Two bodies found in two days in East St. Louis, Ill.; eight women found slain since Nov. '99

<br>EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) _ Two women were found slain one day apart, bringing to eight the number of women whose bodies were found here in the past two years. <br><br>Police said the two most recent

Wednesday, October 10th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) _ Two women were found slain one day apart, bringing to eight the number of women whose bodies were found here in the past two years.

Police said the two most recent killings appear to be unrelated to each other or to the other six slayings. ``There is no connection that we see,'' detective Sgt. James Mister said Tuesday.

The body of Lolina Collins, 41, of Rock Hill, Mo., was found in weeds near a park Sunday. An autopsy showed she had been strangled. Her body, clad only in a bra, was found with a trash bag over the ankles and a second trash bag over her arms.

The mother of three had worked at a state hospital until April, and was planning to become an elementary school teacher, said her husband, Tom.

Police also identified the body Brenda R. Beasley, 33, of St. Louis. A motorist found her nude body lying by a fire hydrant Monday. The cause of death was not immediately determined.

The mother of four worked full-time at a fast food restaurant.

The bodies of six other black women have been found in the same general area in East St. Louis since November 1999. Most were in areas frequented by prostitutes and drug users.