(Chicago, Illinois) Police probing the murder of a gay Chicago man say there are a number of similarities between the killing and those of at least two other gay men.

But, they are not ready to say the killings were done by the same person.

The body of Charles Gibson, 54, was found in his North Side condominium on October 31 after a friend became concerned when he was unable to reach him.

Gibson was found lying naked in a back hallway. The apartment was covered in blood and there were signs of a struggle. A seven-inch knife recovered at the scene.

An autopsy showed Gibson died of multiple stab wounds.

Gibson, a special education teacher, had frequented Little Jim's, the same North Side gay bar where two other murder victims were last seen alive.

Police also say that there were no signs of forced entry at Gibson's apartment and that he had likely let his killer in. It is believed the other victims also had known their killer.

Gibson was last seen two days earlier at the bar.

In April the body of 31-year-old Kevin Clewer was found in his North Side home.  Clewer had been stabbed more than 30 times.

Brad Winters, 38, was killed August 17, 2003.  He also had been beaten and stabbed repeatedly.

The three murders may also be linked to those of two other gay Chicago men.

Following Clewer's murder police released a composite drawing of a suspect.  Pictures were handed out in June during Pride in Chicago, but no one came forward with information.

by Steph Smith, 365Gay.com Chicago Bureau, ©365Gay.com 2004