How the Closure of Two California Cold Case Murders Unmasked A Possible Serial Killer

In the late 1980s the murders of Shannon Rose Lloyd and Renee Cuevas in Garden Grove, California stumped investigators for years until advances in technology led to the unmasking of a violent predator

Depiction of Reuben J. Smith.

Background

In the late 1980s, the quiet community of Garden Grove, California, was shaken by the unsolved murders of two young women—Shannon Rose Lloyd and Renee Cuevas. Shannon, a resilient 23-year-old, met a tragic end in May 1987 when she was discovered strangled in her Garden Grove bedroom. Known for her toughness and fearlessness, Shannon's life was abruptly cut short, leaving family and friends grappling with the senseless loss.

Two years later, in February 1989, the community faced another heart-wrenching blow with the death of 27-year-old Renee Cuevas. Her lifeless body was found near the El Toro Marine base, and the circumstances surrounding her murder only deepened the mystery.