"I think it's a strong case," he told reporters, "the detectives have done a good job on it. But nothing is ever guaranteed in our criminal justice system."

The announcement by the police chief came two days after the publication in the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot of the testimonies of three who'd experienced short-term relationships with suspect Jackson and who said he'd tried strangling them with a strap during aborted attempts to mix sex and bondage.

Jackson, according to authorities, has been under suspicion since May, under arrest for a singular count of murder, the strangulation of 38 year-old Andrew ("Andre") D. Smith.

For a decade the methods of the infamous Norfolk-area serial killer included his preying on mostly gay males. Strangulation was his specialty. His disposals of nude male bodies were made along the lonely shoulders of roads surrounding the Portsmouth-Norfolk areas, spooking locals, both gay and straight alike.

His first victim was Chucky Smith, (See GayToday, "People" August 11, 1997) whose mother, Donna Smith, has longed to see justice done for ten years, becoming disheartened as recently as August over what she perceived as police inaction on the case. Her impatience drew the attention of the Associated Press and of GayToday to the 12 unsolved murders. Donna Smith's son was the only victim wearing clothing when found.

Three men who testified last week that Elton Jackson had attempted to strangle them came forward with stories of more intimate relationships and of profit-driven sexual trysts during which male sex-workers barely missed becoming a serial-killer's statistic.

Willie C. Swimpson, says he met Jackson on Memorial Day, 1995 and, in July began sleeping in the same bed with him for three months in a house that Jackson shared with his mother. He was often given money following occasional sex by the accused, he says.

On the final Autumn night of their relationship, they'd attended a party together and had gone, says Swimpson, to look for drugs. In his Ford Bronco, Jackson pulled into a parking lot on Military Highway. The two men had planned to have sex there. Though Jackson had never before attempted to put restraints on Swimpson, this night, reportedly, he asked to be allowed to do so.

The men scuffled when Jackson whipped out a strap, but Swimpson's headlock on Jackson allowed him to bang his attacker's head on the car door, he told the Virginian-Pilot. Then he jumped out of the Bronco and ran along the road until he saw Jackson driving at him, bearing down on him he said, his intent to kill obvious.

Swimpson, after fleeing through the woods, spent the remainder of the night in a vacant house. The next day Swimpson says he was accompanied by a friend and retrieved his clothes, moving out on Jackson.

A 19-year old, Tommy Anderson, Jr., told also of cash offered by Jackson in exchange for sexual favors. The two took off in the direction of Military Highway and Anderson says he recalled, while driving, having seen television news reports of this area that had been shown in the wake of Andrew ("Andre") D. Smith's 1996 murder.

Again, there was a scuffle, says Anderson of what happened and he too fled into the woods.

The third party to testify of a near-miss murder attempt on his life was Kevin Michael Benton, 29. Benton went to have sex with Jackson, initially allowing him to tie his hands behind his back. When Jackson began choking him with a strap, Benton testified, he defended himself and escaped.

The strap, according to Benton, was round, the size of a pinkie.

At this time it is not clear whether the accusatory testimonies of Swimpson, Anderson and Benton will be allowed exposure in court when Jackson is tried for the murder of Smith. This trial is schuduled to begin April 21. Circuit Court Judge James A. Cales, Jr. will decide whether the three men may or may not testify.