Matthew Marshall Chase, a 22-year-old from Pasadena, California, tragically lost his life on June 8, 1988. On that fateful evening, Matt and his roommate, Therese Stahl, returned home from dinner around 11:45 PM. Realizing he had forgotten to cash his paycheck, Matt left the house with only his bank card. When he failed to return, his roommates grew concerned. The next morning, they contacted the bank, pretending to be Matt, to gather information about his transactions.
Records showed that Matt had successfully deposited his check and received cash. However, he returned to the same ATM 30 minutes later, attempting to withdraw $280, an amount he did not have in his account. This unusual behavior raised suspicions that Matt might have been trying to signal for help.
Over the next day and a half, Matt's bank card was used multiple times at different ATMs, with unsuccessful attempts to withdraw large sums of money. Surveillance footage captured a man standing close to Matt during one of these transactions, suggesting that Matt might have been coerced. Despite these clues, Matt's whereabouts remained unknown until September 17, 1988, when his remains were discovered in a ravine in Pasadena. He had died from a gunshot wound, and his body appeared to have been dumped at the location. The identification process was delayed due to difficulties in tracking Matt's dental records.
The investigation into Matt's death revealed that his killer was likely David "Bear" Meza, a gang member who was murdered within 48 hours of Matt's disappearance. Meza's girlfriend identified him from the ATM surveillance photo, confirming his involvement. However, the possibility of accomplices could not be ruled out. Despite the identification of Meza as the primary suspect, the case remained unresolved for many years. In 2018, the Los Angeles Police Department officially closed Matt's case, concluding that Meza was responsible for his death.
Throughout the investigation, Matt's family and friends sought justice and answers. They distributed flyers and spoke to individuals at homeless shelters, hoping to find leads. Matt's car was found abandoned two weeks after his disappearance, with a blue bandanna inside that did not belong to him, further indicating foul play. The case garnered significant attention, highlighting the challenges and complexities of solving such tragic incidents.
