Sac Sheriff

Cold Case Investigations- Homicide

Sacramento County Sheriff

Attn: Cold Case Investigations

4500 Orange Grove Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95841

916-874-5057

Case #

2008-Nichols

Victim

Eleanor Nichols

Location

Fair Oaks, California

Date of Occurrence

March 9, 2008

Synopsis:

On March 9, 2008, at approximately 9:00 am, Sacramento Metro Fire responded to the 7900 block of Archer Avenue in Fair Oaks regarding a structure fire. When fire personnel arrived, they spoke with an elderly man who told them he returned home from work and found his house on fire. The man also told the firefighters he tried to rescue his wife, who he thought was still inside, but was overcome by smoke. Firefighters entered the residence and put out the fire. They located an elderly female deceased in the hallway of the residence. The victim was identified as 73 year old Eleanor Nichols. Fire Department Arson Investigators determined the fire was suspicious and requested the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office Homicide Team investigate the incident. According to the Coroner’s Office, Eleanor Nichols had been shot prior to the fire being started. Today, on the 8 year anniversary of Eleanor Nichols death, her family and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office are pleading for anyone with information regarding this case to come forward. You may contact the Sacramento Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 874-5057 or click on the “Tip” link.

Case #

97-068875

Victim

Doris Inzunza (MISSING PERSON)

Location

Rancho Cordova, California

Date of Occurrence

August 26, 1997

Synopsis:

On August 26, 1997, 41 year old Doris Inzunza was reported missing. Inzunza’s family told the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office that they last saw Doris in the early morning hours at her residence in Rancho Cordova. When the victim did not show up at work that day and did not return home in the evening, the family notified the Sheriff’s Office of her disappearance. Inzunza’s disappearance is suspicious and it appears foul play is involved. Inzunza was a volunteer for “Survivors of Stalking”, an organization she co-founded. On the 18th anniversary of Doris Inzunza’s disappearance, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help. If you have any information regarding with this case please call the Homicide Bureau at 874-5057. If you would like to remain anonymous, please go to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office web site and click on the “Tip” link.

Case #

06-69414

Victim

Deputy Jeff Mitchell

Location

Southern portion of Sacramento County

Date of Occurrence

October 27, 2006

Synopsis:

On October 27, 2006 at approximately 3:30 am, Deputy Jeff Mitchell was working patrol in a rural area located in the southern portion of Sacramento County. Deputy Mitchell initiated a stop on a suspicious vehicle in the roadway. When Deputy Mitchell did not answer his police radio, his partners responded to the area and found Deputy Mitchell dead from a gunshot wound to the head. It appears Deputy Mitchell was involved in a fight with the suspect(s) and was subsequently shot with his own weapon.

Case #

1981-041416

Victim

Dale Eugene Kelley (MISSING PERSON)

Location

Carmichael, CA

Date of Occurrence

May 20, 1981

Synopsis:

On the morning of May 20, 1981, Dale Kelly, a 21 year old male, left his residence in Carmichael, CA, to drive to Los Angeles to visit his girlfriend. He was driving his orange 1976 Toyota Celica. When he did not arrive in Los Angeles, and family and friends could not locate him, a missing persons report was filed by Dale’s roommate. Dale’s vehicle was subsequently discovered by the New Orleans Police Department in Louisiana, on June 4, 1981. Dale has not been seen or heard from since and foul play is suspect in his disappearance.

Case #

1981-083761

Victim

Lilly Ann Prendergast (Aka Lilly Willis, Lilly Manning)

Location

I-5, near Freeport Boulevard

Date of Occurrence

October 27, 1981

Synopsis:

On the morning of October 27, 1981, partial skeletal remains were discovered on the side of Interstate 5, just south of Freeport Boulevard. The remains were examined and found to be female, possibly Caucasian. The remains estimated to be between the ages of 22 and 29, measured at approximately 5’0” to 5’4” tall. It is believed she was a smoker. The female had a small tattoo of a flower, also described as a “Mexican Rose”, on her right hip area. It was estimated the female had been dumped at that location as early as 6 weeks prior to as late as 6 months prior to discovery. In 2020, the victim was positively identified through DNA.

Case #

1980-076891

Victim

Kathleen E. Neff

Location

Elliot Ranch Road

Date of Occurrence

November 8, 1980

Synopsis:

On the morning of October 16, 1980 Kathy Neff, a 21 year old female, dropped off her vehicle at a vehicle dealership on Florin Road for service, with plans to pick up the vehicle later that same day. The next day, when family and friends could not locate Kathy, a missing persons report was filed. On November 8, 1980, some pheasant hunters in the area of Elliot Ranch Road, discovered Kathy’s remains.

