Colin Jacobs, a 3-year-old boy, was tragically murdered on May 4, 1979, in his home in Normal Heights, San Diego, California. He was killed alongside his mother, Suzanne Jacobs, a 31-year-old woman. Their deaths were part of a series of brutal murders committed by serial killer David Allen Lucas. Lucas, who was later convicted of multiple murders, was known for slashing the throats of his victims.
On the morning of May 4, 1979, Suzanne Jacobs' husband, Michael, left for work at
approximately 6:00 AM. A neighbor reported seeing a dark maroon-colored sports car with a black top pull up to the Jacobs' residence between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. Later that morning, between 11:00 and 11:30 AM, a phone call to Suzanne Jacobs went unanswered, raising concerns about her well-being. Investigators later determined that David Allen Lucas had entered the home and murdered both Suzanne and Colin Jacobs.
The case remained unsolved for several years until investigators linked Lucas to the crime. Initially, another suspect, John Massingale, was in custody for the Jacobs killings, but further investigation revealed Lucas' involvement. A handwritten note found at the crime scene matched Lucas' handwriting, leading to his arrest and conviction.
Lucas was convicted on June 21, 1989, for the murders of Suzanne and Colin Jacobs, as well as the murder of University of San Diego student Anne Catherine Swanke. He was also found guilty of the attempted murder and kidnapping of Jodie Santiago Robertson in June 1984. Lucas' crimes spanned from 1979 to 1984, earning him the moniker 'The Throat-Slash Murderer' due to the nature of his killings.
Following his conviction, Lucas was sentenced to death for his crimes. His trial was one of the most prolonged in San Diego's history, and he remains on death row at San Quentin State Prison.
