Missing Since: 1973-06-29 Location: West Linn, Oregon
Rita left her residence on Horton Road in West Linn, Oregon at 7:15 p.m. on June 29, 1973 to go for a walk. She never returned. She was last seen between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m. that day, walking uphill on Sunset Avenue. Rita has never been heard from again. Rita may have been a victim of the serial killer Theodore Robert “Ted” Bundy. A photograph of Bundy is posted with this case summary. He was executed in Florida in 1989. He is a suspect in scores of murders, mainly from the Pacific Northwest, though he was convicted only of killing three females in Florida. He confessed to many deaths prior to his execution. Bundy may be responsible for the disappearances of Nancy Baird, Ann Marie Burr, Lynette Culver, Julie Cunningham, Susan Curtis, Georgeann Hawkins, Vicki Hollar, Donna Manson, Denise Oliverson, Nancy Wilcox, and many other girls and young women. The women continue to be listed as missing persons. Their remains have never been recovered. It is worth noting that Bundy did not confess to Rita’s murder before his death, but he is considered a suspect in many deaths and disappearances he did not claim responsibility for. Rita’s disappearance remains unsolved, as her body was not found and Bundy was never charged or confessed to her murder. Foul play is suspected in her case. She was a junior at West Linn High School in 1973. Investigating Agency Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office 503-723-4949 503-557-5811 Source Information Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office NewspaperArchive The Crime Library The Oregonian NamUs Updated 4 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated November 15, 2013; picture added.