13 Chilling Facts
1. The murders occurred in Rochester, New York.
The Alphabet Murders took place between 1971 and 1973 in Rochester, where three young girls were abducted, assaulted, and murdered.
2. All victims had matching initials.
Each girl’s first and last names began with the same letter: Carmen Colón, Wanda Walkowicz, and Michelle Maenza—hence the name—Alphabet Murders.
3. The girls were between 10 and 11 years old.
All three victims were young girls, around the same age, and from working-class families in the same area of the city.
4. Their bodies were found in towns with matching initials.
Each body was discovered in a town beginning with the same letter as their initials: Carmen in Churchville, Wanda in Webster, and Michelle in Macedon.
5. The crimes shocked the Rochester community.
The brutal and disturbing pattern of the murders gripped the local community with fear and sparked one of the largest manhunts in the area’s history.
6. All three girls were last seen alone.
Each victim had been walking alone when she disappeared—either running errands or heading home, making them vulnerable targets.
7. The investigation involved multiple agencies.
Local police, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and the FBI all participated in the effort to identify and apprehend the killer.
8. Forensic evidence was limited.
Given the time period, investigators lacked the forensic tools available today. There was no DNA profiling, and trace evidence yielded few concrete leads.
9. A convicted killer was once a suspect.
Serial killer Kenneth Bianchi, one of the "Hillside Stranglers," was briefly considered a suspect, but no definitive link was ever proven.
10. The murders remain unsolved.
Despite decades of investigation, no one has ever been charged in connection with the Alphabet Murders, and the case remains open.
11. Carmen Colón’s case is considered slightly different.
Some investigators believe that Carmen’s murder may not be connected to the other two, due to differences in the crime scene and evidence.
12. The murders inspired books and films.
The eerie nature of the case and its lack of resolution have inspired several true crime books, documentaries, and fictionalized adaptations.
13. DNA evidence is being retested.
In recent years, authorities have re-examined physical evidence from the case using modern DNA technology, hoping to finally uncover the killer’s identity.
Though the Alphabet Murders remain a cold case, the memories of Carmen, Wanda, and Michelle endure. The unanswered questions surrounding their tragic deaths continue to spark theories, investigations, and public fascination. Some cases are too cruel to forget—and too vital to leave buried.
