The Murder of Kurt Theodore Kaikinger, September 1976

Note: While this write-up was originally published on August 5, 2025, I regularly revisit cases, check for updates, ensure that I have exhausted all sources, etc., and then make note of when I last did so, no matter how minor. When edits are extensive, I re-post the write-up entirely. This post was last updated on December 17, 2025.  

From the Sept. 14, 1977 edition of the Fremont Argus.

Background 

Kurt Theodore Kaikinger was born on November 18, 1948 in San Francisco, CA to parents Theodore Joseph Kaikinger and Elaine Barbara Botzer, who had married in April of that year. Theodore's parents were originally from France. Kurt was the oldest of three boys, with his younger brothers Karl and Christian being born in 1950 and 1956, respectively. By 1950 the family was living in Oakland, Alameda County, CA before moving to San Leandro in the same county.

Kurt graduated from Pacific High School in San Leandro in 1966. According to classmates of his, who posted on the Pacific HS Alumni page dedicated to him, Kurt, who played the piano, wanted to become a professional musician. 

His parents divorced in March 1968, when Kurt was nineteen years old. His mother, Elaine, was living in Sausalito, Marin County by 1969, and she eventually remarried, this time to a man with the surname Barnes.

Kurt entered the US military on Jan. 22, 1969, and was released from active duty on Aug. 27, 1970. His youngest brother Chris later followed in his military footsteps, joining the Navy in August 1976.

According to a clipping from the Aug. 25, 1969 edition of the San Rafael Daily Independent Journal — which misspells his last name as "Kalkinger" — Kurt had been "assigned as a medical corpsman with the Second Infantry Division in Korea." From what I can glean, the term "medical corpsman" is most often used in reference to medical personnel associated with the US Navy. 

However, according to Kurt's US Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, which is available here, he had served in the Army. Furthermore, the 2nd Infantry Division is a formation of the US Army, which has primarily been tasked with "pre-emptive defense of South Korea in the event of an invasion from North Korea," according to Wikipedia. With this information, as well as the above, it seems that Kurt may have been a physician for the US Army Medical Corps, though I could find no indication of where he received his medical degree (a requirement for joining the MC), or of him ever studying or practicing medicine beyond the one newspaper clipping above.

Following his release from active duty, Kurt spent some time in 1971 living in Boyes Hot Springs, Sonoma County, CA before eventually relocating to San Rafael in Marin County. In August 1973 he was arrested for drunk driving, for which he was fined and sentenced to community service and two years probation. According to the lead homicide investigator who worked his case, Detective Paul Wallace of the Hayward Police Department, prior to his murder Kurt had been arrested for "alcohol and drug violations" — seemingly the DUI described above — "but was into 'nothing heavy. He wasn't a drug dealer or anything.'"

Kurt's last known address in 1976 was 4332 Mowry Ave, Fremont, Alameda County. About two weeks before his death, Kurt moved from there to an unknown address in Hayward. He was employed as a shoe salesman at a Southland shopping center, and was reportedly known to frequent bars in the downtown Hayward area. 

Disappearance 

According to one of the latest news reports that I could find, Kurt was last seen alive by a friend he had spent the night with, who dropped him off at the corner of C Street and Mission Boulevard in Hayward on Saturday, September 18, 1976.

Previous news articles, however, indicated that Kurt was last seen alive in Hayward on the night of Sunday, September 19th when he was seen by customers in an area bar after visiting a friend. It is possible that the two stories are accurate and actually describe the same night, but this is just speculation on my part.

Kurt was 27 years old and described as being about 5'8 and of slender build, with a tattoo of a crow smoking a cigar on his left shoulder. A photo of him provided by a newspaper shows him with dark hair and a mustache.

Discovery 

At 10:20am on Thursday, September 23, 1976, a man out walking his dog near the salt flats at the end of Eden Landing Rd in Hayward discovered the body of an adult man. The victim was described as being in his late 20s, 5'7, and about 150 lbs. He was initially estimated to have been dead for two to four days by the time of discovery.

By September 25th the body was identified through fingerprints as being that of Kurt Kaikinger. In interviews with the press, Detective Wallace stated that he believed Kurt was killed on Sunday, September 19th or Monday, September 20th. His date of death on official files found on Ancestry is September 19, 1976.

