True Crime Garage: Santa Rosa Murders // Hitchhiking Victims
Podcast: True Crime Garage
Hosts: Nic & The Captain
Date: September 24, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode delves into the chilling, unsolved case of the Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders, a series of disappearances and killings of young women in Northern California during the early 1970s. Nic and the Captain dissect the cases, explore the investigative hurdles, sift through key evidence, and discuss whether the same perpetrator was responsible for these murders—cases still officially unsolved as of 2025. The tone balances gritty investigation with the hosts’ familiar banter, keeping the conversation engaging yet respectful to the victims.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Setting the Scene: Victims and Patterns
[03:36–06:15]
- Jeanette Kamahele (20): Last seen April 25, 1972, hitchhiking on Highway 101. A 20–30 year-old Caucasian man with a bushy afro and possible facial hair was the last to pick her up, driving a faded brown 1950–1952 Chevrolet pickup with a homemade camper.
- Lori Lee Kursa (13): Went missing in November 1972. Last seen hitchhiking and may have been forced into a van or truck by two men, one fitting the "white guy with afro" description.
- “Here again, we have afro man popping up in our true crime story.” — Nic [08:48]
- Host Insight: Eyewitness descriptions often interchange "van" and "truck," increasing confusion. Both types of vehicles had rear doors and similar shapes in that era.
Challenges in Eyewitness Testimony
[09:45–13:31]
- The hosts stress inconsistencies across reports and the difficulties in nailing down witness testimonies, sometimes due to the passage of time or regional language differences.
- “If I see an abduction, I'm gonna remember what day it is. And not just that, I'm going to go out of my way to report it...” — Nic [13:09]
Discovery of Victims & Methods of Murder
[13:31–17:47]
- Lori Lee Kursa's body found: December 1972, down a ravine outside Santa Rosa. Cause of death—a broken neck, possibly from being pushed/jumping out of a vehicle.
- “Her death is really horrible, though, as all of these are... But it's a different level of violence, potentially.” — Nic [14:43]
- Theory: Some victims may have attempted to escape moving vehicles, resulting in fatal injuries.
Law Enforcement & Community Response
[17:47–20:04]
- Secret Witness Program: Local media set up an anonymous tip line with a reward for leads, in the absence of concrete results.
- “We are starved for breadcrumbs. We are looking for a breadcrumb trail. Not in all of these murders. In each of these murders.” — Nick [18:54]
- Debate: Was the reward ($500 per case, $2,500 total) enough incentive? Was the tip submission process too complicated?
Linking the Cases—Official and Public Opinion
[25:49–28:10]
- By late 1973, police were openly speculating about links between multiple victims—supported and sometimes challenged by different officials.
- “Spoiler alert. It's 2025. We still don't know who committed these murders.” — Nic [28:10]
- Commonalities: victims found nude, dumped down steep embankments, missing jewelry/clothing (sometimes single earrings left behind), and hitchhiking background.
More Victims & Suspect Behavior
[32:39–39:49]
- Carolyn Davis (14): Ran away in February, found July 1973 near where previous victims were discovered; poisoned with strychnine.
- “This can't be an accident... This can't be happenstance.” — Nic [34:23]
- Pattern: Killer(s) may be intentionally leaving bodies in similar locations to taunt police.
- “This to me, is somebody doing this shit on purpose to play a game with the police. You're not in charge here. I'm going to do what I want.” — Nic [35:48]
- Grim detail: Carolyn insisted on sleeping in her sister’s closet out of fear, suggesting she was being stalked or threatened.
The Occult Symbol & The Zodiac Connection
[39:53–48:07]
- An alleged "occult" or "witchcraft" symbol made from sticks was found near Carolyn's body, sparking speculation about Zodiac involvement.
- “The reason why I said earlier that I hate this part of the story is because I believe this particular item is really something that... is completely left open to interpretation.” — Nic [39:53]
- Sheriff Don Stripik publicly entertained Zodiac connections, due to taunting undertones and ritualistic evidence, though not all officers agreed.
