natina
07-31-2015, 07:08 AM
(CNN)—"He pulled a gun on me! He was going to kill me!"
Those are the chilling words caught in the background of a 911 call placed earlier this month after a woman faced off with an attacker who tried to rape her, pointing a 9 mm gun to her chest.
The victim, who is being called "Heather" by investigators, fought back so hard, police in Charleston, West Virginia said, that her attacker -- who police now believe may be linked to other crimes -- lost control of his gun.
Heather grabbed the weapon and blindly fired it, killing 45-year-old Neal Falls in self-defense, police said.
Heather, who met Falls after connecting via the escort section of backpage.com, was not charged in the incident.
Because the offender died during the crime, "our case is closed," according to Lt. Steve Cooper, chief of detectives of the Charleston, West Virginia, Police Department.
But while the West Virginia part of the story might be over, what police discovered in the trunk of Falls' car has investigators in other states wondering if he could be linked to other unsolved cases involving escorts.
Cooper said Falls had what police are calling a "kill kit," which included four sets of handcuffs, an ax, a machete, bulletproof vests, knives, a box cutter, a large container of bleach, and a large number of trash bags.
Police say it's unlikely this was the 45-year-old Falls' first violent crime.
The FBI said Tuesday that while there is no information that connects him with any unsolved killings, it will explore the possibility.
'I knew he was there to kill me'
The last person to see Falls alive said she knew her attacker had experience committing violence.
"I knew he was there to kill me," Heather told CNN affiliate WCSH, "I could tell he had already done something because he said he was going to prison for a long time."
Police said Falls also carried a list of about 10 women -- all escorts in West Virginia
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/27/us/woman-kills-attacker-serial-killer/
Attacker slain by West Virginia woman may have been interstate serial killer
An escort managed to turn Neal Falls’ gun on him – and police say his end may have saved the lives of many more women after years of mysterious deaths
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/26/serial-killer-shot-west-virginia-neal-falls
Escort shoots, kills attacker, who may be responsible for other deaths
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/07/26/escort-shoots-kills-attacker-who-may-be-responsible-for-other-deaths/
Woman who shot alleged attacker may have slain a serial killer, police say
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/25/women-who-shot-alleged-attacker-may-have-slain-a-serial-killer-police-say/
Those are the chilling words caught in the background of a 911 call placed earlier this month after a woman faced off with an attacker who tried to rape her, pointing a 9 mm gun to her chest.
The victim, who is being called "Heather" by investigators, fought back so hard, police in Charleston, West Virginia said, that her attacker -- who police now believe may be linked to other crimes -- lost control of his gun.
Heather grabbed the weapon and blindly fired it, killing 45-year-old Neal Falls in self-defense, police said.
Heather, who met Falls after connecting via the escort section of backpage.com, was not charged in the incident.
Because the offender died during the crime, "our case is closed," according to Lt. Steve Cooper, chief of detectives of the Charleston, West Virginia, Police Department.
But while the West Virginia part of the story might be over, what police discovered in the trunk of Falls' car has investigators in other states wondering if he could be linked to other unsolved cases involving escorts.
Cooper said Falls had what police are calling a "kill kit," which included four sets of handcuffs, an ax, a machete, bulletproof vests, knives, a box cutter, a large container of bleach, and a large number of trash bags.
Police say it's unlikely this was the 45-year-old Falls' first violent crime.
The FBI said Tuesday that while there is no information that connects him with any unsolved killings, it will explore the possibility.
'I knew he was there to kill me'
The last person to see Falls alive said she knew her attacker had experience committing violence.
"I knew he was there to kill me," Heather told CNN affiliate WCSH, "I could tell he had already done something because he said he was going to prison for a long time."
Police said Falls also carried a list of about 10 women -- all escorts in West Virginia
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/27/us/woman-kills-attacker-serial-killer/
Attacker slain by West Virginia woman may have been interstate serial killer
An escort managed to turn Neal Falls’ gun on him – and police say his end may have saved the lives of many more women after years of mysterious deaths
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/26/serial-killer-shot-west-virginia-neal-falls
Escort shoots, kills attacker, who may be responsible for other deaths
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/07/26/escort-shoots-kills-attacker-who-may-be-responsible-for-other-deaths/
Woman who shot alleged attacker may have slain a serial killer, police say
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/25/women-who-shot-alleged-attacker-may-have-slain-a-serial-killer-police-say/