Detectives do not believe these women were particularly targeted, Fox said.

"He may have decided to act out on these thoughts he had for a while. It's bizarre," he said.

Outside the apartment where "Wyoming" died, someone created signs out of pieces of cardboard. Scrawled in black marker were the words "Stop the violence" and "Daughter, mother, sister, friend — human being." Both women had children, their friends said. They also had drug problems, which led them onto the streets.

"Wyoming, she was funny. She was a really generous person," said a woman named Debore. "If you needed money, she'd give you money to help."

Police still have not been able to find Cruz's family, who were believed to live in the Miami, Fla., area.

"These ladies supported themselves. They did what they did. They worked their asses off, they sold their asses, they did what they had to do to survive," said a woman named Shauna, who knew both women. "Nobody deserves to die."

As the women spoke to a Deseret News reporter, a car sped by and a man inside flashed gang signals to those gathering to pay their respects. Adams Avenue is in the midst of an area that encompasses nearly a quarter of the city's overall crime. To combat it, Ogden police have formed a special crime reduction squad that focuses solely on offenses within that area.

Roberto Wheeler walked behind the apartment building and knelt down to touch the dried blood on the concrete where Tingey was slain.

"Wyoming was a good girl," he said softly. "At least her troubles are over with now."

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Contributing: Joseph M. Dougherty

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com