The Unsolved Murder of Dorothy Scott

The murder case of Dorothy Scott is one of the most mysterious and puzzling cases in the history of criminal investigations. It remains unsolved to this day, despite various attempts by law enforcement agencies to solve the case.

Dorothy Scott was a 32-year-old single mother who lived in Stanton, California. She worked as a secretary at a store called Swingers Psych Shop, which sold various items related to the occult, such as books on witchcraft and tarot cards. On May 28, 1980, Dorothy dropped her son off at her parents' house and went to work as usual.

Later that night, she received a phone call from an unknown man who told her that he had her son and that she would never see him again. The man also told her that he had been watching her and that he knew everything about her. Dorothy was understandably frightened and told her co-worker, Conrad Bostron, about the call.

Conrad offered to take her to the hospital, but on the way there, they noticed a car following them. When they arrived at the hospital, Conrad went inside to get help while Dorothy stayed in the car. However, when Conrad returned to the car, he found that Dorothy was missing.

Her body was found four years later, partially decomposed, in a brush area near Santa Ana, California. She had been shot in the chest and had a dog leash and a turquoise ring placed on her body. The mystery deepened when it was revealed that Dorothy's parents had been receiving threatening phone calls from the same man who had called Dorothy on the night of her disappearance. The caller would often taunt them, saying that he had killed their daughter.

The investigation into Dorothy's murder was hampered by the fact that the caller had used a public phone booth to make the threatening calls, and therefore, there was no way to trace the calls. Despite this, the police did receive several leads, including one from a man who claimed to have been at the hospital on the night of Dorothy's disappearance and who had seen a man with a dog leash in the parking lot.

Another lead came from a woman who claimed to have been at a nearby bar on the night of Dorothy's disappearance and who had seen a man who matched the description of the man who had been following Dorothy and Conrad in the car. She described him as a white male in his mid-20s, with light brown hair and a pockmarked complexion.

Despite these leads, the case went cold, and the identity of the killer remains unknown to this day. However, in 1984, Dorothy's mother, Vera, received a phone call from a man who claimed to be Dorothy's killer. He taunted her, saying that he had killed her daughter and that he would do it again. He also revealed details about the murder that only the killer would know, such as the fact that Dorothy had been wearing a red scarf on the night of her disappearance.

The call was traced to a psychiatric facility, but the identity of the caller was never revealed. Some investigators believe that the killer may have been someone who was familiar with the occult and may have had a grudge against Dorothy or the store where she worked.

One theory is that the killer may have been someone who had been spurned by Dorothy, either romantically or professionally. Another theory is that the killer may have been a member of a cult who believed that Dorothy was involved in witchcraft and needed to be eliminated.

Despite the many theories and leads, the murder of Dorothy Scott remains one of the most baffling and frustrating cases in the annals of criminal investigations. It is a case that has haunted the minds of investigators, the family of the victim, and the public at large for over four decades.

The evidence in this case is scarce and inconclusive, but there are a few pieces of information that investigators have been able to piece together. For example, the killer had access to a phone booth and knew how to cover his tracks. He also had a significant amount of knowledge about Dorothy and her life, suggesting that he may have been someone who knew her personally.

The dog leash and turquoise ring found on Dorothy's body may also provide some clues. It is possible that the killer left them there as a calling card, or it could be that they were meant to distract investigators from the real motive behind the murder.

Over the years, there have been many suspects in the case, including a co-worker of Dorothy's named Dennis Terry, who was later convicted of arson and may have had a history of violence towards women. Another suspect was a man named Mike Butler, who was convicted of killing two women in the area around the same time as Dorothy's murder. However, there is no conclusive evidence linking either of these men to Dorothy's murder.

In recent years, there have been renewed efforts to solve the case, including the use of DNA evidence. In 2019, a group of investigators announced that they had identified a suspect in the case, based on DNA evidence found on a cigarette butt near the site where Dorothy's body was found. However, the identity of the suspect has not been revealed, and it is unclear if there is enough evidence to bring charges against them.

The murder of Dorothy Scott is a tragic and haunting case that has captured the public's imagination for over four decades. Despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies and the many theories and leads that have emerged over the years, the killer remains at large. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of solving crimes and bringing justice to the victims and their families. It is hoped that one day, the killer of Dorothy Scott will be brought to justice, and her family will finally be able to find closure.