Kansas City police find five decomposing bodies in just three days in one neighborhood

Sunday, September 5th 2004, 9:18 am

By: News On 6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Five decomposing bodies have been found in one Kansas City neighborhood in just three days, and police were investigating whether a single killer was responsible.

Calls to 911 on Saturday pointed police to two bodies in vacant lots east of downtown Kansas City, officials said. It was the same area as the three other bodies found Thursday and Friday.

``I cannot remember anything like this,'' said police Capt. Rich Lockhart.

Despite the similarities, police said it wasn't immediately clear whether the crimes were connected.

``Forensically, we have not connected these, but we're investigating them as though they are,'' said Lockhart.

Police believe the first two bodies _ found in the garage of an unoccupied house after a neighbor complained of a foul odor _ were women. They would not disclose the gender of the other three victims.

``It's scary, it really is,'' said Michelle Bruce, who lives nearby. ``I've invested in a home right here in this neighborhood, and it's making me feel like packing up and moving.''

Some residents speculated the deaths could be linked to prostitution, but police had no firm evidence to support that.

``We're going to look at everything,'' said homicide commander Randy Hopkins. ``We're not drawing any conclusions.''