Serial killer suspect held in US

Ten-month manhunt ends in Georgia

A man suspected over a spate of killings which terrified women in the southern US state of Louisiana has been arrested in Georgia.

Derrick Todd Lee, aged 34, is suspected in the deaths of at least five Louisiana women since September 2001.

He was taken into custody in Atlanta by three police officers Tuesday evening, Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington said.

"We have taken a very dangerous person that is a serial murder suspect off the streets," Chief Pennington said.

The serial killings triggered a 10-month manhunt in which police took DNA samples from more than 1,000 men.

Mr Lee appeared in court Wednesday and waived extradition, which means he could be returned to Louisiana immediately.

Handcuffed and with his head down, he told the judge in a quiet voice that he understood the charges and would not fight the transfer to Louisiana.

Lee was charged with murder and aggravated rape in the killing of Carrie Yoder, 26, a Louisiana State University student who became the serial killer's fifth suspected victim in March.

A fugitive warrant issued for Lee before his arrest says DNA evidence indicates the same person who killed Yoder killed four other women starting in September 2001.

Bible study

Mr Lee is also a suspect in a sixth death more than a decade ago and the disappearance of another woman in a suburb of Baton Rouge.

He was linked to the five killings by a DNA sample police obtained from him in the investigation of the murder of a woman in 1992 and the disappearance of another in 1998.

Residents at the Lakewood Motor Lodge in Atlanta said Mr Lee had spent at least the last week there.

Neighbours described him as a smooth talker who dated several women and promised them cognac if they would come to his room.

While living in the Atlanta motor lodge, Mr Lee made friends with many of the 50 or so residents.

He grilled ribs and chicken at a party, and started a Bible study group.

"He didn't talk about violence," said resident Brenda Jones.

"He talked about the Bible a lot. Let me tell you, he knew the Bible."