Elizabeth McKeown, a 67-year-old white female, was reported missing on February 16, 1976, in the Westchester area of Los Angeles, California. Her disappearance triggered concern among neighbors and family, as she was known to be a quiet, independent woman who lived alone. Two days later, her body was discovered in the trunk of her own car. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled, and the circumstances of her death bore signs of a calculated and violent attack.
The nature of the crime—targeting an elderly woman in her own neighborhood—shocked the community and prompted a homicide investigation.
At the time, the case went cold due to limited forensic technology and lack of leads. However, decades later, advancements in DNA analysis led to a breakthrough. In 2009, investigators reopened the case as part of a broader effort to solve cold cases using DNA evidence. Biological material recovered from the crime scene was matched to a male suspect through the Combined DNA Index System. The match identified John Floyd Thomas Jr., a Los Angeles resident with a history of sexual assaults and burglaries dating back to the 1950s.
John Floyd Thomas Jr., a Black male born in 1936, had previously been convicted of rape and burglary and was known to law enforcement as a repeat offender. He had been dubbed the “Westside Rapist” and later the “Southland Strangler” due to his suspected involvement in a series of attacks on elderly women across Los Angeles. His modus operandi included breaking into homes, sexually assaulting victims, and then strangling them—often leaving a blanket or pillow over their faces.
Thomas was arrested on March 31, 2009, and charged with the murders of Elizabeth McKeown and several other elderly women. Investigators believe he may be responsible for as many as 15 or more murders, making him one of the most prolific serial killers in Los Angeles history. On April 1, 2011, he pleaded guilty to seven counts of murder, including that of 67-year-old white female Elizabeth McKeown, in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
