Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"Because when a detective went the extra mile to name a victim who couldn't speak for herself, his work led to a break in a case that seemed impossible to solve for decades, and it led him to another case that could be connected." — Ashley Flowers
"But the archives are a disaster. I mean, over the years, files have gone missing or haven't been logged correctly. Some case materials haven't been touched in decades." — Ashley Flowers
"But his work wasn't for nothing. Because in 2015, Detective Rivera gets a call from the coroner's office. They've just heard from a woman in Canada who thinks Jane Doe 59 may be her sister, Rita." — Ashley Flowers
This episode of Crime Junkie delves into two intertwined cold cases: the murder of "Jane Doe 59" found in 1969, and the subsequent disappearance and murder of Marina Habba. The narrative begins with LAPD cold case detective Cliff Shepherd uncovering crucial evidence, including a bloodstained bra, for Jane Doe 59. This discovery, combined with Shepherd's deep dive into cold cases and a tangential reference in Vincent Bugliosi's "Helter Skelter," sparks a potential link to Marina Habba's murder, which occurred approximately 10 months prior and within miles of Jane Doe 59's discovery.
The investigation into Marina Habba's case reveals her disappearance on New Year's Day 1969 after a night out. Her mother's account of a man near her car and a black sedan, along with her missing glasses and the forceful application of the emergency brake, point towards a struggle. The episode highlights the difficulties in establishing a concrete timeline and identifying potential persons of interest, including a man named John, Marina's date, whose marital status and alibi are scrutinized. The discovery of Marina's body two days later, with multiple stab wounds and signs of strangulation, further complicates the investigation.
The narrative then circles back to Jane Doe 59, identified years later through media efforts and Michelle McNamara's blog as Rita Yurvetson. Yurvetson, a young woman who moved from Toronto to Los Angeles, was last heard from via a postcard in October 1969. The episode details the challenges in identifying her and connecting her case to Marina Habba's, with law enforcement officials eventually considering them separate cases due to differing investigative findings and the intensely personal nature of Yurvetson's wounds. Despite retired detectives and a lack of accessible files, the podcast emphasizes the ongoing reliance on public assistance to uncover new leads, particularly regarding the unidentified men named John connected to both victims.