Police believe woman acting in self-defense might have killed cross-country serial killer

Police in West Virginia say a woman who shot a man after he attacked her likely killed a serial killer.

The man, 45-year-old Neal Falls, found an online ad for an escort — she asked that CBS News call her "Heather." Heather told CBS News that she answered the door and saw Falls holding a gun. He asked her if she wanted to "live or die," and then proceeded to choke her. She grabbed a rake, she said, and he put the gun down to grab it from her. Heather said she quickly picked up the gun and started to run, shooting behind her.

Officers searched Falls' car and found a machete, knives, axes, a shovel, a sledgehammer, bleach, plastic trash bags, bulletproof vests, and four sets of handcuffs. They also discovered an item that was similar to evidence found near dismembered bodies dumped in the Las Vegas area, as well as a list of names, ages, and phone numbers of 10 other women who police say are still alive. They believe he could be connected to the murders and disappearance of nine escorts in Ohio, Illinois, and Nevada. "It's likely that Mr. Falls is a serial killer," said Steve Cooper, Charleston Police Department chief of detectives. "I believe she saved lives by shooting Mr. Falls, based on what he did to her and based on the items found in her car."


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Police say Heather acted in self-defense, and she is not being charged with the shooting. "I knew he was there to kill me," she said.