206 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Peggy Pennington

Death by Force
Case Description
Any updates on this case? Let us know!
On July 8, 1981, Peggy Pennington, a 34-year-old employee of the El Dorado County Welfare Department, was tragically murdered in Placerville, California. On that fateful morning, Peggy and her colleague, Patty Vander Dussen, were on their routine walk around the block when they were abducted at gunpoint by James Leslie Karis Jr. Karis forced the two women into his car and drove them to a remote area near Placerville. There, he compelled them to undress and subsequently raped Peggy. After allowin ...Read More
Links to Additional Sources (7)
See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Death Row Inmate From Sacramento County Dies In Cell
  • Death Row Inmate From Sacramento County Dies In Cell - CBS News
    •     ...View 5 additional sources
    Victim Details

    Peggy Pennington

    Female

    Placerville

    CA

    1981-07-08

    34

    Peggy

    Pennington

    11/20/2025

    Forum Posts (3)
    I recently came across this old case about Peggy Pennington, and something that really stood out to ... ...Read More
    01/15/2024
    I've been thinking a lot about Patty Vander Dussen recently, especially given how her life has been ... ...Read More
    05/29/2023
    Does anyone else find it chilling to think about how Peggy and Patty must have felt during those ter... ...Read More
    01/30/2023
    Other Cases from Placerville, California

    Barbara Dozier

    Death: Aug 19, 2014
    Barbara Dozier, aged 85, tragically passed away on August 19, 2014, in Placerville, California. She e ...Read More