Victimology, Profile, and Theories
[48:07–61:01]
- Terry Smith Walsh (23): Found hogtied and strangled, in late December 1973. Suffered especially cruel, prolonged abuse.
- “When you find a body like this... Someone spent a good amount of time with this victim and took great efforts to make sure that she suffered.” — Nic [49:37]
- Suspect Psychological Profile (released 1975):
- Likely a white male, high school educated, a loner, with a passive father and domineering mother, who killed animals as a child and developed a hatred of women.
- Victims typically small to medium stature, long hair parted in the middle, and from “broken homes.”
- Investigative Frustrations: Police believed the killer "interviewed" potential victims while offering rides—sometimes letting them go, sometimes not.
- “They need to openly be telling people we think that other women and girls got into this guy's car... We want to talk to you. We need to talk to you.” — Nic [61:01]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Beardo weirdo. Shave them and feel and cleanse yourself of the evil that could take you over.” — Nic [06:15]
- “White guy with afro maybe not so common. But during the times of this abduction... a little more common for a white guy to have afro.” — The Captain [09:29]
- “I hate those cowboy campers. I, I love the word cowboy. Love cowboys. Hate cowboy campers.” — Nic [10:56]
- “Her body had been found abandoned down an embankment, only 3ft... less than 10ft from where Yvonne Weber and Maureen Sterling’s remains had been found.” — Nic [34:11]
- (On the occult symbol) “This is one of those items that it's completely left open to interpretation. Really. It's anybody's guess what the hell this thing means, if it holds any actual meaning at all.” — Nic [39:53]
- “Police believe that the perpetrator or perpetrators of the Santa Rosa murders had interviewed, air quotes, interviewed potential victims before killing them... looking for certain characteristics, behaviors, or vulnerabilities before deciding to murder, rape and murder, torture these girls and women.” — Nic [60:43]
Timestamps of Important Segments
- 03:36: Introduction to Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders; Jeanette Kamahele's disappearance
- 05:48: Vehicle & suspect descriptions, discussion of unreliable witness terminology (van vs. truck)
- 08:48: Lori Lee Kursa’s disappearance; “afro man” suspect reappears
- 13:31: Discovery of Lori's body; death method analyzed
- 17:47: Media & community create Secret Witness program
- 25:49: Police and public connect the cases—debate over single vs. multiple killers
- 32:39: Carolyn Davis's case details
- 34:23: Shared body dump locations discussed—serial offender psychology
- 39:53: Occult/witchcraft symbol found near crime scene; Zodiac speculation
- 48:07: Terry Smith Walsh’s murder; increasing brutality and detail
- 54:00: Suspect profile and insight into selection of victims
- 60:43: Theory that the killer(s) "interviewed" victims before deciding to kill
- 61:01: Need for potential surviving witnesses to come forward highlighted
Tone & Style
The episode is investigative and deeply empathetic to the victims and their families, balancing dark subject matter with occasional irreverent humor and banter. The hosts express both frustration and fascination over the persistent mysteries, and repeatedly invite the audience to think critically about old cases—“peeling back the evidence” as amateur sleuths.
Summary Takeaways
- The Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders illustrate the difficulty of solving serial crimes in a pre-DNA, pre-digital era, especially given victim vulnerability (frequent hitchhiking), vague suspect descriptions, and limited investigative tools.
- There remains debate about whether a single serial killer was responsible, with possible connections to infamous cases like the Zodiac.
- Notable behavioral clues: consistent targeting of young, vulnerable females; selection via hitchhiker “interviews”; ritualistic crime scene elements and potential taunting of police.
- To this day, the case remains unsolved, with law enforcement and the public still looking for answers. The hosts urge anyone with possible connections or stories from that era to come forward.
End Note:
This episode delivers an engrossing, thorough look at one of California's most disturbing unsolved serial killer cases, providing deep context, survivor advocacy, and persistent questions about investigative strategies past and present.