Kurt was the victim of a homicide. He had been repeatedly struck on the head with a blunt instrument. In an interview from the following year, Det. Wallace stated that Kurt had been bludgeoned to death, having been hit on the head with a tire iron or crow bar.

"'It's one of the most brutal murders I've ever seen,' Wallace said. 'He was beaten probably 60 times. He had a fractured skull, broken fingers, and fractured ribs.'" 

It is believed that Kurt was killed at an unknown location before being dumped in an open, weed-covered field at the west end of Eden Landing Rd, near the Leslie Salt Company ponds. 

Kurt was found wearing a t-shirt and a pair of checkered swim trunks. No shoes were mentioned. It is implied that this was not the clothing that he was wearing when last seen alive. One newspaper from the time pointed out that, "There is also no indication of why he was wearing [that outfit], since the weather was not warm." According to historical weather data, the temperature in Hayward on Sept. 19, 1976 never reached above 62°F (16.7°C), with a low of 54°F (12.2°C).

Police were unable to determine a motive for the murder. What little physical evidence may have been found at the scene has not been disclosed to the public by the police. The investigation was also hampered by a lack of witnesses, and quickly grew cold.

A Father's Search 

In mid-October 1976, Kurt's father, Theodore, whom his sons called "Pops," offered a $5,000 reward — $28,048.36 today — for information leading to the arrest and conviction of his son's murderer. After little progress over the course of the following eleven months, Theodore again urged the public to provide information in his son's case, this time offering a $25,000 reward ($132,247.56 today).

At the time of that reward offer, mid-September 1977 — one year after Kurt's death — Theodore stated, "I don’t like to sound like a barbarian, but I’d like to see [the killer] torn apart. [...] the money will be well worth it if it brings these animals out of their holes."

In those same articles, Detective Wallace stated that the police had done everything possible during the investigation, but it had since stalled, as, "we’ve got no evidence, no motive, no witnesses. We’ve even got no crime scene." The weapon used to kill Kurt was also never found. Regarding Theodore Kaikinger's reward offer, Det. Wallace said, "But who knows? Maybe the $25,000 will bring somebody over. Some of these guys [i.e., criminals] sell their mother for $15."

Theodore said the following about his son in the two articles about the reward offer:

"All I want is the guy who killed him. I'll admit (my son) was no angel, but he didn't have to die that way."

"I realize my son had his handicaps. He got depressed easily, and then he'd drink, sometimes with the wrong people. But he had his good points as well as his bad. I think about how he would come over here and play the piano."

"Nobody deserves to die that way." 

Due to the Hayward PD's lack of progress, Theodore began his own investigation into his son's death. By Sept. 1977, Theodore's investigation had "hovered about" a particular ex-con with a long criminal record. According to Detective Wallace, the ex-con had an alibi, however Theodore posited that, "if the alibis are weak, this money might just be enough to break them."

Theodore continued his investigation up to at least May 1979, when another article about the case was run, this time in the Oroville Mercury-Register, and again offering the $25,000 — $113,566.43 today — reward to anyone who provided information leading to the arrest and conviction of Kurt's murderer(s).

According to the May 1979 article, as part of his investigation Theodore had, "posted rewards, hired an attorney, pestered police, collected documents, and appealed through Bay Area newspapers in an effort to find the persons responsible for killing Kurt," as well as "interview[ed] persons who may know something about the case."

By the time of the article's publication, Theodore believed that "persons with knowledge of the murder" were living in the area of Oroville, Butte County, CA. Furthermore, "it is possible, he said, that one of the killers" was living in Oroville in May 1979. 

Kurt's 1966 Pacific High School senior yearbook photo.

It is unclear if the person Theodore was alluding to here is the same person he mentioned vaguely in his Sept. 1977 interviews, or if his investigation had instead led in the direction of a different suspect by May 1979. The wording used throughout the article also makes it seem like at that point in time Theodore believed multiple people were involved in the murder. 

Theodore seems to have passed away sometime between 1986 and late 1992, without closure for his son. I unfortunately could not find any information regarding where Kurt or Theodore are buried. 

Beginning in at least 1986, and up to at least 2004, Kurt's middle brother Karl regularly donated to the San Francisco Chronicle's yearly Season of Sharing Fund in Kurt's memory. By 1992 Karl would also make the donation in his father's memory as well. In one such donation, Karl called his deceased brother the "King of California."  

