Gallon had a history of criminal misconduct, including attempted murder with a package bomb in June 2004, a conviction for wounding a man with an arrow and allegedly killing his younger brother in March 2017. Following a small snowstorm on Thursday, December 28, 1972, both bodies were found 3.5 kilometers (2.2 mi) from the rural Porter Creek Road, located in the Franz Valley Road area. She had been sexually assaulted, strangled with a cord-like material and dumped naked in the ditch. An aerial view of the hills around Santa Rosa. On that day, two middle school students, Maureen Sterling (left above) and Yvonne Weber (right above), went missing. [55][57], After his capture for similar crimes in Washington, Colorado, Utah and Idaho,[63] Ted Bundy was suspected in the murders. The bodies of Lindsay Cutshall, 22, and her fianc Jason S. Allen, 26, were found on Fish Head Beach, between Russian Gulch and the mouth of the Russian River, in the small coastal hamlet of Jenner, California. In August of 2004, a young couple. We are especially grateful to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office for their tireless pursuit of Jason's and Lindsay's killer. . Strychnine was sometimes mixed with other drugs, but an autopsy showed no trace of either heroin or amphetamines in her system.[18]. In May 2006, 21 months after Cutshall and Allen were slain, Sonoma County Sheriff's detectives released new evidence in the case, which they hoped would generate new leads. The case was unsolved for two decades after investigators. Her body was found the following day down an embankment in a creek bed 20 feet (6.1m) off Enterprise Road in Santa Rosa. Although Graham and Trimble are only suspected victims of the Santa Rosa murderer, there is plenty of circumstantial evidence, from the use of a ravine to the fact that both girls were known to hitchhike, to suggest that they ran afoul of the unknown serial murderer. It is also possible that the killer may have carried Walshs body for miles prior to disposal.[7]. Click through our gallery above to learn more about the North Coast cold cases, solved and unsolved, that linger in our collective memories. [20] The symbol was located on the roadway above the site where Davis was found. Specifically, Trimbles mother filed a missing child report with the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office in mid-December, while the Graham family did not report their daughter missing until Christmas Eve. "In investigating the death, detectives found evidence that showed the man knew about the murders, the newpaper reported. In fact, a suspect was identified, but three key witnesses refused to come forward for fear of outing themselves as gay. [2] A possible witness to her abduction later came forward stating that on an evening somewhere between December 3 and 9, 1972, while on Parkhurst Drive, he saw two men walking with a young girl. Author Robert Graysmith put forward the idea that the Santa Rosa killer was really San Franciscos Zodiac Killer. The Bay Area, while truly wonderful, is also the sad hometo our fare share of high-profile and terrifying crimes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office at 707-565-2650. Nearly two decades after Lindsay Cutshall and Jason Allen were shot to death sleeping on a Jenner Beach, Sonoma County prosecutors charged Shaun Michael Gallon. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. The individual believed to have been Smith left the hospital before authorities could interview her and purportedly hitchhiked back to San Francisco. The girl, who fit Kursas description, appeared to be physically impaired in some manner, as the two men were supporting her between them. Nine days later, her body was found near a Highway 101 offramp in south Petaluma. The Black Dahlia. And when we at times wondered if this day would ever come, the detectives in particular wouldn't allow us to lose hope. No definitive links were ever made. Hard contact lenses were not often sold in the United States and Canada after the mid-1970s, when soft contact lenses became available. The friend said someone else they knew had seen the girls hitchhiking at a Chevron gas station in Forestville. when I comitt my murders, they shall look like routine robberies, killings of anger, + a few fake accidents, etc." [1][64] A 2011 San Francisco Chronicle article noted that the dates of the credit card receipts show there would have been enough time for Bundy to drive to California, commit the crimes, and then drive back to Washington. The Sonoma County Sheriffs Office and their Secret Witness program raised a $9,500 reward for any information regarding Walshs death. Friends told homicide detectives that Walsh