing five men and attacking a dozen others in the same manner in Flint, Mich. between May 24 and August 2.

After that time the suspect is believed to have headed south. Similar attacks against three men occurred in Leesburg, Va. on August 3, 5, and 6.

In Toledo, Anthony "Tony" Leno, 59, was stabbed multiple times by a man who asked him for directions Saturday evening.

The involved police agencies have issued several nationwide bulletins to law enforcement that they should report similar stabbing attacks that may be linked to the suspect.

Authorities have released a composite sketch of the suspect, who is described as being white or Middle Eastern in his late 20s or early 30s, between 5 feet, 8 inches and 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighing about 160 to 210 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

The suspect approaches his victims by asking for directions or help with his vehicle, identified as a green Chevy S-10 Blazer, with a tan or gold trim and two grapefruit-sized dents on the hood, police said.