MURDERED: Melanie Howell
In April 1976, 22-year-old Melanie Howell was found stabbed to death inside her Los Angeles apartment, just two days before she was supposed to move out. Police had a composite sketch, a bloody fingerprint, and no answers. The case went cold for nearly 40 years.
When new fingerprint technology gave detectives a match in 2014, the case was quietly closed but the killer’s name was never made public. Not even to the detective who worked it.
Crime Junkie set out to find that name. And what we uncovered goes further than anyone expected: a second victim, 400 miles away. A possible serial killer who died before he could ever be charged. And a question that still doesn’t have a clean answer. How many more were there?
Detective Cliff Shepard
Source: Audiochuck staff
Paul Bustamante
Paul Bustamante Source: National Archives
Please contact the authorities if you have any information about this case:
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