Inside the mind of a serial strangler

With at least two murders linked to the Kensington Strangler and choking victims still coming forward, a criminal profile expert said yesterday police are likely searching for a blue-collar man in his mid-to-late 20s or early 30s who has rage issues and scopes out his victims.

“This is a sociable kind of person who does not appear threatening. This is your next-door neighbor who is probably a loner or lives with his mother,” said Mary Myers, a retired police captain, who teaches serial killer profiling at the University of Akron.

Myers, who has not followed the cases, said the suspect is probably unable to control his impulses and flies into a rage when he does not get what he wants.

“The frequency that’s happening here … says this guy is definitely out of control, but he’s not a careful, calculated guy because he’s dropping them where people can find them,” Myers said.

Police have formed a task force to investigate the two November murders along with that of Allison Edwards, 22, whose body was discovered last Friday inside a Juniata Park apartment. One source said yesterday investigators do not believe the Edwards case is connected.

A 33-year-old woman reported being choked early Monday during a rape attempt near Kensington Avenue and Sergeant Street, similar to two attacks in October. The suspect in all three attacks is described as a black or Latino male, 5-feet-7-inches to 5-feet-11 inches, thin build and dark complexion.