On January 3, 1987, the life of Elizabeth Medrano, a 51-year-old mother from Dayton, Ohio, was tragically cut short. Her death, which was quickly ruled a homicide, left a void in the lives of her many children and a case that has remained unsolved for decades. The investigation into her murder is still active, a cold case held by the Dayton Police Department and featured by the Ohio Attorney General's Office in the hopes that new information will finally bring justice and closure to her family.
Elizabeth was the mother of a large and loving family. She was married to John Medrano, and together they raised ten children: sons Randall "Randy," Johnny, David, Acosta, and Austin, and daughters Felicia, Pauline, Mary Joy, Sandra, Norene, and Melanie. The family was proud of their Arapaho heritage. Elizabeth's role as a matriarch was central to her life, and her sudden death was a devastating blow that would ripple through the generations that followed.
Her children would go on to have their own families, but they would do so without their mother, who never had the chance to meet many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The specific details of what happened to Elizabeth on that winter day have not been publicly released by investigators. Authorities with the Dayton Police Department responded to a call and discovered her body at a location in Montgomery County. It was apparent to them that she had met with foul play, and a homicide investigation was immediately launched. In the years since, law enforcement has continued to seek answers, but the case has grown cold.
The investigation remains with the Dayton Police Department. Over the years, details have been held closely by detectives, a common practice in unsolved cases to protect the integrity of the investigation and to be able to verify potential leads. The Ohio Attorney General's office includes Elizabeth Medrano's case in its public database of unsolved homicides, providing a brief synopsis and a contact for anyone who might have information. This effort ensures that her name is not forgotten and that the quest for justice continues.
The passage of time has not healed the wound of Elizabeth's loss for her family. Her husband, John, has since passed away, as have three of their children: daughters Felicia Medrano-Page and Pauline Lay, and son Johnny Medrano. In 2026, another son, Randall "Randy" Medrano, passed away at the age of 64. His obituary remembered him as a devoted family man and a naturalist who was proud of his heritage, noting that he was preceded in death by his parents, John and Elizabeth Medrano. The continuing loss highlights the unending grief the family has endured in the long shadow of Elizabeth's unsolved murder.
As of today, the murder of Elizabeth Medrano remains an open and active cold case. Investigators believe that someone, somewhere, has information that could be the key to solving the crime. They urge anyone with knowledge about the events leading to her death, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. The Dayton Police Department continues to be the primary agency on the case, and tips can be directed to them. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation also accepts information through its cold case unit, hoping that a new lead will finally provide the answers Elizabeth Medrano's family has been waiting for for more than three decades.
