Map

CA + Western States Cold Cases, 1960s to early 80s 

As always, please credit me if you use/share this anywhere, and let me know before you do so. All work is my own. Click on the icon to read a description of the site as it pertains to the case / details that led me to place the marker at that location. I have tried to be as exact as possible. Full write-ups of each case can be found on this blog. I will regularly update the map whenever I post a new write-up.

Map last updated: August 11, 2025 

Map Key  [which can also be found here]

Colors - Type of Case

DARK RED: Attack 

GRAY: Unidentified, CONFIRMED Victim of Homicide

PURPLE: Unidentified decedent, manner of death unknown/uncertain (including possible homicide)

BERRY: Last Known Location - Disappearance

ORANGE: Last Known Location - Homicide/Suspicious Death, Identified

DARK BLUE: Secondary locations - Disappearance  ***

YELLOW: Secondary locations - Homicide/Suspicious Death ***

DARK GREEN: Location of Body - Homicide/Suspicious Death, Identified

*** Secondary locations are, for example, locations of vehicle or personal items, possible sightings, primary residence, intended destination, etc.

Icons - Confirmed CODs

Rope icon – hanging, strangulation (including both manual and ligature)

Gun icon – gunshot

Fire icon – fire / arson

Blast icon – explosion

Axe icon – axe / hatchet / cleaver / machete (“hacking”)

Hammer icon – blunt force trauma   (with any sort of instrument, including fists, hammer, tire iron, crowbar, club, possible — but unconfirmed — vehicular collision, etc.)

Knife icon – stabbing

Poison (gas mask) icon - Poisoning

Person in waves icon – Drowning

** All icons other than the ones used above are instead used for cases where COD is unknown/uncertain, as well as for disappearances. Those icons represent something pertaining to the case/location. **

Backpacker - Hiking 

Balloons - Event (such as a party, dance, social club, birthday outing, etc.) 

Beach (umbrella) - Last seen at/going to a beach 

Bus - Last seen taking a bus

Camper (vehicle) - Brought to trailer house 

Car - Found/seen in a vehicle

Car repair - Inoperable vehicle (including due to vehicular collision)

Faucet / plumbing - In/near a man-made water source (drainage pipe, canal, etc.) 

House - Last seen at their residence 

Horse - Last seen horseback riding  

Lookout tower - Near a Forest Service lookout tower, or some sort of park ranger station

Medical cross - Last seen at a hospital / doctors office / medical center  

Mining - Found near a mine 

Missing person (person with question mark) - Disappearance with few details (i.e., only information is victim demographics, date, and city where they were last seen)  

Mountain - Found on mountain or cliff  

Movies (film strip) - Last seen at/going to a movie theater  

Phone - Last contact was made through a phone call 

Plant (health food) - Found in flower field, orchard, or vineyard 

Restaurant (knife and fork) - Last seen at/leaving/going to a restaurant (including a pizza parlor or fast food place)  

Road Work - Found due to construction, landscaping, road work, maintenance, etc. that was being done in the area at the time.  

Running - Minor individual last seen leaving residence, and/or Runaway

Skull and crossbones - Death with few details 

Trailhead (backpacker with trailhead) - Found by hikers  

Truck - Traveling in a truck / with truck drivers

Walking / Pedestrian - Hitchhiking