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'There Is A Monster On The Loose:' While Police Deny Serial Killer Rumors, Two Atlanta Slayings Remain Unsolved

The families of Katherine Janness and Tori Lang, who were both slain last week, want their respective killers caught.

By Gina Tron
Families Of Katherine Janness, Tori Lang Want Their Killers Caught

While law enforcement officials in Atlanta have denied rumors of an active serial killer being on the loose in the city following the slaying of two women, the investigations into those two cases are still ongoing.

Katherine Janness, 40, and her dog, Bowie, were found murdered at Piedmont Park last week. They were both stabbed to death, WSB-TV in Atlanta reported. Tori Lang, 18, was also found shot to death at Stone Mountain last week.

While both of their murders remain unsolved, law enforcement made it clear that they don’t feel the two are connected. They condemned a viral post that claimed that the two killings, along with a third killing that was made up, are the work of a serial killer.

Regardless, the victims’ loved ones feel there are indeed dangerous people at large.

"There is a monster on the loose in the city of Atlanta," Joe Clark said at a vigil on Thursday for Janness, ABC News reports. His daughter, Emma Clark, was the slain woman’s partner. 

Clark told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the couple “would've been together forever” if it weren’t for Janness’ vicious murder. 

“They were that couple,” he said.

Emma called her slain partner “the most intelligent, kind, humble, and beautiful person I have ever known” on GoFundMe.  She called the couple’s dog Bowie  “the sweetest most loyal companion."

The FBI has joined Atlanta police in the investigation of Janness, local outlet 11 Alive reports.

Lang’s family and friends held a candlelight vigil and balloon release to honor the slain teen on Saturday at the location where her body was found.

"I'm angry, hurt and mad," Tori's grandfather Thomas Lang said, according to local outlet WXIA. "I'm praying to God that we'll have this perpetrator captured so our family will have peace."

He said he is heartbroken.

Lang’s friend Alyssa Babbage told the outlet that Lang was ambitious. She held three jobs at one point and was considering enrolling in college.

"She was very caring to anybody," she added. "She was willing to give. If she had it and you needed it, no matter if she knew you or not, she was going to give it to you if she had it. I just know how much her parents and family in general meant to her."

No suspects or persons of interest have been named for either murder. 

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