'Prolific' serial killer sketched 16 alleged victims from memory, including one from Houston

This woman, identified only as a black female between 25-28 years old, was killed by Samuel Little in Houston some time killed between 1976 and 1979 or in 1993, federal officials say. This woman, identified only as a black female between 25-28 years old, was killed by Samuel Little in Houston some time killed between 1976 and 1979 or in 1993, federal officials say. Photo: FBI Photo: FBI Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close 'Prolific' serial killer sketched 16 alleged victims from memory, including one from Houston 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

New images have been released in the case of Samuel Little, a 78-year-old man who the FBI says may be among the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history.

Little is currently serving three consecutive life sentences in connection with three murders from 1987 to 1989. He was first arrested at a Kentucky homeless shelter in 2012, and a DNA match tied him to those killings, authorities said.

The Texas Rangers say he confessed to a total of 90 murders, and dozens of agencies are working to match his confessions with women who turned up dead from California to Florida between 1970 and 2005.

He is in poor health and will likely stay in prison until his death, the FBI said. Authorities are now looking to identify his victims and provide closure on the unsolved cases.

Little recently created 16 drawings of his victims based on his memory. One of the victims, only identified as a black female between 25 to 28 years old, was killed in Houston between 1976 and 1979 or in 1993, the FBI said.

The FBI's website includes more information about Little's past, as well as a map of some of his alleged killings.

Anyone with information about the victims or the case can call the FBI's Violent Criminal Apprehension Program at (800) 634-4097

Editor's note: In a previous version of this story, Chron.com reported that Samuel Little was jailed in Texas. That information was based on an FBI news release dated November 27, 2018. However, we have learned that Little was transferred to California since that release was issued. Wise County, Texas Sheriff Lane Akin confirms that Samuel Little was taken to the California State Prison, in Los Angeles County in January, 2019.

Click through the slideshow above to see if you know any of the women he killed across the county.

Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com | NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.