Calif. Police "Desperate to Identify" Murder Victim in 1968 Cold Case
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (CBS/KCAL) The shoes of a female murder victim whose body was found in a ditch in Huntington Beach, Calif. more than four decades ago have led investigators to believe the woman was originally from New York, say officials.
Detective Mike Reilly of the Huntington Beach Police Department spoke with Crimesider Thursday saying the victim, who for decades was known as "Jane Doe" and was recently identified as "Rosie," was wearing shoes with the New York-based brand name "Owego" etched on the insole.
"We are desperate to identify the victim," said Reilly.
"Rosie" was sexually assaulted and murdered on March 14, 1968. Police have tried tirelessly to find clues to fully identify the woman in the decades-old case.
A breakthrough came two weeks ago when a Los Angeles County resident recognized "Rosie" in a police sketch.
"She [the witness] said she had a friend back in Long Beach (Calif.) around 1968 by the name of 'Rosie,'" Lt. Russ Reinhart told CBS affiliate KCAL. "She doesn't remember her last name, but it was an Italian surname."
According to the witness, Rosie was about 26-years-old and worked as a waitress at a bar called The Circus Room in downtown Long Beach.
Since the sketch was released several witnesses, who are in their late 60s and early 70s, have told investigators that "Rosie" lived in New York before moving to Long Beach sometime in 1967 and described her as having a strong New York accent.
The Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, which created the "Owego" shoe, had numerous shoe factories in the southern tier of Upstate New York, according to a Huntington Beach Police Department press release.
Reilly said "Rosie" was also wearing a flower print blouse, purple pants and a vinyl jacket, but it was the soiled, size 7 shoes that helped them determine where she may have lived previously.
Based on the story from the witness who identified "Rosie," she could have been from the Bronx or Brooklyn and possibly had a 2-year-old son nicknamed "John-John," as well as two brothers.
Though new information in the case is scarce, Reilly said he is hoping that more people will come forward to identify the victim.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Detective Mike Reilly at 714-536-5940.
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