A 70-year-old convicted serial killer, William Lester Suff, has confessed to yet another murder in Southern California, bringing an end to a longstanding cold case, according to recent announcements by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Known as the "Riverside Prostitute Killer" and the "Lake Elsinore Killer," Suff admitted to killing 19-year-old Cathy Small in 1986. He also acknowledged his involvement in other killings in Riverside County, though details regarding these cases have not been immediately disclosed. Currently, Suff is serving his sentence on death row at San Quentin.

The chilling revelations unveil that Suff's murderous spree dates back to the 1970s and 1980s, during which Los Angeles was infamously recognized as the epicenter of America's serial killings. In 1974, Suff was convicted in Texas for killing his 2-month-old daughter and was sentenced to 70 years in prison. However, he was paroled to California in 1984, according to Homicide Lt. Patricia Thomas.

The investigation into Small's murder began on February 22, 1986, when South Pasadena Police responded to a report of a woman lying unconscious on Banks Street. The victim was discovered wearing a nightgown and had sustained multiple stab wounds, ultimately succumbing to her injuries at the scene. An autopsy revealed that she had been stabbed and strangled to death.

Three days later, detectives received a call from a concerned resident of Lake Elsinore who had seen a newspaper article about the homicide and feared that the victim might be his roommate. The caller later identified the victim as Cathy Small, a prostitute who had been residing with him for several months. The man revealed that Small had left his house on February 21 and mentioned that she was being picked up by a man named Bill for a trip to Los Angeles with a promise of $50.

Despite pursuing various leads throughout the ensuing decades, detectives were unable to solve Small's murder. However, recent advancements in DNA analysis uncovered a crucial breakthrough in August 2020. A sexual assault kit and Small's clothing, which had never been tested for DNA, were finally examined, leading to a match with two males. One of them was identified as William Lester Suff.

When questioned by detectives in 2022, Suff admitted to his encounter with Small. He revealed that he was working at a computer repair shop and residing in Riverside County during that time in 1986. He further disclosed that Small had visited his repair shop and provided him with her home phone number. Intrigued, he called her and invited her to accompany him to meet his boss in Pasadena. Upon their arrival at the location on Banks Street, an argument ensued between them. The situation escalated when Small accidentally knocked his glasses off his face, causing Suff to become enraged. He retrieved a knife from his car and stabbed Small multiple times in the chest before pushing her into the street and driving away.

"We believe we're bringing a sense of long overdue justice and closure to the victim and her family," stated Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna at Tuesday's press conference.

Small was remembered by her younger sister through a statement read at the news conference. She was described as a loving mother and a good daughter who possessed a big heart and would go out of her way to help anyone. At the time of her tragic demise, Small was on her path to rebuilding her life after facing challenges.

Suff remained at large until his arrest during a routine traffic stop in 1992. He subsequently confessed to committing a dozen murders in Riverside County between 1989 and 1991, leading to his sentencing on death row. Due to his existing sentence, Suff is not expected to face trial for Small's murder.