Two killings in San Diego’s South Park neighborhood, one day apart, share striking similarities that remain unsolved. At about 2 a.m. on December 3, 1978, 21-year-old Terry Pahl went into an all-night coin laundromat at 3519 30th Street to wash and dry clothes. About an hour later the laundromat owner found Pahl face down at the rear of the business; he had been shot twice in the back of the head at close range. Pahl’s wallet, keys and his blue 1975 Chevrolet pick-up were missing.

Roughly 24 hours later, about 1 a.m. on December 4, 1978, 24-year-old Halley Butch Watson was found dead behind the counter of the 7-11 at 2101 Fern Street, a single close-range gunshot to the head and the cash register emptied of about $39. The two locations are on the same street about 14 blocks apart. Ballistics testing linked both killings to the same .22 revolver, and there was no sign either victim resisted. Pahl’s truck was recovered disabled on southbound I-5 at Main Street the day after Watson’s slaying. Southland Corporation offered a $5,000 reward in Watson’s case.

Did anyone in the area in December 1978 notice a blue 1975 Chevrolet pick-up or see someone acting suspiciously around those late-night businesses?