AKRON, Ohio — The man the FBI calls "the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history" has confessed to the 1991 murder of an Akron mother, according to police.
Samuel Little, 79, told investigators that he strangled Roberta Tandarich in September of 1991 and dumped her in a wooded area of Firestone Metro Park. She was found a few weeks later by a man walking in the woods.
The body of the 34-year-old mother was badly decomposed and a cause of death wasn't determined. Based on the information provided by Little, Akron detectives plan to meet with the Summit County Medical Examiner to re-examine the case.
According to the FBI, Little has confessed to 93 murders. Agents said he has been matched to 50 cases with 43 cases still pending confirmation.
Little drew dozens of sketches of the victims based on his recollections.
A few months back, an Akron detective showed a sketch Little drew of Tandarich to her daughter, Tonya Maslar, who was also told about the confession.
"As soon as I looked at it, I said, 'That's my mom,'" Maslar said. "I was in shock. I just couldn't believe it."
In 2012, Little was arrested and extradited to California on a narcotics charge. Los Angeles police obtained DNA that connected him to three unsolved homicides that happened in 1987 and 1989. He was convicted and sentenced in 2014 to three consecutive life terms without parole.
Last year, the Texas Rangers and the FBI obtained detailed information on additional murders across the country that Little provided.
Federal agents continue to work with dozens of state and local law enforcement agencies in an effort to identify victims and bring closure to the their families.
Maslar said she hopes Akron police and the Summit County Prosecutor's office pursue charges against Little for Tandarich's death.
"If they don't do that, she won't have any justice. Our family won't have any justice at all."
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