The Murder of Rhoda Harris in Monterey, CA in 1967

As more and more cases are solved, thanks in part to genealogical DNA, we're also reminded of the thousands and thousands of cases that are unsolved all around California. Many of the them may see renewed hope by investigators who worked diligently at the time they happened to preserve evidence but many more will never be able to take advantage of those leaps in technology. In each of those cases there remain friends, family and communities who recall the terrible acts of murder and still have hope that some resolution can be found but as time moves forward and witnesses and even possible suspects age and pass on, time will run out. Police continue to work on these cases and in the case of Monterey, CA, continue to ask the public for any information they have. One of the first steps of finding such information is continuing to get the details of these crimes out to the public. 

Rhoda Harris from Monterey PD Unsolved Homicde

Rhoda Harris was a 61 year old Monterey, CA woman who had been divorced for 29 years in 1967. Like many people in the area she had raised a family and was enjoying her older years and in particular, the sport of bowling. As a member of a bowling league she even had her own personal bowling ball complete with a bag and her name etched into the ball.

Her life came to an end in 1967 in a case that is still unsolved by Monterey detectives.

In the afternoon of November 29, 1967, Rhoda Harris' daughter Evelyn was trying to get in touch with her mother. Evelyn lived in Carmel, only a little over 4 miles from her mother's house on McNear Street in Monterey. After calling her on the telephone and receiving no answer she decided to drive to Monterey to check if her mother was okay.

When Evelyn arrived at the house she found that her mother's front door was unlocked and open. Inside she found her mother, Rhoda Harris, on the floor of her living room in a position the newspaper, The Californian, described as "sprawled." She had been beaten and stabbed 10-25 times in the upper chest, hands and face.

Map of McNear Street where Rhoda Harris lived via Google Maps

It isn’t clear who committed this crime but the scene was gruesome. Rhoda Harris had her feet and hands bound with lamp cord and her numerous stab wounds appear to have been committed by a knife, scissors and a fireplace poker. Later police find an ice pick that may also have been used. The coroner believes she had been murdered the day before on Wednesday, November 28, 1967.

Harris’ car is also missing from her garage and police send out an alert on the vehicle in the hopes of finding her car, and any clues to this horrible crime. The car was described as a 4 door Dodge Dart Sedan with the license plate RKW 496 and of a light blue color. 

Example of a Dodge Dart during 1967, Rhoda Harris' was light blue
via Old Car Brochures

The Deputy District Attorney at the time tells the newspaper that finding the car is very important, "We have little to go on at this time, and are hoping that a checkout of her car will give us some sort of lead."

On November 30, 1967, 14 miles north of Monterey in the town of Marina, CA. The car was in a church parking lot and had been sitting in the rain for two days. Police tow the car to a garage and begin searching the vehicle, checking for clues and fingerprints. On the dash of the car they find an ice pick that may have been used to murder Rhoda Harris.

The Californian notes that 1967 was an especially gruesome year for murders in Monterey County. The article below notes that more than “a dozen” gruesome deaths happened that year and while the majority of those cases have some resolution, the death of Rhoda Harris remains unsolved. 

The Californian, Dec 30, 1967
via Newspapers.com

Two months later, in January of 1968, a man operating a bulldozer in Marina, CA on a lot near the intersection of Reservation Road and California Ave, finds a bowling ball when machinery pushes a bag about 40 feet, causing the ball to roll out. The man turned that ball over to police who recognized the name etched on the ball as the same as a murder victim in Monterey: Rhoda Harris. This is the last clue in this murder case that either exists or is shared with the public.  

Map showing the approximate area the bowling ball was found near Reservation Rd & California Ave, Marina
via Google Maps

The Californian, Jan 11, 1968
via Newspapers.com

Rhoda Harris’ case has been unsolved for over 50 years. She and her family deserve answers about her murder. If you have any information about her case please call Monterey Police Investigations Division at 831-646-3814.

For more information on this case:

"Monterey Woman Murdered." (1967, Nov 30). The Californian, pg. 1. via newspapers.com
"Slaying Clues Sought." (1967. Dec 1). The Californian, pg. 1. via newspapers.com
"Texas Boy Questioned In Slaying." (1967, Dec 7). The Californian, pg. 4. via newspapers.com
"1967 Was Extraordinary Year for Violent Death." (1967, Dec 30). The Californian, pg. 2. via newspapers.com
"Murder Victim's Bowling Ball Found in Lot." (1968, Jan 11). The Californian, pg. 5. via newspapers.com
Baldwin, Doug. (1968, Jan 15). "192 Die Violent Deaths In County During 1967." The Californian, pg. 13. via newspapers.com