Serial Stabber Has Attacked 20 Victims Across Three States

FLINT, Mich. Aug. 11, 2010— -- The number of victims of a vicious serial stabber has risen to 20 and the victims are now spread across three states, police officials said today.

Police in Flint, Mich., Toledo, Ohio, and Leesburg, Va., are searching for a man who is connected to 20 stabbing attacks since May. Five of the victims died from their wounds, and the latest victim, Tony Leno of Toledo, remains in critical condition after being stabbed last weekend, according to ABC affiliate WJRT.

Police are concerned that the attacks have a racial element because all but three of the victims have been black men. The suspect is a white male.

"One could think that is happening. But we don't know what is in the mind of this assailant, but the evidence certainly suggests that," Genesee County, Mich. prosecutor David Leyton told WJRT.

Richard Booker, 49, was recently released from a Flint hospital where he has been for the last three weeks after being stabbed. He told ABCNews that he has 68 staples throughout his back and belly and has slash wounds on his arms because he tried to prevent the man from "cutting off his face."

"I've never hurt so much in my life, never come so close to death," Booker told ABCNews. "I was about dead."

Booker, who is white, dismisses the notion that the attacks are racially motivated.

"I'm obviously not black. The guy's just a stone cold killer," Booker said.

Booker was stabbed five times, including a roughly 12 inch long vertical slash from below his belly button all the way up his chest. He lost eight pints of blood from his wounds.

Antwoine Marshall, who was attacked two weeks ago, described a similar experience and similar wounds. He told ABCNews he was stabbed six times in his stomach and chest.