Helen Generes

A 63 year old woman is killed inside of her realty company
Helen Faye Generes was a well-known and formidable figure in her community of Redding, California. A 63-year-old Caucasian woman who owned Generes Realty Company, she was described by the local newspaper as "one of Shasta County's most colorful people." This reputation stemmed from her spirited and public battles with local government, marking her as a determined and outspoken business owner in a growing Northern California city. Born on April 27, 1920, Helen had built a life and a career in Redding, becoming a familiar face in the local real estate market.

The morning of Wednesday, October 5, 1983, was the last time Helen was seen alive. Later that day, she was found deceased on the floor of her own office at the Generes Realty Company on Market Street in downtown Redding. The scene was grim, and it was immediately clear to the Redding Police Department investigators who responded that she was the victim of a homicide. An autopsy would later confirm that she had been strangled to death. The office showed signs of a struggle, suggesting that Helen had fought for her life against her attacker. There were no signs of a forced entry, leading detectives to believe that she either knew her killer or had let them in for what she assumed was a business matter.

The investigation into Helen’s murder began immediately, handled by the Redding Police Department. Detectives worked to piece together her final hours, and their inquiries uncovered a potentially significant lead. Witnesses reported seeing a "mystery figure" arguing with Helen on the day she was killed. Despite this, the identity of this person remained elusive, and a clear suspect or motive did not emerge in the initial phase of the investigation. Detectives pursued numerous leads, but as weeks turned into months, the case grew cold, leaving a sense of unease in the community and profound loss for those who knew her.

Years later, investigators explored a possible link between Helen’s murder and a series of other violent crimes in the region. Her case was reviewed in connection with Robert Edward Maury, a man who would become known as the "Tipster Killer." Maury was a serial killer active in Shasta County between 1985 and 1987, convicted of murdering three women and suspected in at least two other deaths. One of those suspected victims was Lora Stewart, who was also strangled and found just two months before Helen was killed. The similarities in the cause of death—strangulation—and the geographic proximity made Maury a person of interest in Helen's case.

Despite the strong suspicion and the circumstantial connections, authorities were never able to gather enough evidence to formally charge Robert Maury with the murder of Helen Generes. Maury was ultimately sentenced to death for his other crimes and has consistently maintained his innocence in any additional unsolved murders. The question of his involvement in Helen's death remains one of the lingering open threads in the case, a frustrating dead end for both investigators and her loved ones.

Decades have passed since Helen Generes was killed in her real estate office. The building where the murder took place still stands as a silent reminder of the violent act that occurred there. The case remains an unsolved homicide in the files of the Redding Police Department. Without a conviction, there has been no official justice for the woman known for her tenacity and colorful presence. Her murder left a lasting scar on the community, a chilling example of a life cut short by violence. As of today, the case is still open, awaiting the new lead or technological advance that might finally identify the person responsible for her death and bring a measure of closure to a case that has remained cold for over four decades.