Cleophus Prince Jr.

Cleophus Prince Jr, born July 24, 1967, earned his place among America’s most brazen serial killers during a terrifying 1990 crime spree in San Diego, California.

Known to the public as the ‘Clairemont Killer’, Prince’s six-month rampage left six women dead – victims of his particularly vicious combination of sexual violence and brutal homicide.

He targeted women in their homes, often in broad daylight, gaining entry through deception (i.e posing as a maintenance worker) or force, committed sexual assaults and overkill stabbings, leaving scenes of extreme violence. He focused on the Clairmont and North Park areas, creating widespread panic.

CRIMES COMMITTED

From January to September 1990, Cleophus Prince Jr. stalked San Diego, preying on young women in their own homes. Convicted of murdering six victims—all vulnerable women living alone in apartments—Prince’s crimes were marked by shocking brutality. His victims were stabbed dozens of times, far beyond what was necessary to kill, several women were assaulted before their deaths, Prince selected isolated victims, breaking into their apartments to ambush them.

Cleophus Prince Jr. Victims:

Tiffany Schultz (20) – January 12, 1990

Tiffany lived in an apartment in Buena Vista Gardens apartment complex. Tiffany’s roommate discovered her body, it was a horrifying scene of violence. The 20-year-old victim lay face-up on her bedroom floor wearing only bikini bottoms, her legs positioned unnaturally – the left extended beneath the bed while the right was bent at a 60-degree angle. The savage attack had left: 47 distinct stab wounds concentrated in areas: left breast, her torso, significant trauma to the neck and upper right thigh, facial bruising suggesting the attacker beat her into submission. Despite the apparent sexual nature of the positioning and breast-focused wounds, autopsy revealed no evidence of sexual assault. Investigators recovered critical DNA evidence – hair strands and skin cells recovered from Tiffany’s hand.

Janene Weinhold (21) – February 16, 1990

Janene Weinhold, 21 lived in the same building complex as Tiffany Schultz. Janene’s roommate made the horrific discovery—her lifeless body sprawled on the bedroom floor, partially clothed only in her bra. Her other garments had been violently torn off and discarded nearby, left inside out as if removed in haste. The scene bore marks of a savage attack: multiple deep stab wounds concentrated on her chest, with a cluster of particularly vicious strikes over her right breast, evidence confirmed she had been sexually assaulted before her death, one leg was forcibly spread, suggesting the killer posed her body after the murder.

Holly Tarr (18) – April 3, 1990

Killer struck in the same apartment complex again. Holly’s body was discovered on the floor, positioned with her legs spread—a grim indication of the attacker’s intent to sexually assault her. Clad only in her bra and underwear, a towel from her recent shower still draped partially over her, the scene bore signs of a sudden, vicious attack. She had a single, deep stab wound to the chest pierced her heart, killing her before the medics got there. Her opal ring, worn earlier that day, had been taken—suggesting possible trophy-keeping by the killer.

Elissa Keller (38) – May 21, 1990

Elissa, 38 had suffered a vicious attack, sustaining nine concentrated stab wounds to the chest along with facial blunt-force trauma and signs of strangulation. Defensive wounds on her hands revealed a desperate struggle against her assailant. Her blood stained underwear, found discarded and inside-out beside her body. A distinctive gold-nugget ring was missing from her finger.

Pamela Clark (42) and Amber Clark (18) – September 13, 1990

Pamela’s colleague made a horrific find upon entering Pamela’s home—her nude body was positioned unnaturally in the entryway, arms outstretched at perfect 90-degree angles. The scene revealed 11 deep stab wounds concentrated in her upper left chest. Her wedding ring was taken as well as money from the apartment. Police soon discovered Amber’s body in a bedroom, revealing eerie parallels: 11 identical stab wounds were also clustered on her upper chest.

CAPTURE & INVESTIGATION

When detectives reviewed the gym sign-in sheet after Tammy’s testimony, they found four names: both victims, Holly’s brother, and “C. Prince.” This led them to Cleophus Prince Jr., who claimed he worked out until noon then returned to his apartment before leaving for work at 1:50 PM. Without concrete evidence, police couldn’t arrest him when he refused fingerprinting.

Prince’s roommates, Robert and Robin Romo, later revealed he had confessed to raping a woman twice in April. When Robin mentioned the Buena Vista Gardens murder, Prince casually remarked he’d seen the victim at the pool that morning. After Prince moved out, murders stopped at that location but continued elsewhere.

