MURDERED: Melanie Howell
In 1976, a 22-year-old nursing student was murdered in her Los Angeles apartment, leaving behind just one clue: a bloody fingerprint. Decades later, that print was matched—and the case was quietly marked solved. But no one ever publicly announced who did it. So we set out to find the answer… and to uncover what else he may have done.
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:
Contact Us
If you know of any cases similar to the ones mentioned in this episode or if you knew Paul Bustamante, please email us at [email protected].
Click here to learn more about Elizabeth Mary Wolf Environmental Learning Center of UC Davis and you can visit the donation landing page by following this link.
Episode Source Material
- Original reporting by Mallika Dhaliwal.
-
Los Angeles Magazine (Los Angeles, CA): Who Murdered UCLA Medical Center Nurse Melanie Howell?, by Michelle McNamara. Published July 8, 2013. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://lamag.com/crimeinla/who-murdered-ucla-medical-center-nurse-melanie-howell/
- The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA): Student Killed in Home, by UPI. Published April 24, 1976. Accessed December 16, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/747644960
- Venice-Marina News (Santa Monica, CA): Police seek suspect in WLA murder. Published April 29, 1976. Accessed December 16, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/734306069
- Corsair (Santa Monica, CA): Her life was full……Till death came knocking, by Susan Pekea. Published May 5, 1976. Accessed December 16, 2025 via UCR.edu. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CRS19760505.2.7&e=——-en–20–1–txt-txIN——–
- The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA): Teacher is slain on eve of new job, by McClatchy Newspapers Service. Published September 6, 1977. Accessed December 16, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/620888873
- The Times-Herald (Vallejo, CA): No murder clues, by Associated Press. Published September 7, 1977. Accessed December 16, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1180362225
- The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA): Clues sought in teacher’s fatal knifing. Published September 7, 1977. Accessed December 16, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/620892366
- The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA): Secret witness adds murder case of Davis teacher in her apartment. Published December 7, 1977. Accessed December 16, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/620957234
- The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA): Father of stabbing victim adds $10,000 to reward. Published December 14, 1977. Accessed December 16, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/620928382
- The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA): Murder victim’s parents boost reward to $25,000. Published June 28, 1979. Accessed December 16, 2025 via newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/620987172
- The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA): Killer says he struck Davis in ’77, by Max Miller. Published December 6, 1983. Accessed December 16, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/621378445
- The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA): Lucas’ guilt doubted in 2 south state killings, by Mary Crystal Cage. Published April 16, 1985. Accessed December 16, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/622490886
- The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA): Davis, Colusa convinced Lucas a killer despite doubts about other. Slayings, by Mary Crystal Cage. Published April 17, 1985. Accessed December 16, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/622492834
- UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden (Davis, CA): New building honors daughter’s memory, by Katie Ferguson Hetrick. Published June 22, 2022. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/blog/new-building-honors-daughters-memory
Suggested Episodes
MURDERED: Marina Placensia
The day before September 1st, 2016, a woman and her four children boarded a crowded train expecting to arrive in Denver, Colorado for a fresh start. But somehow, overnight, the woman mysteriously dies and not a single person on that train can say how. For seven years, the tragic case of Marina Placensia remained unsolved. Until a relentless detective and a groundbreaking medical re-examination blew the case wide open. Listen now to the inspiring pursuit of justice that was finally able to bring a killer to light.
MURDERED: Dorothy “Toby” Tate
The murder of 41-year-old Toby Tate is a case that no one thought would ever be resolved – one that spent decades collecting dust in a file box at the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
MURDERED: Marina Ramos
In 1989, a woman is found brutally murdered in Mohave County, Arizona. Decades later, a detective identifies her as Marina Ramos, and discovers that her two young children disappeared with her.
Join our Fan Club to listen to this episode and more!
Unlock all of the exclusive benefits and dynamic listening experience as a Crime Junkie Fan Club member.
Join the Fan Club now to reap the rewards!