FACT CHECK: Are Serial Killers Targeting Women in Port St. Lucie (Florida)?

An shared via Facebook reveals that a serial killer has been targeting female victims in Port St. Lucie.

Verdict: False

There is no evidence to suggest a serial killer is loose in Port St. Lucie. According to the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office, this man is a prisoner being held in Tennessee.

Fact Check:

Unverified rumors of violent criminals on the loose in local communities are often shared on social media. One such myth was that of a knife-wielding criminal who attacked people from Missouri door to door. Check Your Fact debunked it.

The latest version of this trend is a viral Facebook posting that claimed a serial killer was hunting female victims in Port St. Lucie. (RELATED: Is There An Active Serial Killer In Atlanta, Georgia? )

“There’s a serial killer or abductor who is currently hunting in Port St Lucie, my friend was almost taken by him,” reads the post.”He drives a truck with led lights and hits Cars of women alone and once they pull over he takes them. Multiple disappearances. You should not be driving if you’re struck by a truck equipped with led lights. Call the police immediately. Keep safe,” The image below shows the victim, a blue-eyed white man.

This claim is false. This claim is false. Check Your Fact discovered no reliable news reports that would suggest that a serial killer targets women in Port St. Lucie. There is no mention of a serial killer on the city’s official website or any of its social media pages.

A keyword search reveals a Facebook post from the Port St. Lucie Police Department about the viral rumor that states it is”not legitimate.” A reverse image search generates other iterations of the post with a warning directed at women in states including California, Illinois and Mississippi.

The image search also uncovered an article from WSMV that includes the mug shot of the alleged serial killer featured in the post and identifies him as Brandon Odom, an inmate from Dickson County, Tennessee. The Dickson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Facebook that Odom is currently in custody despite his photo being used in the viral Facebook post.

“This is a real booking photo and this subject is in custody, but for unrelated charges,” reads part of the Aug. 15 post from the sheriff’s office. “The post is making its way outside of Dickson.”