Speculation

I received multiple comments theorizing about Kurt's case when I posted about it to the r/Unresolved Mysteries subreddit on Dec. 11, 2025 to spread awareness of the case. Several comments were dedicated toward speculation regarding Kurt's sexuality, and if that could have played a role in his death, such as vis-à-vis a hate crime, a hookup gone awry, etc. One user from a neighboring town noted that downtown Hayward did have a few gay bars at the time. However, without further information, nothing can be said with more certainty. 

Multiple Reddit users also commented on Kurt's attire when he was found, and if that could point toward his last known whereabouts. Others also suggested that perhaps he ran into trouble at a bar he went to on the last night of his life. Some noted that, regardless of his sexuality, he still could have gone looking for company that night, either at a bar or somewhere that would explain his wearing a bathing suit.

The Berkeley Barb, June 4, 1976.

Regardless, I thought it worthwhile to look into the presence of any sort of gay bars or establishments offering sexual services of any kind in the area around where Kurt was last seen alive (i.e., near the corner of C St and Mission Blvd in Hayward). I did so by looking through the Berkeley Barb, available on JSTOR here, which was an alternative newspaper/magazine serving the Bay Area with a heavy slant toward the counterculture and free love movements. A hefty section of the paper was always designated for classified ads offering sexual services and, occasionally, drugs.

An advertisement for The Safari, as published in the September 1976 editions of the Berkeley Barb.

By checking the ads posted from approx. June to Sept. 1976 I found The Safari, which had two locations, both in Hayward: Safari I was located at 22125 Mission Blvd, an approx. 14min walk from Kurt's last known whereabouts; and Safari II, formerly known as "The Studio," was located at 935 B St, a merely three minute walk from Kurt's last known location. Both seemed to offer services from women, including massages and a sauna.

Berkeley Barb, June 4, 1976. Prior to The Safari's acquisition of The Studio.

Again, however, it should be stressed that the relevancy of this information is unknown, as it is entirely possible/likely that upon being dropped off at the corner of C St and Mission Blvd on the night of Sept. 19th, Kurt simply went to a bar, and then intended to go back to his residence alone.

Concluding Notes

I found this case while looking through newspapers. From what I could find, Kurt's case was not mentioned by the press after 1979, and he is not listed among the Unsolved Cases posted on the Hayward PD's website. What little information there is to be found online about him or his case has all been included here in this write-up.

Because of this lack of information, I emailed the Hayward PD on Aug. 4, 2025, asking about the status of the case to see if it would be worth submitting a public records request, or if it would be exempt from disclosure. After providing the details needed to identify the case, I received the following response:

"I was able to confirm with the Homicide Sergeant that the case is still open. For now, the case remains exempt from disclosure as to not hinder the successful completion of the investigation." [emphasis my own]

This is official confirmation that Kurt's case is still open and unsolved. Furthermore, on Dec. 11, 2025, I contacted Sgt. Matt McMahon of HPD, inquiring as to why Kurt is not featured on the HPD website. Sgt. McMahon responded the next day with the following:

"The purpose of the Unsolved Cases page is not to list all the unsolved cases in Hayward. It is to highlight a particular case for a time.

I am aware of the Kurt Kaikinger murder. Unfortunately, the case remains unsolved. The case number is 1976-91521. There are, regrettably, many unsolved murder cases in Hayward. I wish we had the resources and personnel to devote to every single unsolved murder, but regretfully, we don’t." 

Anyone with information that may aid the investigation into Kurt's murder is urged to submit a tip to the Hayward Police Department at (510) 293-7176 or by emailing homicideinvestigation@hayward-ca.gov. The agency case number is 1976-91521. Any little piece of information is appreciated, no matter how seemingly insignificant.

Sources

Oakland Tribune 9/24/76, 9/25/76

Fremont Argus 9/25/76, 10/15/76, 9/14/77

SF Chronicle 9/17/77 

Oroville Mercury Register 5/3/79 

Pacific High School Alumni In Memoriam profile  

Adam Perez of Hayward PD, personal communication 

Sgt. Matt McMahon of Hayward PD, personal communication 

The Berkeley Barb, JSTOR Archive 

Note: Kurt was killed about three days before, and was then found one day after, the fall equinox. See the Holidays & Events Reference Page for an explanation as to why this is mentioned.