Suspected serial killer charged with smothering 12 elderly women as cops review 750 deaths for possible link

A Texas man who has been jailed since last year for allegedly killing an elderly woman and attempting to kill two others was indicted on 11 additional capital murder charges this week.

Grand juries in Dallas and Collin Counties respectively returned six and five indictments against Billy Chemirmir, 46. Chemirmir is believed to have committed the murders in Dallas between 2016 and 2018 and in Collin County between 2017 and 2018, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Chemirmir was arrested in March 2018 for allegedly smothering Lu Thi Harris, 81, at her Dallas home and trying to kill two more women in Collin County. He’s accused of smothering all 12 victims.

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KXAS reported that Chemirmir allegedly posed as a home health care worker or maintenance worker to gain entry to the victims’ homes before smothering and robbing them.

Last year, Dallas police announced that they’re reviewing 750 unattended death cases to determine whether Chemirmir had any involvement. Other local police departments said they intend to the same, according to the news station.

According to the Dallas Morning News report, Tuesday’s indictments were for the following murders:

  • May 14, 2016: Phyllis Payne, 91, in Dallas
  • June 5, 2016: Phoebe Perry, 94, in Dallas
  • October 8, 2016: Norma French, 85, in Dallas
  • October 29, 2016: Doris Gleason, 92, in Dallas
  • October 31, 2017: Minnie Campbell, 84, in Plano
  • December 31, 2017: Carolyn MacPhee, 81, in Plano
  • January 19, 2018: Rosemary Curtis, 75, in Dallas
  • January 31, 2018: Mary Brooks in Richardson
  • March 4, 2018: Martha Williams, 80, in Plano
  • March 9, 2018: Miriam Nelson, 81, in Plano
  • March 18, 2018: Ann Conklin, 82, in Plano

The outlet noted that families for three of the victims—French, Gleason, and Payne—sued the senior-living communities where the women lived for failing to protect them. It’s unclear whether the other slain women also resided in senior-living communities.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Chemirmir had lived in Dallas for a decade but is a citizen of Kenya. Under an immigration hold, his bail was set at more than $9 million.

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[Featured image: Billy Chemirmir/Dallas County Sheriff’s Department]