Karen Klaas homicide case in Hermosa Beach reopened
Detectives have reopened the Karen Klaas slaying case in Hermosa Beach, one of the South Bay's most high-profile unsolved homicides for more than three decades.Klaas, the former wife of singer Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers, died Feb. 3, 1976, four days after she was discovered nude, raped and unconscious on the floor of her 24th Street home.
"My partner and I have been actively working that for about a year," Sheriff's Department homicide Detective Larry Brandenburg said Tuesday. "We've developed some new infomration as far as reinterviewing people, going through the whole file."
DNA evidence, obtained long before the technology to identify suspects through science existed, has been run through the state's system to look for a match, several times over the years. Brandenburg said there have been no "hits."
"We do believe there are people out there that have some information on this," Brandenburg said. "We believe it's a solvable case."
For years, police tried to identify a thick-haired, bearded man who was seen exiting Klaas's front door when neighbors went to check on her.
In 1976, detectives created a plaster model of the head and released it on a "Wanted for murder" flier.
The man was white, about 28 years old, 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a medium build, brown hair and beard. His hair and beard were "well-cared for," and his complexion was pale.
Klaas, who had two children, was attacked shortly after returning home from dropping off her youngest child at the McMartin Pre-School in Manhattan Beach.
Her assailant ransacked the house, which showed signs of a struggle.
Crutches Klaas had used after breaking her leg were on the floor.
Medley stayed at her side in the hospital until she died.
"Karen was very loved and respected, and it was a horror what happened to her," Medley told the Orange County Register in 2000. "She has a lot of friends who would like to see this resolved."
Hermosa Beach Lt. Tom Thompson said Hermosa Beach detectives also have looked at the case over the years and keep in touch with Sheriff's Department detectives.
"We are willing to listen to anything," Thompson said.
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About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
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Denise Nix knew as young as grade school, when she spent every summer working on the camp newspaper, that she wanted to be a journalist. Denise has spent most of the last 12 years of her career in the courtroom. She joined the Daily Breeze in 2001, where she tracks and reports on hundreds of cases at every level of the justice system. And she's never, ever, seen a judge use a gavel.
E-mail Denise at denise.nix@dailybreeze.com.
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Same old song. Keystone cops...........
Same old song. Mr. Anonymous rears his ugly head, taking pot shots at the cops. Solving crimes isn't like TV shows. Grow up. If you don't have anything productive to say, then keep your yap shut.
Due to the advancement of technology some cold cases can be solved today with fresh eyes looking in. I'm glad to see the cops are still working hard. Solving crimes is not like you see on T.V. as depicted on CSI. Maybe if Mr.Anonymous would go to an acredited police acadamy and become a licensed Police Officer he would see that. Or maybe he did try and couldn't cut the mustard?
The only reason "... cops are still working hard." is because the victom's family had $$$ and the ex was famous.
I agree with Jon up there. People hide behind masks because they're cowards. It's not brave to take pot shots, it's juvinille.
People should stand up and applaud the police agencies that continue to look at unsolved cases. WIth new technology coming out every year, these cases should be looked at. Many have been solved decades later because of on-going police efforts by not letting go. It is not a matter of victims fame and fortune. Unsolved cases for all types are reveiwed the same way. I know because I am involved in the efforts to do so.
Frank, thanks for your responce.It is good to see police still looking for the killer...