Investigators faced challenges as Prince had no criminal record, but multiple factors pointed to his guilt: witness sightings near crime scenes, residence near victims’ apartments, his girlfriend unknowingly wearing victims’ stolen jewelry and eventually, DNA evidence linked him to the crimes.

A massive task force (27 detectives, 5 sergeants, and supervisors) worked the case amid public panic. Key breaks came when witnesses reported Prince’s distinctive blue-gray car with a loud muffler near burglary sites. On February 4, 1991, gym staff spotted his 1982 Chevy Cavalier in their lot. Officers found multiple knives and gloves in his car. Though released pending DNA results, Prince fled to Alabama.

Cellmark Diagnostics matched Prince’s DNA to semen from Janene Weinhold’s murder. Police then found Holly Tarr’s distinctive opal ring in Prince’s vacated apartment, and tracked him to Alabama where he was arrested on March 3, 1991. Investigators connected Prince to all six murders through: footwear matching crime scene impressions, additional stolen jewelry (Elissa Keller’s ring), behavioral patterns across cases. The FBI assisted with linkage analysis to establish the full pattern of crimes, crucial for seeking the death penalty.

TRIAL & CONVICTIONS

The 1992 trial of Cleophus Prince Jr. became one of San Diego’s most infamous criminal proceedings. Prosecutors built an ironclad case using DNA evidence linking Prince to multiple crime scenes, eyewitness testimony placing him near victims’ homes, stolen jewelry and personal items recovered from his possession.

Despite defense claims of mistaken identity and flawed forensics, the sheer weight of evidence—including bloody clothing, confessions to roommates, and matching footprint impressions—sealed Prince’s fate.

Investigators initially hit a snag due to Prince’s rare non-secretor status (a genetic trait found in only 25% of the population). Early tests mistakenly suggested the killer had Type O blood (Prince was Type A), delaying his identification. Advanced DNA analysis later confirmed a 1-in-120,000 match to semen from Janene Weinhold’s murder. Roommate revealed Prince returned home with bloodied jeans, boasted about stabbing victims “in the heart,” and kept stolen women’s jewelry.

Special Agent Ankrom testified that all six murders shared identical wound patterns, confirming a single killer. (Defense countered by highlighting unsolved local stabbings, but the judge barred extensive discussion to protect ongoing investigations.)

After nine days of deliberation, the jury convicted Prince on July 13, 1993 of six counts of first-degree murder, twenty burglaries, and additional felony charges.

During sentencing, Prince shocked the court by blatantly denying guilt to victims’ families—despite overwhelming evidence. The jury recommended death by lethal injection, a sentence upheld in 2007 when the California Supreme Court dismissed all appeals in a 159-page ruling.

REFERENCES / CITATIONS:

1. Casemine.com: Affirmation of Death Sentence: Upholding Expert Linkage Evidence and Procedural Standards Amidst Extensive Pretrial Publicity in People v. Prince – May 1, 2007
2. CDCR: California incarcerated records and information search (CIRIS)
3. Psychology Today: Motivation of Peril, How a serial killer got caught – August 9, 2019
4. Los Angeles Times: Judge Gives Serial Killer Death Penalty : Crime: Cleophus Prince Jr. denies the stabbing murders of six women in San Diego in 1990 – November 6, 1993

BOOKS ABOUT Cleophus Prince Jr.

The Clairemont Killer: The True Story of Serial Killer Cleophus Prince, Jr.

Authorities had profiled San Diego’s newest serial killer as a disorganized opportunist. They were wrong. While Serial Killers usually target victims of their own race, Cleophus Prince, Jr. was an African-American who systematically stalked…

VIEW ON AMAZON

Unusual Suspects – S3.E5 – Clairemont Killer

In 1990, the murders of six females put San Diego investigators on the trail of a vicious serial killer. As all suspects come up clear, reports of a man loitering outside a health club bring the case to a shocking conclusion.
TV Series / Documentary | 2010

IMDb

DISCOVERY

HULU

Born to kill? S6.E4 – Cleophus Prince Jr: The Clairemont Killer

Dishonorably discharged Navy man Cleophus Prince Jr stalked, attacked and murdered six women as they showered in their homes.
TV Series / Documentary | 2011

IMDb

YOUTUBE

TRUE LIVES

Motivation of Peril, How a serial killer got caught
Psychology Today | Author: Steven Lampley | August 9, 2019

Judge Gives Serial Killer Death Penalty : Crime: Cleophus Prince Jr. denies the stabbing murders of six women in San Diego in 1990
Los Angeles Times | Author: Michael Granberry | November 6, 1993