Georgia Haggai

Do you know who murdered Georgia?
Georgia Haggai was a force in her community, a woman known for her independence, business acumen, and striking beauty. At 42, she was the successful owner and president of Georgia's Inc., a Kearny Mesa-based temporary staffing agency for bookkeepers and accountants. Her professional drive was matched by her community involvement; she served as treasurer for the San Diego chapter of Soroptimist International, an organization for executive and professional women, and was honored in 1981 as one of their "Women of Accomplishment." Friends and family remembered her as a beautiful, thoughtful, and considerate person. Her niece, Christa Ramey-Haggai, recalled being intimidated by her aunt, a former Miss Grand Rapids pageant winner who seemed like a movie star to a young girl from Texas. Georgia was a physical fitness enthusiast who was also described as very security-conscious, a detail that would become a haunting element of her story.

The morning of March 31, 1986, shattered the peace of her quiet Scripps Ranch neighborhood. Just before 5 a.m., a knock came at the front door of Georgia's home in the 9900 block of Dichondra Court. Neighbors were jolted awake by the sound of screams, her dog barking, and then three gunshots. When police responded to the calls, they found a grim scene. The front door was open, the screen door shut but unlocked. Inside the entryway, clad in a robe and pajamas, lay Georgia Haggai, dead from multiple gunshot wounds to her head and chest, surrounded by a pool of blood. Her large German Shepherd stood guard over her body. There were no signs of a struggle or forced entry.

The immediate aftermath offered few clues but painted a picture of a swift and targeted attack. One neighbor reported hearing loud voices before the shots rang out. Another saw the silhouette of a single person running from the house immediately after the gunfire. This individual disappeared down the street, and moments later, another neighbor heard the screeching tires of a car speeding away. The suspect was never identified, and the murder weapon, believed to be a revolver which does not eject shell casings, was never recovered. The lack of robbery or any clear motive left investigators with a profound puzzle.

Detectives from the San Diego Police Department quickly formed a theory that has persisted for decades: Georgia Haggai knew her killer. Her cautious nature meant she would not have opened her door at dawn to a stranger. The investigation turned toward her personal life. In the months before her death, Georgia had ended a long-term relationship and had begun a new one with another woman. According to news reports from the time, her former roommate and two other women were questioned and passed polygraph tests. A fourth woman reportedly refused to take one. Despite these lines of inquiry, the case grew cold due to a lack of physical evidence.

For nearly four decades, the case has remained unsolved, a source of enduring pain for Georgia's family. Her parents have since passed away without seeing justice for their daughter. Her niece, Christa Ramey-Haggai, a trial lawyer, has spoken about the need for closure. "Her life mattered, and there's like a hole there that needs to be filled, that story needs to be completed," she told a local news station. Over the years, the family learned that anonymous tips were occasionally sent or faxed to the police, with Ramey-Haggai describing them as if someone was "taunting the police."

As of April 2026, the San Diego Police Department's Cold Case Unit is giving the investigation a fresh look. Detective Tracey Barr stated that while physical evidence is limited, she and her team have been re-interviewing neighbors and others who were questioned at the time of the murder. The prevailing belief among investigators remains that this was a crime of passion. "I one-hundred percent feel like she knew who that person was that she was opening the door for," Detective Barr said. Even without new evidence, the hope is that someone, somewhere, has the missing piece of information that can finally complete the story.

Georgia Haggai’s murder is a haunting reminder of a life cut short by violence. She was a prominent businesswoman, a community leader, a daughter, a sister, and an aunt whose death left a void that has never been filled. Her case remains an open and active investigation. The San Diego Police Department urges anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Tips can be called into the SDPD Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.