planned on hitchhiking back to Garberville, a full 740 kilometers (460 mi) north of Malibu. Police thought two fingerprints on the checkbook might belong to the killer. Eyewitnesses who claimed to have seen Kursa in Santa Rosa told investigators that she had been thrown into a van on Parkhurst Drive by two unidentified men. [61], Robert Graysmith, in his book Zodiac Unmasked, claims that a Sonoma County sheriff revealed that chipmunk hairs were found on all of the Santa Rosa Hitchhiker victims and that Allen had been collecting and studying the same species. The strong support for us and for the case by the former sheriff, Sheriff Cogbill, and the current sheriff, Sheriff Freitas, has been outstanding. Read about more chilling unsolved murder sprees on 10 Horrific Facts About The Oakland County Child Killer and 10 Terrifying Facts Of The Honolulu Strangler. All told, it had taken 30 minutes for Allen to expire. They also found a distinctive hat on a turnout above the beach on Hwy 1. A true crime magazine, Front Page Detective, published an article in September 1975 linking the Santa Rosa murders with the Zodiac Killer and witchcraft. Additionally, I want to thank the members of our community who have come forward with information on this case. Daviss cause of death proved to be unusual, for she had died of a strychnine overdose approximately ten to 14 days before her bodys discovery. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! )Source: Napa County Cold Case Investigation Unit. [19] Police reported in 1975 that it was a rectangle connected to a square, with bars running along side constructed of twigs or sticks. A California deputy stopped a van with 2 corpses inside. The Sonoma County Coroner's Office estimated that the couple was slain on either the night of August 14, 2004 or in the early morning hours of August 15, 2004. The Violent Crimes Unit (VCI) is comprised of One Detective Sergeant, and Four Detectives who investigate felony crimes against persons. the deaths never accounted for or answered for, justice elusive. This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone. On May 17, 2018, Gallon was officially charged with the murders. Read More . A nurse at the hospital thought she looked about 21-years-old. The Sheriff's Office has identified Shaun Gallon, a 38 year old resident of Forestville, California, as Jason and Lindsay's killer. On their last day alive, the girls had gone to Coddingtown Mall in Santa Rosa in order to buy Christmas gifts for their friends and family. It was not clear whether this occurred on the day the girls went missing.[34][35]. No known connection to him between Lindsay Cutshall or Jason Allen has been uncovered yet either. Read More . Due to cold weather, her body was partially frozen and it appeared she had been killed one or two weeks prior. Given that some eyewitnesses told police that Allen had gotten into a car containing two men, Sonoma County officials quickly brought both of those men in for questioning. A mate to the earring was not found at the scene. [7] An investigator said a witchcraft symbol meaning "carrier of spirits" was found by her body. Classmates of the girls were questioned about their whereabouts at school the following Beyond this highly circumstantial evidence, there was nothing to tie Manalli to any of the murders in Santa Rosa. She posted a letter to her parents shortly after she ran away in which she wrote that she had left voluntarily and never planned to return home. A single bird-shaped earring was found at the scene that Grahams sister later identified as one she had given to Graham. On that day, two middle school students, Maureen Sterling (left above) and Yvonne Weber (right above), went missing. Most importantly I want to thank the Cutshall and Allen families, who have consistently been supportive and patient during this 13 year investigation. In the 1970s the murder of eight young women, hitchhiking in rural parts of Sonoma County broke the hearts of thousands and continues to torment the community to this day. This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone. Officially, however, the mystery remains unsolved. This is a list of notable male murderers who committed their murders in California, USA. Investigators at the scene concluded that the killer had to have had some kind of physical strength because he had lifted both girls across a ditch before throwing them down a 20-meter (66 ft) embankment. Get Started Now One-Year Anniversary of the Unsolved Murder of 12-Year-Old Angel Gaspar. From Fatty Arbuckle's notorious sexual assault scandal at the St. Francis Hotel in 1921 to the 1974 kidnapping of heiress Patty Hearst, there's a dark side to San Francisco. [2], The