Had police and prosecutors avoided the mix-ups and missteps that allowed a now-accused serial killer to remain free, up to five killings may have been prevented, authorities acknowledged this week.

James E. Matthews Jr., 65, a former Detroit resident extradited to Michigan from New York on Sunday, appeared via video feed Tuesday, Aug. 14, from the Wayne County Jail to be arraigned on charges stemming from a 2000 sexual assault, a 2001 domestic misdemeanor and a 2003 strangling.

Matthews was previously arrested in connection with the strangling, but was never prosecuted. All three incidents occurred in Detroit.

Matthews has also been identified as a suspect in at least one other Michigan killing, as well as three homicides in Texas and another in New York, George Hunter of the Detroit News reported, based on statements made by Detroit police.

"I don't know what's going on," Matthews said when asked if he understood the charges against him. Matthews claimed the domestic violence case was not his.

Wayne County 36th District Magistrate Judge Magistrate Millicent D. Sherman ordered Matthews held without bond on the 2003 first-degree murder charge.

Suspected serial killer arraigned in Detroit 10 Gallery: Suspected serial killer arraigned in Detroit

Matthews, appearing in a green jail jumpsuit with glasses, with a graying goatee and receding hairline, shook his head in disagreement when Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Ashley Ciaffone told the court Matthews has ties, as well as prior convictions, in New York and Texas, making him a flight risk and threat to the public, specifically to women.

Matthews was arrested in New York in April when he became the prime suspect in a 2007 killing there. The case was dismissed when a grand jury declined to file criminal charges; however, DNA collected during the investigation linked Matthews to the 2000 sexual assault of a 50-year-old woman in Detroit.

According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Matthews, who lived in Detroit at the time, invited the woman to his home to "talk" on the morning of July 12, 2000.

"Once inside, it is alleged that Matthews became violent and sexually assaulted the woman while armed with a knife," the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said. "After the assault, he restrained the victim and left the room. While he was in another part of the house, the victim was able to escape and call 911."

After the woman was interviewed, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct were issued April 19.

Prosecutors say forensic evidence collected at the sexual assault crime scene was reexamined, linking Matthews to the 2003 strangling of 40-year-old Marchella Robinson, who was found dead on the lawn of a home next door to where Matthews was living on St. Mary's in Detroit at the time.

Matthews was previously arrested and identified as a suspect in both the sexual assault and homicide. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said the sexual assault case was never originally charged because the victim failed to show up for an interview.

The murder charge wasn't initially filed because the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office requested further information or evidence that the Detroit Police Department never provided.

"I'm not going to say it's the prosecutor when our investigators know you've got to follow up," Detroit Police Chief James Craig told WDIV-TV, Chanel 4 News. "We've got a murder suspect, or at least who we believe is a murder suspect, and we don't follow up on the case status.

"It's good that we have a (suspected) serial killer off the streets, but should we have done more in 2003 ... I believe there are additional cases here, and God knows what additional states."

Matthews is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual assault for the 2000 case and first-degree premeditated murder for the 2003 strangling.

He is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause hearing on Aug. 28.