Thomas Sylvester Steele, 36, of Los Angeles was found dead August 14, 1986, at 71st Street and Halldale Avenue in Harvard Park. Authorities at first could not determine the exact cause of death. Later investigators believed Steele was one of the victims of the serial killer dubbed the Grim Sleeper based on the pattern of killings and the location where his body was found.

The Grim Sleeper was identified as Lonnie David Franklin Jr., a perpetrator active in South Los Angeles from 1985 to 2007. Franklin was arrested July 7, 2010, and later tried on multiple murder and attempted murder counts. Although investigators linked Steele to the Grim Sleeper pattern, Franklin was not charged in Steele’s killing.

Anyone who knew Thomas Steele or has information about his death is asked to come forward.