Do you know who killed Myrtle H. Thomas in 1980? Myrtle Thomas, an 82-year-old African-American female, lived a quiet and reclusive life in Portland, Oregon. On the morning of January 3, 1980, a disturbing and anonymous phone call prompted her caregiver and landlord to check on her at her residence located at 2743 N. Kerby Avenue. Upon entering her downstairs bedroom, they made a grim discovery; Myrtle was found lying deceased on the floor.
The caregiver immediately sought help from a friend, who then alerted the police.
An autopsy would later reveal the violent nature of her death, determining that Myrtle Thomas had succumbed to multiple stab wounds. Investigators at the scene found no signs of forced entry into her home, and there was no evidence to suggest a robbery had taken place. The circumstances of the crime were puzzling, as Myrtle was not known to have any family or a criminal record.
The investigation into her murder uncovered a potential lead from a young neighbor. This witness reported seeing an unfamiliar white male with long, blonde hair and a full beard sitting on Myrtle's steps on the evening before her body was discovered. Despite this description of a person of interest, no arrests have ever been made in connection with the case. The death of Myrtle Thomas remains an unsolved homicide.