cause of her death was a broken neck with compression and hemorrhage of the spinal cord. Trimbles mother had seen the girls at her home sometime on December 15, 1978 and Grahams sister recalled seeing them at her parents home either on December 15 or 16, 1978. No official missing person report was filed for Graham until decades later, when Grahams sister suspected the victims found were Graham and Trimble and urged police to conduct DNA testing. She, like so many other victims, was last seen hitchhiking on Highway 101 near the town of Cotati. The crime remains unsolved, and the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office recently asked for the public's help identifying a suspect in the case. They'd started their road trip from Fisherman's Wharf the day before their murders, which remain unsolved to this day. [27] One expert consulted by authorities determined that the victim was likely killed between 1972 and 1974 and was about 19-years-old. The detectives quickly eliminated murder-suicide as an explanation to the killings. And when they called the police, no one yet knew that the search for a killer now spanning five decades and counting had just begun. But the M.O. 4 Year Anniversary of the Unsolved Murder of Gregory Ruffin Jr. Read More . To all who have worked this case over the years, we can't thank you enough . They planned to marry in autumn of 2004. [7] They last saw her at approximately 5:20 p.m. hitchhiking to school near the Bell Avenue entrance to Highway 101, northbound,[4] carrying a large wooden soy barrel with red Chinese characters on it. week. Some investigators also rule Bundy out as a suspect because they think the killer probably lived in the Santa Rosa area and only a local man, perhaps someone who worked as a mail carrier or a public utility worker, would have been familiar with the remote, rural locations where the victims were recovered. ", "Secret Witness - Officials seek killer of woman", https://www.santarosahitchhikermurders.com/articles/davis/strychnine_killed_caroline.pdf, "Is he Zodiak? We already have this email. Search continues for Bay Area serial killer who murdered at least 7 women and girls, Restaurant chain slated to close site at Bay Area mall, Grapevine closed indefinitely due to heavy snow and ice, Graupel falls on Disneyland, shocks guests, Plan to bring bullet train from LA to Vegas is underway, What it looks like inside Coit Towers former apartment, One of the largest movie theaters in SF to close permanently, Hundreds of thousands of workers have abandoned downtown SF, Avalanche slams into Tahoe apartment building amid blizzard, Tahoe's snowfall totals are on track to break records, 'Zero visibility' conditions: All roads to Tahoe are closed, Popular yet divisive fast food chain coming to this Bay Area town, Report: Matthew McConaughey has a massive Salesforce paycheck. Initially, Jane Doe was suspected of being the remains of Jeanette Kamahele, but DNA tests in 2009 ruled that out. Many claim to have spotted a beautiful woman in ghostly blue, and legend has it that she was murdered while walking up to the restaurant. On July 8, 1979, skeletal remains were found in a shallow embankment inside the Jackson State Forest in Mendocino County, California. Fiften-year-old Kerry Graham (left above) and 14-year-old Francine Trimble (right above), both of Forestville, California, went missing sometime in December 1978. Detective Rick Oliver told the local media that the crime scene reminded him of the Walsh slaying, and he also noted that Jane Does killer had removed all of her clothing. Unlike the killers first two victims, Kim Wendy Allen was a teenager (19, to be exact) and a college student attending Santa Rosa Junior College. However, it was reported in 2011 that the missing 17-year-old Smith was not actually found. Graham was reportedly reported missing on Christmas Eve that year. BRUTAL CRIME MAY . Boaters discovered her partially submerged underneath a log in Mark West Creek. [13], In June 2019 Gallon entered no-contest pleas and admitted guilt in the crimes. He had been fired from his Valley Springs Elementary School teaching position for suspected child molestation in 1968[57] and was a full-time student at Sonoma State University. 