True Crime On This Day January 29th

Last Updated on September 20, 2022 by Ben Oakley

January 29th

On January 29th in true crime, twinkle toes murder, school shooting, cold case disappearance, vanished without a trace, and murder.

1978

In Brisbane, Australia, the body of Maria Yvonne Laenen was found in the boot of her car by her own father. She had been strangled to death and was last seen alive the evening before after leaving the local Sunnybank Hotel.

Maria was known for being a CB radio enthusiast and used the call sign ‘Twinkle Toes’. As of 2022, her murder remains unsolved and is an active cold case. The reward for information leading to the conviction of her killer is currently $250,000 (AUD).

1979

In San Diego, California, the Grover Cleveland Elementary School Shooting took place. 16-year-old schoolgirl and pupil of Grover Cleveland, Brenda Spencer, walked into the school and opened fire.

She killed the principal and a janitor, along with injuring eight other children and a police officer.

Spencer lived across the street at the time of the shootings and claimed she carried out the shooting because; “I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day.”

The Boomtown Rats song, ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’, was written because of the quote. Spencer was charged with two counts of murder and remains in prison as of 2022.

1980

In New South Wales, Australia, 20-year-old Marcus Wayne Allcorn vanished without a trace. His friends had arranged a birthday party at the Imperial hotel where Allcorn worked.

He had finished his night shift and was on his way to the gathering. He was last seen in the early hours of the morning but he never arrived at the party and was reported missing shortly after.

A lengthy investigation suspected that he had been a victim of foul play. No trace of Allcorn has ever been found. The investigation is now an active cold case but is no closer to solving the mystery.

1981

In Valinda, California, 20-year-old Janel Irene Peters vanished without a trace. She had been on a date with a friend and was last witnessed walking away from the friend’s residence.

Despite an investigation into her disappearance, and a closer look at the friend, no trace of Peters has ever been found.

Her family suggested it was uncharacteristic of Peters to leave without warning and always let them know where she was. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain unsolved but foul play is suspected.

1982

In Newport News City, Virginia, the skeletal remains of an unidentified adult male between the ages of 40 to 60-years-old were discovered floating in water on Boat Harbour.

The man had died at any time from between six months to four weeks prior to his death. Investigators have long suspected foul play with some suggestions he had been killed and dumped in the harbour, only to have his remains rise to the surface.

He was found with boxer shorts and a button down shirt. Despite his dental records being made available, his identity remains a mystery. The case is still open and unsolved.

1983

In Israeli-occupied Dhahiriya, Israeli civilian social worker Esther Ohana was killed when a rock was thrown through her car window, hitting her in the head.

She fell into a coma and died two weeks later. Israel immediately imposed a curfew on the area, permitting residents only to leave their residences during a two-hour period each day. Three weeks later, five Palestinian youths were arrested and subsequently sentenced from 11 to 13 years in prison.

Ohana was the first Israeli to be killed in a Palestinian stone-throwing attack, which refers to a practice of throwing stones at people or property.

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