December 13, 2023 - San Diego Police Department officials report that on October 16, 1981, the remains of an unidentified female were discovered behind Vic’s Office Supply at 1753 Garnet Avenue. The woman had been beaten, stabbed, and set on fire.

The victim was described as a Caucasian female, approximately 50 years old, 5’4”, and 104 lbs. She turned out to be homeless in Pacific Beach and known to residents and business owners but her actual identity was never determined.

Cold Case homicides, particularly those with unidentified victims, are a continuous priority for the San Diego Police Department and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. Investigators have been working together on this case exhausting all possible leads hoping identification of the victim will assist with finding the identity of her killer.

With financial assistance from Project Justice, Othram, a private, forensic biotechnology company, was able to develop a DNA profile from the evidence.  Ultimately, this profile led to the identification of the victim as Elaine Armstrong of Kalamazoo, MI. Armstrong was 51 years old at the time of her death.  Armstrong’s identity was confirmed by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Source & photo: San Diego Police Department