Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders

In California, in the 1970s, a large number of women and girls were murdered while hitchhiking. The authorities struggled to solve the murders or even determine whether or not they were a series of murders committed by one or more serial killers.... In California, in the 1970s, a large number of women and girls were murdered while hitchhiking. The authorities struggled to solve the murders or even determine whether or not they were a series of murders committed by one or more serial killers. California experienced a large number of serial killers who operated in the 1970s in the same area which made the job for authorities even more difficult. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the Santa Rosa hitchhiker murders. Hitchhiking was popular back the 1970s and as we look back 40 years later we know how dangerous it is. Many people have lost their lives after accepting a ride from a stranger. This series of murders in Santa Rosa highlights that fact. But, so many questions remain. Were these murders all connected and, if so, were they committed by one or more perpetrators? You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Show moreShow less

The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders is a series of unsolved homicides of young women that took place in the early 1970s. Many of the victims were confirmed or believed to have been hitchhiking in or around the Santa Rosa, California area.... The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders is a series of unsolved homicides of young women that took place in the early 1970s. Many of the victims were confirmed or believed to have been hitchhiking in or around the Santa Rosa, California area. High School girls and College students were not safe. Often times the women and girls were not found until several days later. Many discovered in rural areas. If you have any information regarding these cases please submit a tip at sheriff-coldcase@sonoma-county.org or please call the Sonoma County Sheriff’s cold case unit at 1-707-565-2727 Show moreShow less

The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders is a series of unsolved homicides of young women that took place in the early 1970s. Many of the victims were confirmed or believed to have been hitchhiking in or around the Santa Rosa, California area.... The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders is a series of unsolved homicides of young women that took place in the early 1970s. Many of the victims were confirmed or believed to have been hitchhiking in or around the Santa Rosa, California area. High School girls and College students were not safe. Often times the women and girls were not found until several days later. Many discovered in rural areas. If you have any information regarding these cases please submit a tip at sheriff-coldcase@sonoma-county.org or please call the Sonoma County Sheriff’s cold case unit at 1707-565-2727 Show moreShow less

The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders is a series of unsolved homicides of young women that took place in the early 1970s. Many of the victims were confirmed or believed to have been hitchhiking in or around the Santa Rosa, California area.... The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders is a series of unsolved homicides of young women that took place in the early 1970s. Many of the victims were confirmed or believed to have been hitchhiking in or around the Santa Rosa, California area. High School girls and College students were not safe. Often times the women and girls were not found until several days later. Many discovered in rural areas. If you have any information regarding these cases please submit a tip at sheriff-coldcase@sonoma-county.org or please call the Sonoma County Sheriff’s cold case unit at 1707-565-2727 Show moreShow less

The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders is a series of unsolved homicides of young women that took place in the early 1970s. Many of the victims were confirmed or believed to have been hitchhiking in or around the Santa Rosa, California area.... The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders is a series of unsolved homicides of young women that took place in the early 1970s. Many of the victims were confirmed or believed to have been hitchhiking in or around the Santa Rosa, California area. High School girls and College students were not safe. Often times the women and girls were not found until several days later. Many discovered in rural areas. If you have any information regarding these cases please submit a tip at sheriff-coldcase@sonoma-county.org or please call the Sonoma County Sheriff’s cold case unit at 1-707-565-2727 Show moreShow less

"We had no crime scene, just a body. What are you going to do?... "We had no crime scene, just a body. What are you going to do?" In July of 1979 - more than four years after the hitchhiker murders from Sonoma County had come to an end - a couple of grisly discoveries were made in the surrounding area. One came from the outskirts of Santa Rosa, Rincon Valley, while the other was made approximately 80 miles northwest, just outside of Willits. Both discoveries would raise more questions than answers, and end up expanding not only the the chronology of the case, but the overall scope. Part 4/5 Episode hosted, produced, and research/writing by Micheal Whelan Original music created by Micheal Whelan through Amper Music Theme music created and composed by Ailsa Traves Producers: Roberta Janson, Ben Krokum, Gabriella Bromley, Steven Wilson, Quil Carter, Travis Scsepko, Laura Hannan, Damion Moore, Amy Hampton, Bryan Hall, Scott Meesey, Scott Patzold, Marie Vanglund, Astrid Kneier, Aimee McGregor, Sydney Scotton, Sara Moscaritolo, Jo Wong, Thomas Ahearn, Marion Welsh, Patrick Laakso, Meadow Landry, Tatum Bautista, Sally Ranford, Kevin McCracken, Michele Watson, Teunia Elzinga, Jared Midwood, Ryan Green, Ruth Durbin, Stephanie Joyner, Jacinda C., Jennifer Henshaw, Elissa Hampton-Dutro, and Cherish Brady Learn more about this podcast at http://unresolved.me If you would like to support this podcast and others, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or Producer This episode is sponsored by Kefla Organics. To save 20% on your next purchase of CBD products, make sure to head to Kefla's website and use the offer code 'unresolved20' at checkout. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved-a-true-crime-mystery-podcast--3266604/support . Show moreShow less

