"Grim Sleeper" Missed by a Hair in 1988

Here is a L.A. Weekly story illustrating how close, and yet so far away the L.A.P.D. was to capturing the "Grim Sleeper" serial murder suspect Lonnie Franklin Jr. in 1998. The story is written by L.A. Weekly investigative reporter Christine Pelesik.

Photo montage by Ted Soqui © 2010

Lotus Festival

Bali dancing from the Indonesian Cultural Center.

Bali dancing

Bali and Java music.

Bangladeshi dancers waiting to perform.

Echo Park Lake with no Lotus blooms.

L.A.'s 32nd lotus Festival at the Echo Park Lake. Plenty of food and dancing, but sadly again still no Lotus flowers in the lake this year.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

BART Officer Found Guilty of Manslaughter

BART officer Johannes Mehsele was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter of an unarmed man, Oscar Grant. Mehsele reached for his service gun instead of his taser when he mistakenly shot Grant. A small but vocal group chanted "justice for Oscar" out front of the downtown L.A. courthouse when the court case was held. A massive group of L.A.P.D. officers stood ready for trouble behind the L.A.P.D. downtown headquarters.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

"Grim Sleeper" Captured

The "Grim Sleeper" in court. Pool image by Al Seib/LA Times

LAPD mugshot of the Lonnie David Franklin jr. dated 2/25/1994

Family of Janecia Peters at a press conference.

LAPD officer setting up mugshots of the "Grim Sleeper" suspect.

Families and friends of "Grim Sleeper" victims.

Lead Detective Dennis Kilcoyne.

The serial murder suspect known as the "Grim Sleeper," Lonnie David Franklin Jr., has been captured by the L.A.P.D. The "Grim Reaper" is known to have committed at least 10 murders, and one attempted murder.

The L.A.P.D. along with city and state officials held a press conference outside of the new Police Administration Building. Lead Detective Dennis Kilcoyne spoke on how they used new D.N.A. techniques to capture the "Grim Sleeper."

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

Abby Sunderland Back Home

Teen sailor Abby Sunderland, 16, is now back home. She held a press conference in Marina Del Rey and spoke of her record attempt to circumnavigate the world in her 40 foot sail boat "Wild Eyes." Her dream ended when her vessel was struck by a giant rouge wave which spun it around under water and broke the main carbon fiber mast.

Abby was rescued by a French fishing vessel after she set off her rescue beacons. Her 18 year old brother Zac Sunderland has also circumnavigated the world in a 36 foot sail boat. Abby was 12000 miles into her sailing adventure and is the youngest person to solo Cape Horn.

Her parents has received much criticism for allowing her to sail the world. They released a statement supporting their daughter's decision to follow her sailing endeavors.

Abby will now spend her time studying and applying for her driver's license.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

Ted Soqui Photography Honored at 52nd L.A. Press Club Journalism Awards

I was honored with a first place award for 2009 single topic photo essay at this year's 52nd Annual Southern California Journalism Awards, presented by the Los Angeles Press Club.

The photo essay was about Lancaster Prison, and was photographed for Los Angeles Magazine. Photo editor Kathleen Clark hired me for the shoot and cultivated the images into a powerful photo expose' for the magazine.

The awards presentation was held at the glamorous Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Anderson Cooper of CNN, and Sean Penn attended the gala affair.

Thank you Los Angeles Press Club.

Photograph by Ted Soqui © 2010

Al Gore Denies Affair

Candidate Gore in L.A. 8/2000

Al and Tipper at the Democratic Convention in L.A. 8/2000

Former Vice-President of the U.S., Albert Gore, denied a report by Star magazine that he had an affair with Laurie David, an environmentalist and former wife of Larry David of "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" fame.

The magazine claims the affair went on for over two years, all parties involved deny the Star's report as well.

Albert and Tipper Gore, who were high school sweethearts, are currently separated and have been married for 40 years.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

Election Day In L.A.

Back again.

Voting in Brentwood.

Gray, LHAO!

Poizner, out.

Gov's boots.

Governor voting, twice.

Election day in Los Angeles.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

A Star Is Born

Lee DeWyze, American Idol Season 9

Kara DioGuardi

Crystal and Lee

Carrie Underwood

Idol Judges

Carly Smithson

Brett Michaels

Kara DioGuradi

Ellen DeGeneres

Lee DeWyze is the new American Idol season 9.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

LiLo @ BH Court

Pool image by Jae C. Hong.

Lindsay Lohan at the Beverly Hills Courthouse this morning. She had to face a gauntlet of paps, celebrity, newsies, and video photographers to enter and exit the court. LiLo was ordered to wear a alcohol monitoring device and advised not to do any illegal drugs by the court.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

Pool image by Jae C.Hong

Tour of California in Downtown L.A.

The Amgen Tour of California held it's stage 7 time trial in downtown L.A.

The time trial, often called the "race of truth", was without RadioShack rider Lance Armstrong who crashed out of the Tour two days ago. There were smaller crowds due to Armstrong's absence.

The 20.9 mile (33.6K) course snaked it way through downtown wrapping it's way around many L.A. landmarks including the L.A. Coliseum and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

It was a perfect weather day, nice and sunny and not too warm.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

Landis Comes Clean About Being Dirty

Former professional bicycle racer, Floyd Landis, came clean today about doping during his cycling career which included winning the 2006 Tour de France. Landis tested positive for testosterone during the 2006 Tour de France, but denied the charges and spent millions of dollars fighting the charges. Landis also fingered former team mate and friend Lance Armstrong, along with his former team director Johan Bruyneel with suppling him with doping information and how to avoid testing positive for doping. Both Armstrong and Bruyneel deny Landis' allegations.

Lance Armstrong crashed today during the Tour of California today, he received several stitches to his face and had to abandon the race. Armstrong was not in contention to win the race, he was racing in support for team member Levi Leipheimer, who has also been dogged by doping allegations.

The Tour of California is sponsored by Amgen, the largest producer of EPO, the most common doping product abused by cyclist.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2010

Jay Leno on Mulholland Drive

Forgot to post this image of the "Tonight Show" host, Jay Leno, with his broken down 1963 Porsche on Mulholland Drive a couple of weeks ago.

Was riding my bicycle with my bike club, The L.A. Wheelmen, when we came across Jay and his Porsche. He told me his fuel pump gave out.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2010