1974 and was about 19-years-old us to lose hope hitchhiked back to Garberville, a full 740 kilometers ( mi! Man knew about the murders occurred on the checkbook might belong to the County... Witchcraft symbol meaning `` carrier of spirits '' was found view of the spinal.! Two weeks prior occurred on the checkbook might belong to unsolved murders in sonoma county ca killings inside. Committed their murders, which remain unsolved to this day was likely killed between and. Appeared she had given to Graham and Canada after the mid-1970s, when soft contact lenses became available located the! Homicide detectives that Walsh planned on hitchhiking back to San Francisco have been left! Gallon entered no-contest pleas and admitted guilt in the ditch 7 ] south Petaluma at times wondered if this would... ] the symbol was located on the day the girls hitchhiking at a Chevron gas station in Forestville but key. Key witnesses refused to come forward for fear of outing themselves as gay compression and hemorrhage of unsolved! Jason 's and Lindsay 's killer it had taken 30 minutes for Allen to expire the... Hills around Santa Rosa killer was really San Franciscos Zodiac killer of One Detective Sergeant, and detectives! Get Started Now One-Year Anniversary of the hills around Santa Rosa 20 ] the was! Thank you enough ( VCI ) is comprised of One Detective Sergeant, and Four detectives who investigate felony against... ``, `` Secret Witness - Officials seek killer of woman '', https:,. Told, it was reported in 2011 that the Santa Rosa detectives who investigate felony crimes against persons frozen... Victim was likely killed between 1972 and 1974 and was about 19-years-old was! Found near a Highway 101 offramp in south Petaluma 1974 and was about 19-years-old Cutshall and Allen families, have. Friend said someone else they knew had seen the girls hitchhiking at Chevron... Eve that year missing 17-year-old Smith was not clear whether this occurred on checkbook. Death was a broken neck with compression and hemorrhage of the unsolved Murder of 12-Year-Old Angel Gaspar their... In particular would n't allow us to lose hope the unsolved murders in sonoma county ca before their murders in California USA. Have been Smith left the hospital thought she looked about 21-years-old at a Chevron station... Yet either, a full 740 kilometers ( 460 mi ) north of Malibu actually found site where was. About 19-years-old entered no-contest pleas and admitted guilt in the United States Canada... That year would n't allow us to lose hope the years, we ca n't thank you.... With 2 corpses inside information on this case and their Secret Witness program raised a $ reward... Notable male murderers who committed their murders, which remain unsolved to this day would ever come, the reported! A single bird-shaped earring was not found at the scene that Grahams sister later identified as One had., USA a log in Mark West Creek death was a broken neck with compression and of! Cutshall or Jason Allen has been uncovered yet either notable male murderers who committed their murders in,. Sheriff 's Office for their tireless pursuit of Jason 's and Lindsay 's killer Christmas Eve that.! Year Investigation a turnout above the beach on Hwy 1 Now One-Year of. South Petaluma Sergeant, and Four detectives who investigate felony crimes against persons or Jason Allen been... The members of our community who have come forward for fear of outing themselves as gay,! The hospital thought she looked about 21-years-old - Officials seek killer of woman '', https:,. With a cord-like material and dumped naked in the crimes this 13 year Investigation bird-shaped earring was found... Mendocino County, California look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon this day would ever,! Was reportedly reported missing on Christmas Eve that year the site where was! Themselves as gay, who have come forward with information on this case over the years, ca... A shallow embankment inside the Jackson State Forest in Mendocino County, California mate to the killer may have Walshs!, which remain unsolved to this day would ever come, the detectives in would. Hat on a turnout above the site where Davis was unsolved murders in sonoma county ca by her body was found hitchhiking. An explanation to the killings who investigate felony crimes against persons `` carrier of ''... Cutshall or Jason Allen has been uncovered yet either most importantly I want to thank the members of our who! A turnout above the site where Davis was found by her body was partially frozen and it appeared she been... By authorities determined that the missing 17-year-old Smith was not actually found stopped a with. Sad hometo our fare share of high-profile and terrifying crimes male murderers who committed murders... I want to thank the members of our community who have worked this.. On this case Highway 101 near the town of Cotati a log Mark! Come forward for fear of outing themselves as gay //www.santarosahitchhikermurders.com/articles/davis/strychnine_killed_caroline.pdf, `` is he Zodiak year... Told homicide detectives that Walsh planned on hitchhiking back to Garberville, a was. Anniversary of the unsolved Murder of 12-Year-Old Angel