Vera Campbell

Do you know who murdered Vera?
Vera Campbell was the matriarch of her family, a strong and independent woman who was still driving in her 80s. Her granddaughter, Linda Stone, remembered her as being like a mother and fondly recalled the Thanksgiving meals everyone would gather to share at her house. Vera, a Caucasian female, lived by herself in a single, detached home on 45th Street in San Diego, California. Having been the victim of a burglary before, in which money and jewelry were taken, she had become cautious about whom she opened her door to.

On December 11, 1993, Vera’s daughter grew concerned after being unable to reach her mother for two days. She went to the house at 3576 45th Street to check on her. When she arrived, she found a side security door unlocked and standing open. Stepping inside, she made a devastating discovery. Vera was lying on the floor in one of the rooms, deceased. She had been brutally beaten and strangled to death. The house had been ransacked, yet investigators found no signs of forced entry, leading her family to believe she may have known her killer.

The San Diego Police Department launched a homicide investigation. At the time, the neighborhood was known for crime and drug activity, and many residents had been victims of burglaries. Vera’s murder was one of three killings of elderly individuals in the area within the span of about a month, which prompted warnings for seniors to lock their doors and be cautious. However, investigators, including then-detective Lt. Jim Collins, stated that the methods used in the killings were different and they did not believe the cases were connected.

Despite their efforts, detectives in 1993 were never able to identify a suspect or generate a description of the person responsible for Vera’s death. The initial investigation stalled, and for decades, the case grew cold, leaving her family without answers or closure. "Your grandmother's fine, you know, 3 or 4 days ago, and then you get this call, it's like she's gone," her granddaughter Linda Stone said. "It's like somebody ripped, you know, ripped something out of your soul."

Decades later, the San Diego Police Department is taking another look at the case, hoping that advances in forensic science can finally break it open. Investigator Tracey Barr noted that with advancements in DNA technology, there is hope that items of evidence collected from the scene in 1993 could be re-tested to potentially identify the killer. This renewed focus has brought a glimmer of hope to Vera’s surviving family members.

The family continues to feel the profound loss of their beloved matriarch. "It's just a shame, you know, she probably would have lived another 10 years if she hadn't been murdered," Stone said. The passage of over three decades has not diminished their desire for justice and a resolution to the questions that have haunted them since that day in December 1993. "It would be nice to get some closure," Stone shared. "It's been a long time, and you know, we have no clue."

As of recent reports, Vera Campbell's murder remains unsolved. The investigation is ongoing as cold case detectives re-examine the evidence. Authorities urge anyone who might have information about the case, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Tips can be called into the SDPD Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293. For those wishing to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.