CA The 1997 Triple Murder of Charlene Flemons, Ruth Neal, and Lakeisha Jackson in Los Angeles

[JknudsonPI]

I am a Private Investigator in CA. The family has contacted me to try and get resolve on this old case. Any tips on how to go about heading this cold case investigation? The case is unsolved and cold out of LAPD jurisdiction. Would there be a process in getting reports, coroner reports etc. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

The 1997 Triple Murder of Charlene Flemons, Ruth Neal, and Lakeisha Jackson in Los AngelesOn December 6, 1997 (a Saturday night), three young women—Charlene Flemons (age 23), her sister Ruth Neal (age 20), and their family friend Lakeisha Jackson (age 19)—were shot to death execution-style in the apartment they shared in the 1300 block of South Orange Drive, Los Angeles (near the Mid-Wilshire area).Discovery of the Bodies

• The victims' mother, Vicki Sterling, discovered the bodies on Sunday afternoon, December 7, 1997, when she visited the apartment to return Charlene's 6-year-old daughter, Brenae.
• All three women had been shot in the head at close range.
• Brenae reportedly saw the bodies and was left in a state of shock; she and her grandmother fled the apartment screaming.

Victim Backgrounds

• Charlene Flemons was described by friends as a positive, community-oriented person. She distributed fliers in Watts' Nickerson Gardens housing project to encourage unwed mothers to get involved in activities. She was set to graduate from a downtown nursing school in two months and was mentored by Tina Eddy, who ran a child-care center in South-Central LA.
• Ruth Neal (younger sister) was more outgoing and enjoyed nightlife, including spots popular with motorcycle clubs.
• Lakeisha Jackson was a close family friend sharing the apartment.
• Friends and community members (including activist Bo Taylor, Brenae's godfather) expressed shock, emphasizing the victims' kindness and lack of obvious enemies.

Investigation and Status

• Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) investigated but found no clear motive (initially considered a possible burglary, though details were limited).
• The case received media attention in late 1997 but appears to have gone cold with no arrests, suspects named publicly, or resolution reported in subsequent decades.
• It is not linked to known serial killers active in LA at the time (e.g., the Grim Sleeper's confirmed victims were primarily from 1985–1988 and 2002–2007, with different MO and victim profiles).
• No connections to other 1997 unsolved female homicides in LA were mentioned in available reports.

This triple homicide baffled friends and investigators, who struggled with the brutality and lack of apparent reason. The primary source is a December 9, 1997, Los Angeles Times article, with no significant follow-up coverage indicating a solved case.If you have additional details or a specific aspect (e.g., family updates), more targeted searches could reveal further information, but this appears to be an unsolved case.