Lorraine H. Wells was 76 and living alone in a bungalow‑style apartment in Hollywood when she was found dead around May 11, 1983. Her death was attributed to smothering, reportedly occurring during a forced entry or burglary of the residence.

Brandon Tholmer was identified as a suspect in November 1983 after his arrest for an attempted break‑in of another elderly woman’s home. Searches of his apartment reportedly turned up over 200 personal items — jewelry, photographs and watches — belonging to multiple older female victims, including items linked to Wells. Fingerprints and stolen property were used by prosecutors to connect him to Wells’s death and several other violent crimes against elderly women in East Hollywood and Silver Lake from 1981–1983.

Tholmer’s first trial on the Wells count ended in a mistrial due to jury deadlock; after a retrial he was convicted on all charges and received consecutive life terms without parole. No other suspects have been publicly identified in Lorraine Wells’s killing.

If anyone knew Lorraine Wells or saw suspicious activity near her home in May 1983, can you share what you remember?