Marlene Voris, an 18-year-old from La Honda, California, died on October 12, 1973. Her death was initially ruled a suicide, as she was found with a gunshot wound and seven suicide notes at the scene. The circumstances surrounding her death were controversial, as friends and acquaintances believed she was in good spirits, celebrating her acceptance into the Navy on the night of her death. This led to suspicions that her death might not have been a suicide.
Richard Allen Davis, who later became infamous for the kidnapping and murder of Polly Klaas, was the last person seen with Marlene Voris. Davis claimed that Voris was his girlfriend and that she shot herself "almost in his presence." However, some people close to Voris believed that Davis forced her to write the suicide notes and then killed her. Despite these suspicions, the case was closed as a suicide at the time.
The case was reopened in 1993 following Davis's arrest for the Polly Klaas case. San Mateo County officials decided to re-examine the circumstances of Voris's death to determine if Davis was involved. This decision was influenced by the similarities in the cases and Davis's criminal history. However, there is no public record of any new charges or conclusive findings linking Davis to Voris's death after the case was reopened.
The re-examination of Marlene Voris's death highlights the complexities and challenges in investigating cases with conflicting evidence and the impact of new developments in related cases. While the initial ruling of suicide has not been officially overturned, the suspicions and subsequent investigation underscore the lingering doubts about the true nature of her death.
