Walter E. Ellis, 49, is suspected in the killings of at least nine women over 21 years in Milwaukee, and has been charged in connection with two of the homicides. (AP/Milwaulkee County Jail)
MILWAUKEE – A man police have linked to the slayings of nine women since 1986 has been ordered held on $1 million bond during an initial court appearance.
Walter E. Ellis appeared Wednesday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, facing two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Sept. 23.
Police have said the 49-year-old's DNA was found on women ages 16 to 41 who were killed in a 3-square-mile area.
Investigators believe eight of the women were prostitutes and one was a runaway.
Ellis is charged in the deaths of Joyce Mims in 1997 and Ouithrean Stokes in 2007.
District Attorney John Chisholm says he expects to file more charges on Thursday.
Ellis's attorney, Alejandro Lockwood, could not immediately be reached for comment.
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