Evalyn Bunner, a 56-year-old white female, was murdered on October 29, 1976, in Los Angeles County, California. Her death was part of a disturbing pattern of killings that plagued the region during the 1970s and 1980s. Bunner was one of several elderly women targeted by a serial predator who became known as the 'Westside Rapist.' The victims were typically middle-aged or elderly white females who lived alone, making them vulnerable to attack.
The perpetrator, later identified as John
Floyd Thomas Jr., was a former state insurance adjuster with a long criminal history. He was known for entering the homes of his victims, sexually assaulting them, and then strangling them—often obscuring their faces with a pillowcase or sheet. Thomas's crimes spanned decades, and he eluded capture for years despite being a registered sex offender.
Thomas was arrested in 2009 after a DNA swab, collected during a routine check-in with law enforcement, linked him to multiple cold cases. Among the seven murders he eventually pleaded guilty to was the killing of Evalyn Bunner, the 56-year-old white female from Los Angeles. The other victims ranged in age from 56 to 80 and were also elderly white females. Thomas was sentenced to seven life terms, one without the possibility of parole.
Investigators believe Thomas may have been responsible for as many as 30 murders and numerous rapes. His arrest and conviction were the result of a massive cold-case effort that involved combing through decades-old evidence and leveraging advances in forensic science. The resolution of Bunner's case brought long-awaited justice to her family and helped close a dark chapter in Los Angeles's criminal history.