In the final days of 1972, a spotlight would begin to shine upon California's Sonoma County. That year, a handful of young women had gone missing or been murdered in the area around Sonoma's most populated city, Santa Rosa.... In the final days of 1972, a spotlight would begin to shine upon California's Sonoma County. That year, a handful of young women had gone missing or been murdered in the area around Sonoma's most populated city, Santa Rosa. All had reportedly been hitchhiking at the time of their disappearance or death, and a few were last seen getting into the cars of strangers. Decades later, police believe that there might have been a killer stalking these young victims throughout the area, whose identity remains unknown nearly five decades later... Part 1/5 Episode hosted, produced, and research/writing by Micheal Whelan Original music created by Micheal Whelan through Amper Music Theme music created and composed by Ailsa Traves Producers: Roberta Janson, Ben Krokum, Gabriella Bromley, Peggy Belarde, Quil Carter, Laura Hannan, Travis Scsepko, Damion Moore, Brittany Norris, Amy Hampton, Steven Wilson, Scott Meesey, Marie Vanglund, Kevin McCracken, Scott Patzold, Bryan Hall, Astrid Kneier, Aimee McGregor, Sydney Scotton, Sara Moscaritolo, Sue Kirk, Jo Wong, Thomas Ahearn, Marion Welsh, Patrick Laakso, Meadow Landry, Tatum Bautista, Teunia Elzinga, Michele Watson, Ryan Green, Stephanie Joyner, Dawn Kellar, Jacinda B., Elissa Hampton-Dutro, Sharon Manetta, Ruth Durbin, Cherish Brady, and Jennifer Henshaw Learn more about this podcast at http://unresolved.me If you would like to support this podcast and others, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or Producer This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, who offer online counseling services. Listeners of Unresolved can save 10% on their first month with the discount code "UNRESOLVED." Head to https://BetterHelp.com/unresolved and fill out the introduction questionnaire to let BetterHelp assess your needs and pair you up with a counselor that you'll love. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved-a-true-crime-mystery-podcast--3266604/support . Show moreShow less

"The only way to connect this is if we have some kind of freak who travels the whole city. " In 1975, a confidential FBI report - which was published the same year that a psychological profile was created for an unknown killer from Sonoma County - purported that the murders of hitchhikers from Santa Rosa were linked to at least eight others from the surrounding area.... "The only way to connect this is if we have some kind of freak who travels the whole city." In 1975, a confidential FBI report - which was published the same year that a psychological profile was created for an unknown killer from Sonoma County - purported that the murders of hitchhikers from Santa Rosa were linked to at least eight others from the surrounding area. These eight additional murders, which spanned as far north as Yuba County and as far south as Monterey County, all unfolded at the same time as the Santa Rosa crimes and seemed to be centered around the San Francisco Bay Area. And while they all varied in unique ways, they seemed to share a number of similarities... Part 3/5 Episode hosted, produced, and research/writing by Micheal Whelan Original music created by Micheal Whelan through Amper Music Theme music created and composed by Ailsa Traves Producers: Roberta Janson, Ben Krokum, Gabriella Bromley, Peggy Belarde, Quil Carter, Laura Hannan, Travis Scsepko, Damion Moore, Brittany Norris, Amy Hampton, Steven Wilson, Scott Meesey, Marie Vanglund, Kevin McCracken, Scott Patzold, Bryan Hall, Astrid Kneier, Aimee McGregor, Sydney Scotton, Sara Moscaritolo, Sue Kirk, Jo Wong, Thomas Ahearn, Marion Welsh, Patrick Laakso, Meadow Landry, Tatum Bautista, Teunia Elzinga, Michele Watson, Ryan Green, Stephanie Joyner, Dawn Kellar, Jacinda B., Elissa Hampton-Dutro, Sharon Manetta, Ruth Durbin, Cherish Brady, and Jennifer Henshaw Learn more about this podcast at http://unresolved.me If you would like to support this podcast and others, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or Producer Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved-a-true-crime-mystery-podcast--3266604/support . Show moreShow less

"There are plenty of places to hide a body and I've no doubt there are some around we haven't found. " Throughout 1973, detectives from California's Sonoma County would continue to investigate a bizarre string of deaths that had started the year prior.... "There are plenty of places to hide a body and I've no doubt there are some around we haven't found." Throughout 1973, detectives from California's Sonoma County would continue to investigate a bizarre string of deaths that had started the year prior. All of the victims were young women that were last seen hitchhiking in the area around Santa Rosa, Sonoma's largest city. That year, the discovery of four additional bodies would be reported, all of whom appeared to have been targeted by the same killer. As police struggled to figure out the identity of this supposed serial offender, authorities publicly theorized that he was "playing games" with them... Part 2/5 Episode hosted, produced, and research/writing by Micheal Whelan Original music created by Micheal Whelan through Amper Music Theme music created and composed by Ailsa Traves Producers: Roberta Janson, Ben Krokum, Gabriella Bromley, Peggy Belarde, Quil Carter, Laura Hannan, Travis Scsepko, Damion Moore, Brittany Norris, Amy Hampton, Steven Wilson, Scott Meesey, Marie Vanglund, Kevin McCracken, Scott Patzold, Bryan Hall, Astrid Kneier, Aimee McGregor, Sydney Scotton, Sara Moscaritolo, Sue Kirk, Jo Wong, Thomas Ahearn, Marion Welsh, Patrick Laakso, Meadow Landry, Tatum Bautista, Teunia Elzinga, Michele Watson, Ryan Green, Stephanie Joyner, Dawn Kellar, Jacinda B., Elissa Hampton-Dutro, Sharon Manetta, Ruth Durbin, Cherish Brady, and Jennifer Henshaw Learn more about this podcast at http://unresolved.me If you would like to support this podcast and others, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or Producer Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved-a-true-crime-mystery-podcast--3266604/support . Show moreShow less