James MacGillivray, 53, Paulus Smit, 57, and Lloyd Middaugh, 42
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (KTLA) -- Police in Orange County are warning the local homeless population that a serial killer is targeting them, after three similar murders in a two-week period
All three victims were stabbed to death, and each crime scene was extremely gruesome, authorities said.
The first murder happened on Dec. 21 in Placentia. Officers found James McGillivray, 53, dead from multiple stab wounds outside a shopping center in the 100 block of North Bradford Avenue.
"They just kill[ed] him like an animal, or something like that," hair salon owner Henry Portillo said.
Police found Lloyd Middaugh, 42, Dec. 28. He was stabbed to death on the riverbed trail near Tustin Avenue in Anaheim.
The body of Paulus Cornelius Smit, 57, was found Dec. 30 in the 18100 block of Imperial Highway in Yorba Linda, near the Yorba Linda Library.
Antoinette Smit, Paulus' mother told KTLA that she saw her son, two weeks ago at a family reunion. He called her a few days later to wish her a merry Christmas.
"That was the last time that I spoke with him," Antoinette Smit said.
Detectives in Anaheim, Brea and Placentia held a news conference Wednesday saying the killings are connected. Brea police patrol Yorba Linda.
Orange County law enforcement agencies and the FBI have formed a task force to catch the killer.
Authorities are now handing out fliers to alert the local homeless population.
Police have surveillance video from the murder scene in Placentia.
The video depicts the last moments of McGillivray's life.
In the part of the video released to the media, the killer approaches McGillivray as he sleeps on the sidewalk.
Authorities say the man then brutally stabbed McGillivray until he stopped moving, and the surveillance camera caught the entire vicious attack.
Shortly after the attack, the surveillance footage shows a 2000 to 2003 white Toyota Corolla. Police believe the car belongs to the serial killer.
The suspect is described as a man dressed in black and in his 20s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a thin build.
Anyone with information, or who sees any suspicious activity should contact Anaheim police at 714-765-1944.