Homeless man linked to 5 strangulations in Houston Houston homeless man linked to five strangulations

Lucky Ward Lucky Ward Photo: Houston Police Department Photo: Houston Police Department Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Homeless man linked to 5 strangulations in Houston 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

DNA has connected a Houston man already charged in the September death of a homeless woman to four other strangulations last year and authorities said they suspect he could be linked to more deaths.

Lucky Ward, 46, was charged on Monday with capital murder in the death of Carlos T. Rodriguez, one of two transgender women from Houston who were killed in 2010.

The 40-year-old victim was known by the name "Gypsy," according a leader in Houston's transgender community, and was found dead on Sept. 13 inside her apartment in the 200 block of Frawley.

Houston Police Department investigators called Ward a serial killer who targeted those he perceived as vulnerable — women who lived on the streets or in shelters as well as those born as men who dressed and identified as women.

Ward, also known as Lawayne Jackson, was chronically homeless and frequented the downtown area where three of the bodies were found. He is being held in the Harris County jail without bail.

Ward, who worked occasionally as a day laborer, was arrested Nov. 4 and charged with capital murder in the strangulation of Reita L. Long, a 52-year-old homeless woman from Houston. She was found dead on Sept. 30 with a bra around her neck.

Long was slumped on steps behind the chancery of the Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston near the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

Investigators connected Ward to Long's death after the HPD crime lab built a complete profile from DNA left at the scene.

When presented with the DNA match, Ward confessed to killing Long, HPD Lt. Humberto Lopez said.

"I can't get into the content of what the confession consisted of," said Sgt. Eli Cisneros. "He's just a very cool individual. Very matter of fact. He's not an educated man but he is by no means a dumb person either."

Ward stopped talking to police when he got a lawyer, investigators said. His defense attorney, Skip Cornelius, could not be reached for comment.

When homicide investigators began comparing notes, they discovered similarities between the Long case and previously incomplete DNA profiles of a possible assailant in the other four deaths. The evidence was strongest in the Long and Rodriguez cases, which allowed charges to be filed.

Investigators say they have no motive and that Ward never said why he killed Long. Some were found nude, investigators said, but none were robbed or sexually assaulted.

"He likes being the man, the person in control, the person who has the power," Capt. David Gott said. "That may be some indication as to why he did it."

HPD now has expanded its inquiry into Ward, who has a lengthy criminal history and spent time in state prison, to a five-year period that includes about 80 unsolved murders, Gott said.

"When you have a case like this, you want to see just how far and how extensive this guy's criminal behavior has been," Gott added.

Ward is suspected of killing:

· Myra Chanel Ical, the legal name of 51-year-old transgender woman born Ruben D. Ical, was found dead Jan. 18, 2010 near a trash container r in the 4300 block of Garrott.

· Raquel A. Mundy, a 24-year-old mother of two small children, was discovered in a field in the 300 block of St. Charles on June 18. She became stranded the day before when her car was towed while she dropped off her mother and children at the Greyhound bus station. She was last seen getting into a vehicle with a man outside of the downtown depot.

· Carol E. Flood, 62, was found laying near the stairwell behind the previous location of the downtown YMCA in the 1600 block of Louisiana on Oct. 10.

Ward's criminal record in Harris County dates back to 1984 with convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault causing bodily injury, theft, drug possession and prostitution. He was arrested in February 2010 and spent two weeks in jail after pleading guilty to offering to perform a sex act for a fee.

Ical cleaned office buildings for a living and had just left a Tejano concert when she was murdered, said Cristan Williams, executive director of the Houston-based Transgender Foundation of America.

"In the past, HPD hasn't had a great record of solving transgender murder," Williams said. "I don't have adequate words to express my gratitude and my joy that this man is off the streets."

Anyone with additional information about Ward, these cases or others that may be connected are urged to contact HPD's homicide division at 713-308-3600.

cindy.george@chron.com