A 15-year-old girl named Karen Stitt had recently relocated to Palo Alto, California, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following her mother’s passing. Despite the tragic circumstances, Karen quickly adapted to her new school and surroundings, forming friendships and even starting a relationship with a boy named David Woods. The evening of September 2, 1982, Karen went to visit David after playing video games at a local store and enjoying a round of mini-golf.

After being dropped off by David at a bus stop, Karen was last seen waiting for the bus back home. Sadly, she never made it back. Her body was discovered naked 100 yards from the bus stop, showing signs of a brutal attack – she had been raped and stabbed 59 times. The community was shocked by the heinous crime, and despite initial suspicions towards David Woods, he was eventually cleared of any involvement.

Decades later, in 2019, a breakthrough in the case occurred when police received information linking Karen’s murder to Gary Gene Ramirez, one of four brothers from Fresno, California. Through advanced genetic genealogy techniques, Ramirez was identified as the perpetrator. In August 2022, at the age of 75, Ramirez was arrested in Hawaii and brought back to face trial for the crimes.

Ramirez, a seemingly unassuming man with no prior criminal record, was found guilty of Karen’s murder, rape, and kidnapping. Despite the closure the arrest brought to Karen’s family and friends, the pain of her loss remains. Ramirez was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Though Karen’s life was tragically cut short over 40 years ago, she continues to be remembered and her killer has finally been brought to justice.