Right 2: Age-progressed by NCMEC to 57 and 63 years
Right 2: Age-progressed by NCMEC to 57 and 63 years
Name: Karen Lynn Tompkins
Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: August 18, 1961
Location Last Seen: Torrance, Los Angeles County, California
Date of Birth: July 25, 1950
Age: 11 years old
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 4'11"
Weight: 55 lbs.
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Nickname/Alias: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
Dentals: Not Available
Fingerprints: Not Available
DNA: Available
Clothing: White cardigan long-sleeve sweater, a white sleeveless blouse, blue shorts, blue/white socks, and rubber sandals.
Jewelry: Yellow "Hanover" wristwatch and a pearl chain necklace with a clear plastic pendant containing mustard seed.
Additional Personal Items: Small toy covered wagon.
Karen Tompkins was last seen at approximately 5 p.m. on August 18, 1961, after leaving an arts and crafts class which was held at Halldale Avenue Elementary School. Karen left the school with her craft (a covered wagon) and was to return to her home five blocks away, but she never arrived.
She is suspected to have been one of the victims of Mack Ray Edwards, who, on March 6, 1970, surrendered himself to Los Angeles police and confessed to molesting and murdering 6 children between 1953 and 1970. He was arrested, pled guilty to three of the killings, and was sentenced to death. Before committing suicide in his cell on death row in 1971, he claimed to have murdered 18 children.
Edwards was convicted of the murders of Gary Rocha (also seen in news articles with the last name of Rochet), Donald Allen Todd, and Stella Darlene Nolan. The remaining three confessed killings were that of Donald Lee Baker, Brenda Jo Howell, and Roger Dale Madison. He also is suspected in the disappearances of Bruce Kremen, Thomas Eldon Bowman, Ramona Irene Price, and the murder of Dorothy Gale Brown.
Agency Name: Los Angeles Police Department
Agency Contact Person: Det. Maria Guevara
Agency Phone Number: 213-485-5381
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 030504054
NamUs Case Number: 6735
NCIC Case Number: M-462968190
NCMEC Case Number: 952801
NamUs
NCMEC
CA DOJ
Press Telegram (Long Beach, CA) - Aug. 29, 1961
Pasadena Star-News - Aug. 21, 1961
Los Angeles Times - Mar. 17, 2007
Added: Prior to 2011; Last Updated: 01/06/2024 - By: hb
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information is from the time of disappearance.
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