Who murdered 86 year old Lena Malmberg in 1982? In the summer of 1982, a sense of unease settled over a quiet neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Lena Malmberg, an 86-year-old Caucasian woman, had not been heard from since the previous evening. On July 10th, her daughter grew increasingly concerned after being unable to reach her by phone. A neighbor was dispatched to check on the elderly woman who lived alone on Southeast 20th Avenue and at times required the assistance of a walker.
The neighbor’s concern turned to alarm upon
arriving at the residence. The front door showed clear signs of damage, and a front window was broken, suggesting a forced entry had occurred. Fearing the worst, the neighbor immediately contacted the police. When officers arrived and entered the home, they made a grim discovery. Lena Malmberg was found deceased in her bedroom. An autopsy would later reveal that she had died from traumatic asphyxiation.
Investigators learned that Lena had last been heard from around 7:00 p.m. the night before her body was discovered. By all accounts, she was a woman without any known enemies or disputes. The violent nature of her death stood in stark contrast to the quiet life she was known to lead. Despite a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death, no suspects were ever identified, and no arrests were made in connection with the case. The question of who broke into her home that July night and took her life remains unanswered.
