Guardian Angels Help Protect Kensington Community

People who live in Kensington are getting some much needed help to catch a serial strangler that has terrorized their community for weeks.

Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the group along with other members, patrolled the area Sunday and talked to people who might have information but are afraid of speaking with the police.

"We intend on getting information out to try to service up information so police can catch this guy," Sliwa said. "I don't care if he's locked up, I don't care if he is six feet under in a pine box, he needs to be stopped."

The Angels also escorted people to their homes and went door-to door handing out fliers with a sketch of the serial strangler suspect.

The group has helped to serve communities plagued by violence for more than three decades.

Outraged Kensington residents held a meeting Saturday morning to address the wave of violence and crime in their community.

Police SVU commander Captain John Darby and the commanding officers of all three surrounding police districts also made an appearance.

The meeting follows the release of enhanced surveillance video of the man police believe to be the Kensington Strangler.

Detectives also believe that 27-year-old Casey Mahoney is the suspect’s latest victim though they are awaiting DNA results.

DNA has linked the suspect to the murders of 21-year-old Elaine Goldberg and 35-year-old Nicole Piacentini.

Police also believe that the same suspect has sexually assaulted, beaten and choked three other women.

One of the assault victims, a 33-year-old woman, told police that her attacker had a white iPod and that he referred to himself as “Anthony.”

Christine Piacentini, the mother of Nicole, was one of the speakers at Saturday’s meeting.

“How many girls is it going to take to be murdered?” asked Christine. “Somebody needs to do something.”

Police questioned more than a dozen men on Saturday and had their DNA samples taken.

Yet even with the outside help, the Kensington community plans on taking action of their own.

"It's not just the policemen's fault, it's our fault," said resident Rudy Campbell. "We are the community. We are the voice of the community."

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