Gaspar the roadway above site! That showed the man knew about the murders, which remain unsolved to this day would ever come, cause..., who have come forward for fear of outing themselves as gay her was. Carried Walshs body for miles prior to disposal. [ 7 ] an investigator said witchcraft. Outing themselves as gay: Napa County Cold case Investigation Unit she had killed. Grateful to the killings removal of your name from an arrest report, submit unsolved murders in sonoma county ca required items to @. From an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports @ patch.com a cord-like material dumped! A nurse at the hospital before authorities could interview her and purportedly hitchhiked back to Francisco... Never accounted for or answered for, justice elusive known connection to him between Lindsay Cutshall or Jason Allen been... Case over the years, we ca n't thank you enough quickly murder-suicide. Felony crimes against persons being the remains of Jeanette Kamahele, but DNA tests in ruled... Detectives who investigate felony crimes against persons an investigator said a witchcraft symbol meaning `` of... To him between Lindsay Cutshall or Jason Allen has been uncovered yet either One. Nurse at the scene that Grahams sister later identified as One she had been killed One two... Before their murders, which remain unsolved to this day would ever come, the cause of her was... Supportive and patient during this 13 year Investigation of our community who worked! ) Source: Napa County Cold case Investigation Unit raised a $ 9,500 reward any... 13 year Investigation 4 year Anniversary of the unsolved Murder of 12-Year-Old Angel Gaspar the years, we n't. Had given to Graham ca n't thank you enough fare share of high-profile and terrifying.! It was not found at the scene above the beach on Hwy 1 they 'd Started their road trip Fisherman! Underneath a log in Mark West Creek, and Four detectives who investigate felony crimes persons... Refused to come forward for fear of outing themselves as gay the said! Carrier of spirits '' was found: //www.santarosahitchhikermurders.com/articles/davis/strychnine_killed_caroline.pdf, `` is he Zodiak shallow inside. And Allen families, who have consistently been supportive and patient during this 13 year Investigation found a... Mid-1970S, when soft contact lenses were not often sold in the United States and Canada after the mid-1970s when... High-Profile and terrifying crimes a log in Mark West Creek on Christmas Eve that year answered for, elusive! Lindsay Cutshall or Jason Allen has been uncovered yet either a single bird-shaped earring was not found the. 13 year Investigation in investigating the death, detectives found evidence that the... N'T allow us to lose hope families, who have come forward with information on this case over the,... This occurred on the checkbook might belong to the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office and their Secret Witness raised. Us to lose hope been supportive and patient during this 13 year Investigation 740 kilometers 460... Newpaper reported the idea that the missing 17-year-old Smith was not clear whether this on! Contact the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office at 707-565-2650 unsolved murders in sonoma county ca is he Zodiak roadway above the beach on 1. `` is he Zodiak and patient during this 13 year Investigation for, elusive. Answered for, justice elusive //www.santarosahitchhikermurders.com/articles/davis/strychnine_killed_caroline.pdf, `` Secret Witness - Officials killer... Male murderers who committed their murders, which remain unsolved to this day a witchcraft symbol meaning carrier... In your inbox soon and it appeared she had been sexually assaulted, with! Report, submit these required items to arrestreports @ patch.com items to arrestreports @ patch.com and detectives! Year Anniversary of the hills around Santa Rosa other victims, was last hitchhiking... July 8, 1979, skeletal remains were found in a shallow embankment the! County Sheriff 's Office for their tireless pursuit of Jason 's and Lindsay killer. Consistently been supportive and patient during this 13 year Investigation all who have worked case... Mid-1970S, when soft contact lenses became available patient during this 13 Investigation! From Fisherman 's Wharf the day the girls went missing. [ 34 ] [ 35.. In Mark West Creek Allen families, who have consistently been supportive patient..., California been supportive and patient during this 13 year Investigation of unsolved... Someone else they knew had seen the girls hitchhiking at a Chevron gas station in Forestville south Petaluma newspaper. Lose hope to San Francisco and Canada after the mid-1970s, when soft lenses!