Phoenix fears serial killer now enraged

PHOENIX, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Publicity around arrests in one of two Phoenix serial killing sprees has some concerned the killer still on the loose may become angry at being overshadowed.

Monday marked the first anniversary of the attacks attributed to the man known as the Baseline Killer, who is a suspect in eight murders, 11 sexual assaults and eight robberies.

However, on Friday, the Baseline Killer wasn't mentioned as police announced the arrests of two men who had been in connection with another serial case they had attributed to the Serial Shooter.

Ann Rule, a crime writer who has covered several serial killings, said it's a fact serial killers thrive on media attention, and warned the spotlight on the Serial Shooters may trigger rage in the Baseline Killer.

"He won't like that. He needs attention," she told the Arizona Republic. "He may strike again so he will be back in the spotlight."

In the Serial Shooter case, Dale Hausner and Samuel Dieteman have each been booked on two counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted first-degree murder for a series of attacks since May 2005.