Anita Louise Piteau is Huntington Beach Jane
After 52 years, the Jane in Huntington Beach, CA has a name! Anita Louise Piteau ran away from her home in Maine as a teenager, making her way to California. She'd been star-struck, already seeing the glow of her name in lights, and decided to chase her dream over 3,000 miles from everything she knew. Her family last heard from her when she wrote a letter home in February 1968. Her killer has been identified by DNA as Johnny Chrisco (who bears an eerily similar likeness to Rodney Alcala) but he escaped prosecution for his horrible acts. He died of throat cancer in 2015 at the age of 71.
*Content warning: This Jane's story contains descriptions of sexual assault and some graphic details*
General Location of Discovery |
On a cool March night in 1968, a young woman traveled to a harvested strawberry field near Yorktown Avenue and Newland Street in Huntington Beach, California. She and her male companion likely sat and talked in the man's vehicle for a short while while he smoked a cigarette, dropping the butt into the dirt outside his window. What presumably began as a pleasant evening for the pair soon took a much more sinister turn.
By the end of that Wednesday night, March 13, 1968, the young woman would be beaten and sexually assaulted by the unknown man. He would cut her throat, drag her to a nearby drainage ditch and leave her. She lay in the ditch with only her dirt-caked, torn clothes and a ring worn on her left ring finger. The monster had taken not only her life, but her dignity as well. Two neighborhood boys were out playing together the next day when they came across the unforgettable scene. The beautiful, clear day incongruous with the brutality hidden beneath a black coat. Another neighborhood boy, 10 years old at the time, was searching the ditches nearby in hopes of finding lizards or frogs. He noticed the two boys hovering over what appeared to be a mannequin laying in the ditch, but he would soon learn the horrific truth. This encounter would make a lasting impression on the boy and he would grow up to become a police officer in Huntington Beach, serving the city for 20 years. It seems as though she has been handed an indefinite sentence as a Jane, as 51 years have passed and she remains unidentified. Tips came in, leads were followed, and DNA was tested. DNA from the cigarette but was put into CODIS in hopes of finding a match and identifying her killer, but no matches have come up yet. They also considered the possibility that this Jane was the victim of a serial killer. Investigators have gone to great lengths to try to identify her and were surprised to get a tip in 2011 that, though unconfirmed, could provide the biggest lead this case has ever had. Even after five decades, this Jane's case hasn't been forgotten. |
What We KnowDied March 13, 1968
White and/or Hispanic (Debatable) 20 - 30 years old 5' 2" & 130-140 lbs Dark brown shoulder-length hair Brown eyes Both ears pierced once Teeth in poor condition; missing several back upper and lower teeth, front teeth somewhat crooked Described as "relatively hairy with dark hairs all over. She almost has sideburns. Possibly plucked/shaped her eyebrows." Clothing included: Black Owego loafers Black imitation leather 3/4 length coat Purple capri pants White, long-sleeve floral print blouse Note: Most of this clothing was only available in upstate New York at the time Silver ring with a large light blue square stone (Pictured above) |
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Gallery: Composite Sketches & Photos of Clothing
Investigative Findings & Helpful Tips
This case may seem stagnant, considering the fact that it's been ongoing for half a century, but there have been plenty of notable developments over the years!
- During the initial investigation, a description of the ring was published in a jewelers' magazine in hopes of finding a jeweler who might have sold it. Luckily, a jeweler from Woodland, CA (Over 400 miles northwest of Huntington Beach) was able to identify the ring and confirm that he had sold it to the woman on March 5, 1968, just 9 days before her body was discovered.
- The cigarette butt found at the scene did produce a usable DNA profile, which was later entered into the FBI database, CODIS. Investigators hoped that the database would provide a lead on Jane's killer, but those efforts have not yet proven fruitful.
- The most interesting lead, which also holds the most potential, came in 2011 from a woman who claimed to have been acquaintances/friends with this Jane. This is what she told authorities:
- Jane Doe's name was "Rosie" with an "Italian sounding last name".
- She was from New York, possibly Brooklyn or the Bronx, and spoke with a heavy New York accent.
- She had moved from NY in 1967 to the Long Beach area.
- She left a 2 year old son, nicknamed "John-John", and her husband behind in New York.
- She possibly had two older brothers, though their names are unknown.
- She worked as a waitress at a local bar, "The Circus Room", which opened in 1959 and closed years later. She said that Rosie just didn't show up for work one day, but no one knew what had happened to her. Unfortunately, by the time this tip came in, The Circus Room had closed down and employment records were unavailable.
- She had only known Rosie for a few months and said that she didn't know her address in Long Beach.