Case #

80-054812

Victim

John & Christoria Bilkei

Location

Donnawood Way

Date of Occurrence

July 26, 1980

Synopsis:

On Saturday, July 26, 1980, John and Christoria BILKEI, a married couple in their 60’s, were discovered deceased in their residence located on Donnawood Way in Orangevale. Both victims had been stabbed. John and Christoria were last seen on the evening of Thursday, July 24, 1980 by a newspaper delivery boy. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the Bilkei family would greatly appreciate any information the public might have to offer regarding this heinous crime.

Case #

1980-003830

Victim

Khymbrly Marcella Scruggs (MISSING PERSON)

Location

Howe Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard

Date of Occurrence

January 12, 1980

Synopsis:

On the evening of January 12, 1980, Khymbrly Scruggs was at her apartment alone. It is believed she was doing laundry and writing a letter to her mother. The following morning, her roommate arrived home and Khymbrly was nowhere to be found. He purse and all her belongings were still in the apartment. A missing persons report was filed on January 14, 1980 by her parents. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.

Case #

97-44779

Victim

Clarence Moore

Location

3737 Marconi Avenue (Formerly: Heald Business Institute)

Date of Occurrence

June 2, 1997 7:30a.m.

Synopsis:

Clarence Moore was a student at Heald Business Institute. During the morning of June 2, 1997 (Monday) the suspect was at the rear of the building, where students parked, working on a bicycle. When Clarence exited his vehicle and approached the building the suspect took a gun from a bag he was carrying and shot Clarence several times. The suspect fled on the bicycle to a nearby street where a vehicle was waiting for him. Clarence stumbled into the building where he died from his injuries.

Case #

1977-046440

Victim

Daphne Elizabeth Collier

Location

Grantline Road

Date of Occurrence

September 1, 1977

Synopsis:

On September 1, 1977, Daphne Collier, a 16 year old female, was discovered on the side of Grantline Road. She had been strangled to death and sexually assaulted. It was learned that Daphne had hitchhiked from Seaside, California the previous day. She was last seen being dropped off on the I-5 on-ramp at 15th Street and W Streets in the evening hours of September 31, 1977.

Case #

1975-001072

Victim

Harriett Elizabeth Riley

Location

Grattan Way, North highlands

Date of Occurrence

January 10, 1975

Synopsis:

On the afternoon of January 9, 1975, Harriett Riley, a 6 year old female, left her residence to go play at a nearby park. When she did not return home after dark ,her mother became concerned and filed a missing person report. The next day, Harriett was discovered in a dumpster a few blocks from her residence. She had been suffocated.

Case #

70-33291

Victim

Nancy Bennallack

Location

Sacramento County

Date of Occurrence

October 25, 1970

Synopsis:

Nancy Bennallack was a 27 year old court reporter in Sacramento County. Nancy lived alone in an upstairs apartment at Arden Way and Bell Avenue. Nancy was last seen alive by her fianc� on 10-25-1970 at approximately 11:30p.m. When Nancy did not show up for work the following morning, Nancy's co-worker telephoned her son to check on Nancy. The friend's son went to the apartment manager for assistance and he used a pass key to unlock the front door. Nancy was found murdered in her apartment.

Case #

70-7194

Victim

Judith Hakar

Location

Sacramento County

Date of Occurrence

March 7, 1970

Synopsis:

Judith Hakari was a 23 year old nurse at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento. Judith was last seen leaving work on March 7, 1970 at 11:30p.m. Judith never made it to her apartment. Her vehicle was found in her apartment complex parking lot at Alta Arden and Markston Way. It is believed she was abducted from the parking lot. On April 25, 1970 Judith's body was discovered by hikers in a shallow grave in a rural area near Weimar in Placer County approximately 40 miles from her residence. Judith was murdered and her body left in this remote area.

Case #

79-016367

Victim

Katherine Dee Harlan

Location

Schofield, North Nighlands, Sacramento County

Date of Occurrence

March 7, 1979

Synopsis:

The victim, Kathy Harlan, is a 9 year old female. She was last seen on March 7, 1979 at approximately 7:30 am, leaving her residence to walk to the school bus stop. She never made it to school. It is believed she was abducted on her way to the bus stop. Her body was discovered on March 11, 1979, just inside Sutter County, off Powerline Road, approximately 15 miles from her residence. Kathy was murdered and left in a remote location.

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911

Non-Emergency

916-874-5115

TDD Non-Emergency

916-874-7128

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