A psychotic chef -- who worked double shifts, slept on a cot at work and asked coworkers not to let him go outside because he might do "bad things" -- may be a serial killer linked to several murders in the Atlanta area dating back 15 years. Charles Lendelle Carter has been charged with four murders and investigators believe there may be others.
After a 40-year-old single Alpharetta, Georgia, mother was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in her condo, Carter was linked to the crime by video game equipment and DVDs he stole from her condo and later pawned. When police picked him up for questioning in the murder of Lisa Rosenthal, he began talking about other crimes.
"He's psychotic," Fulton County police homicide investigator Glenn Kalish told reporters. "Without question, he's the most disturbed person I've ever come across. I honestly believe there are more bodies out there. He is just so deeply disturbed, for whatever reason, that killing is just a part of his life."
More Murder Victims
In addition to the murder of Rosenthal, Carter has been charged in the following cases:
- Apriel Allen, 38, an Atlanta mother of three who was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in Oct. 20, 2004. After he was arrested for the Rosenthal murder, DNA linked Carter to Allen's murder.
- Angela Thayer Green, 35, of Norcross, Georgia, disappeared the day after Christmas 2005. Her body was found a day later at the apartment of a friend who once dated Carter. She had been beaten and strangled.
- Michael Leon Sneed, 35, of DeKalb County was abducted from a gas station in March 16, 1992. He was robbed, shot several times and his body dumped behind a high school where it was later found by joggers. Police say Carter confessed to the Sneed murder after he was arrested.
Carter is listed as a "person of interest" but not yet charged with the May 2003 murder of a Henry County teen. Brittany LeAnn King, 16, left home to go to the movies and was found eight days later in an abandoned house. A car left behind the house has been linked to Carter.
Detective Kalish believes Carter wanted to confess to all of his crimes to get it off his chest. He asked Kalish to bring his mother, father and sister to the police station so he could tell them what he had done.
As he began to talk, his mother told him to shut up and get an attorney. "But Mom, I need to tell you," Carter said. Again, she told him to keep quiet.
See Also:
Recent Killing Leads Police to Possible Serial Killer
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Serial Killers and Mass Murderers
Photo: Police Mug Shot
Comments
You know, I understand that mothers want to protect their children. But I would like to introduce Charles Lendelle Carter’s mother to Mike Sneed’s mom, the man he shot March 16, 1992 and died March 17, 1992 leaving one daughter, 10 brothers and sisters, a host of cousins and friends, and more importantly, a mom and a dad (who are still married by the way).
Mike was brought up in a loving family. His dad was military so he got to travel a bit when he was young. He came to Atlanta to get married and that union produced one daughter. Even though the marriage did not work out, he was devoted to his daughter. He had open visitation with his child and he took full advantage of spending as much time with her as he could. He took her to “The Mansion” (a very exlusive restaurant in Atlanta at that time) on her first birthday. He said if anyone was going to date his baby, the guy had better be prepared to give her the very best! She was only seven years old when Carter murdered him. So, not only did Mike miss his daughter’s first date, he missed her prom, her homecoming and her high school graduation! He will miss her wedding as well. He would have been proud to walk his baby down the aisle to present her to her husband.
Mike was a loyal friend. I met him when I was 13 years old. We were attending the same church in Ohio. He was sort of a serious teenager until you got to know him, then boy oh boy did the jokes fly! We caught up with each other again when I graduated from college here in Atlanta and he came to get married. We were all at the same church here. He was the type of friend that came to your rescue no matter what. He was devoted to his church and to God and took the word of God seriously. He served the orphans and widows in our church. He gave to the poor. He didn’t care who he helped as long as he could help. He never met a stranger and if Charles Carter had needed help, Mike would have given him the shirt off of his back. Instead, Carter shot the shirt off his back.
Mike was a devoted son. He loved and honored his father and his mother. He did not miss important days like anniversaries and Mother’s Day or Father’s Day for that matter. At Mike’s funeral, his parents mourned him like that was the only child they had. But Charles Carter’s mother doesn’t want her child to admit to the wrong he’s done or the pain he has caused.
Please excuse the length and any typos in this reply. 15 years of emotion has gone into this. I was one of the friends that Mike was extremely loyal to as I was to him. I was 29 years old when my friend was stolen from me. He never met my husband because he was murdered four years before my wedding. He missed all my promotions and career changes. A few of them I would like to have discussed with him. And it looks like he will miss seeing my children too.
Mike was only 35 when he died. He had a lot of living to do. Charles Carter has already had 15 more years of life than what Mike had. It would have been great to have had Mike around. Mike’s mom and dad loved him just like Charles Carter’s mom loves him. Think about the fact that Mike’s parents has been without their son since March 17, 1992 at 10:40 pm. Remember that, Mrs. Carter.
A beautiful tribute, Cheryl.
Thank you Monica.
Lisa Rosenthal was a wonderful person. He should be killed on death row for killing all these people.
what ever happened to this killer? why cant I see that he is in prison for these crimes
To Randi Handel: I am sorry that “man” killed your friend. I only wish that the police were able to catch him when Mike was first killed. Then your friend will still be alive. Again I am very sorry. I have been trying to find out if this “man” has been convicted for any of these crimes. If he has, I will come back to this page and say so.
He pled guilty to some of the murders. Victim impact statements are Monday. Only got life though- not death.
Thank you Frank! I meant to thank you earlier. Forgive the oversight.
Mrs. Hickman-Jones:
My name is Timothy Sneed, Michael’s brother. On behalf of our family, I would like to thank you for your words about my brother. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. In fact, I was the one that the hospital called when he was taken to the hospital in Atlanta, and had the task of breaking the news to my parents. That day change my family’s life forever, especially my mother’s. Mike was her first son and a devoute Christian…and you are right he would have given his murder the shirt off his back even if he didn’t have one to give. That’s a lesson that I try to live by each day. On behalf of our family, thank you for your memories and kind words and a big thank you to the Atlanta Police Department for keeping this case alive and bringing my brother’s killer to justice. May God bless and keep all of you.
Mr. Sneed:
It is so wonderful to hear from Michael’s family! I have thought of all of you so often and wondered of your welfare. I took Mike’s death so hard and I knew that if it hurt me like it did, you all were hurt so much more. I will continue to keep your family in my prayers, especially your mother. As for what I said about Mike, I did not exaggerate ANYTHING! He was a wonderful man, and I miss him terribly. God’s blessings to you and your family as well. There’s a lot of people in Atlanta who will be glad to know of the welfare of your family. Feel free to contact me anytime.
Mr. Sneed:
It is so wonderful to hear from Michael’s family! I have thought of all of you so often and wondered of your welfare. I took Mike’s death so hard and I knew that if it hurt me like it did, you all were hurt so much more. I will continue to keep your family in my prayers, especially your mother. As for what I said about Mike, I did not exaggerate ANYTHING! He was a wonderful man, and I miss him terribly. God’s blessings to you and your family as well. There’s a lot of people in Atlanta who will be glad to know of the welfare of your family. Feel free to contact me anytime.
Charles Lendelle Carter has been convicted of murder again! We can rest assured he will never get out of jail in this life.
http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/gwinnett-killer-gets-third-914698.html
Now after 19 years, Michael finally has his day in court!I pray now that he is found guilty of Mike’s murder before the world.
http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/confessed-serial-killer-suspected-931416.html