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FBI Helps Philadelphia Police Look For Kensington Strangler

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia police say they've pulled out all the stops to find the man dubbed "the Kensington strangler."

The man has been linked through DNA evidence to two murders. And they report that attacks on five other women fit the pattern of the attacks, including two in a matter of hours on Monday night and Tuesday morning.

They are also investigating a third death to see if it's related (see related story).

strangler news conf loeb
(Photo by Pat Loeb)

Police commissioner Charles Ramsey (at lectern in photo) says police have enlisted the FBI's behavioral analysis unit, a nationwide crime database, and they are going back over cold cases to see if they can find links to the unknown suspect in the November strangulation deaths of two women in Kensington.

And Ramsey says there are additional tools in their investigative arsenal.

"We've made hundreds of car stops and ped stops in the area," Ramsey said Wednesday morning during a press conference at police headquarters. "We've taken more than 60 swabs for DNA analysis from individuals that we have arrested for soliciting prostitutes. More than 80 individuals so far have been taken into custody during this period of time."

Walt Hunter reports ...

Ramsey says no hits so far, but a task force is combing the streets, armed with a pair of very similar composite sketches developed by two victims who survived choking attacks.

Reported by Pat Loeb, KYW Newsradio

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