Do you know who murdered Susan? On February 26, 1999, the body of 53-year-old Susan Eleanor Cohen was found in a parked van in San Diego, California. Officers responded to a report of a foul odor coming from a Dodge van on Riley Street, and upon investigating, they discovered Cohen had been strangled to death. Witnesses later reported that the van had been parked in the same spot for approximately two weeks, during which several individuals had been seen loitering nearby, including young females and a dark-complected male who
was possibly Middle-Eastern.
Susan Cohen was well known in the local community, particularly in the areas of Ocean Beach and Imperial Beach, where she sometimes lived on the streets or with friends. She was often seen frequenting local casinos, including the Viejas Indian Casino and the Sycuan Gaming Casino. Cohen had some involvement in the drug scene, occasionally using methamphetamine or dealing in small amounts. Despite these connections, no clear motive for her murder was established, and the case remains unsolved.
The San Diego Police Department's Homicide Unit has been responsible for investigating Cohen’s death as part of their ongoing efforts to resolve cold cases in the area. Despite advances in forensic methods and the ongoing work of detectives, Susan Cohen’s case remains unresolved, leaving her family and the community without answers. The difficulties in gathering physical evidence and identifying reliable witnesses have hindered the investigation, making this case one of many unsolved homicides that have haunted the San Diego community for years.
