On September 19, 1993, the body of 38-year-old white female Pamela Ruth Parsons was discovered in Yuba County, California. At the time of her death, Pamela Parsons was working as a waitress and was known to be living in or near Yuba City. She was also reportedly involved in sex work in the area. Her body was found near where she lived and worked, and the circumstances of her death indicated she had been murdered. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation.
Pamela Ruth Parsons, a white female, was one of several victims later linked to Joseph Naso, a serial killer and former freelance photographer. Naso, who had a history of petty crimes and erratic behavior, lived in Yuba County at the time of Parsons’ death. He kept extensive records of his activities, including photographs, journals, and a handwritten list of ten women, which investigators later dubbed the “List of 10.” Each entry on the list corresponded to a woman who had been murdered, and Pamela Ruth Parsons was identified as number nine, referred to as “Girl from Linda,” referencing the town of Linda in Yuba County.
During a search of Naso’s home in Reno, Nevada in 2010, authorities discovered photographs of Pamela Ruth Parsons, along with news clippings about her murder and detailed calendar entries from 1993 that documented his interactions with her. These materials were found both in his residence and in a safety deposit box. The evidence strongly linked Naso to the murder of the 38-year-old white female victim.
Joseph Naso was arrested in April 2011 and charged with the murders of four women, including Pamela Ruth Parsons. He was later convicted and sentenced to death in 2013. The prosecution presented extensive evidence, including DNA, photographs, and journal entries, to establish his guilt. The murder of Pamela Ruth Parsons, along with the other victims, was part of a broader pattern of violence that spanned decades and multiple counties in California. Naso’s crimes became known for the eerie pattern of victims with matching initials and his meticulous documentation of his actions. Pamela Ruth Parsons’ case remains one of the key pieces in understanding the full scope of Naso’s crimes.
