South African police said Saturday that a woman's body found near Johannesburg brought the number of victims in killings under investigation to 10. They have identified similarities in some cases but found no conclusive evidence that the same person or people were responsible.
Two women were arrested and charged last week with murder in connection with the ninth body, found Sept. 17. Police have not linked them to the other killings. Provincial police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni told SABC investigators believed the ninth killing was isolated but could not rule out links among some of the others.
Police had not identified the 10th victim and released few details about the body. The first three bodies were found in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, in July and August, within about 4.3 miles of one another; six more were found there over 10 days earlier this month, raising fears of a serial killer or killers. All nine earlier victims were women in their 20s or 30s, and several were naked or partly clothed in open areas near main roads. A specialist unit is assisting, and police warned women to use caution in the area.
