California Killer: Investigating the Infamous "Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders"
In the early 1970s, a series of brutal murders involving young female hitchhikers shocked the community of Santa Rosa, California. To this day, the identity of the killer or killers remains unknown
Background
The city of Santa Rosa sits in the heart of Northern California’s wine country. The area is well-known for its picturesque vineyards and coastal charm. However, in the 1970s, this picture-perfect region was home to a shocking series of murders that would forever haunt the state and the nation.
Between 1972 and 1974, at least seven young women and girls were abducted and murdered, their bodies dumped in remote locations around Sonoma County. Most of the victims had been last seen attempting to hitchhike, a common practice in the 1970s.
Despite the obvious connections between victims and the proximity of many of the dump sites, the perpetrator was never caught. The case came to be known as the Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders, and to this day, it remains unsolved.
Disappearance of Maureen Sterling and Yvonne Weber
Maureen Sterling and Yvonne Weber, ages 12 and 13, were both students at Santa Rosa’s Herbert Slater Junior High School. On February 4th, 1972, the two girls had been dropped off by their parents for a night of fun at the local Redwood Empire Ice Arena.
Both girls were known to frequently accept rides around town, and they had never encountered any problems when hitchhiking. According to eyewitnesses, the girls were last seen attempting to hitchhike off Guerneville Road just outside Santa Rosa.
A massive search for Maureen and Yvonne ensued. Police initially believed the pair had run off on their own accord, despite their families’ insistence that this wasn’t the case. Numerous reports were taken from witnesses who saw the girls on the night of their disappearance.
Classmates were also interviewed, but authorities were struggling to identify any credible leads. Search parties came back empty-handed, and investigators were unable to uncover any evidence or clues regarding the whereabouts of the missing girls.
Murder of Kim Wendy Allen
Kim Wendy Allen was a 19-year-old art student at Santa Rosa Junior College. On March 4th, 1972, Kim had finished her afternoon shift at the local grocery store where she worked. That evening, she had classes at Santa Rosa Junior College, approximately 45 minutes away from her workplace.
Kim decided to hitchhike to class, which was something she did frequently and felt safe doing. Two men spotted Kim attempting to hitchhike and decided to give her a ride. Unfortunately, they were not traveling in the same direction, so they were only able to take Kim a few miles down the road.
