Rose Evans, a 32-year-old woman, was tragically murdered on August 24, 1991. She was one of the victims of Samuel Little, a notorious serial killer who confessed to killing 93 women across the United States. Evans had been living in Cleveland, Ohio, at the time of her death. She had struggled with drug addiction and had been involved in sex work, circumstances that made her vulnerable to Little's predatory behavior.
On the night of her murder, Little encountered Evans near East 55th
Street and Central Avenue in Cleveland. He offered her a ride, but instead of taking her to a safe location, he drove her to a vacant lot near East 39th Street. There, he strangled her to death inside his car. To conceal the crime, he covered her body with two tires in the vacant lot. The next morning, a passerby discovered her remains, leading to an investigation into her death.
For years, Evans' murder remained unsolved. Her family, unable to afford a burial, had her cremated, and her ashes were kept in a small box for a decade before being scattered in a creek. It wasn't until decades later that authorities linked her death to Samuel Little. In 2019, Little pleaded guilty to the murders of Evans and another Cleveland woman, Mary Jo Peyton, who had been killed in 1984. He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.
Little's confession was part of a larger investigation into his crimes, which spanned over 35 years. His victims were often marginalized women, many of whom struggled with addiction or homelessness. He avoided detection for years by targeting individuals who were less likely to be immediately missed. His method of killing—strangulation—left little forensic evidence, allowing him to evade capture for decades.
Evans' case is a tragic example of how vulnerable individuals can fall prey to serial predators. Her murder, along with many others committed by Little, highlights the importance of thorough investigations and the need for justice for victims who might otherwise be forgotten.
