Judith Ann Hakari / March 07, 1970 / Sacramento, CA

On the night of Saturday, March 07, 1970, 23 year old Judy Hakari was abducted from her car in the parking lot of her apartment complex upon arriving from working a late shift as a nurse at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento, CA. She was violently beaten, raped, tortured and murdered. Her body was found on Saturday, April 25, 1970 in a shallow grave in rural Weimar, CA, 40 miles East of Sacramento.

solve crimes victim facts

DATE OF CRIME(S): Saturday, March 7, 1970
CRIME(S) AGAINST: Abduction, Rape, Murder
LOCATION(S) OF CRIMES: Sacramento, CA, Weimar, CA
AGE: 22
OCCUPATION: Registered Nurse, Sutter Memorial Hospital
NAMED SUSPECT(S): None.
AGENCY IN CHARGE: Sacramento County Sheriff – (916) 874-5057
CASE NUMBER: #70-7194

View our exclusive Solve Crimes Crimeline

Scroll down for high-resolution newspaper articles.

Discuss The Judy Hakari Case In The Solve Crimes Forum

SOLVE CRIMES CLUES

Our main goal in presenting these cases is to actually solve them. In this particular case, there is no usable DNA, no fingerprints and no eyewitnesses. Nothing concrete. 50 years later, there's very little hard evidence to work with. Below are some items that we know to be missing from Judy's car and/or were not found with her body. These items could be THE clue that can solve this case.

The reason we're attempting to get as many people (particularly in the Sacramento/SF Bay Areas) as possible to see this case is that there could be a scenario where someone is going through Grandpa's things (or uncle, brother, etc.) after he passes and they come upon a California driver's license with the name Judith Ann Hakari and a picture of a pretty brunette on it in his things.

Considering the length of time since this crime, even finding out WHO did it – even if they have passed – would help law enforcement tremendously, possibly closing other cold cases and bringing closure to families and the community.

Please familiarize with these missing items as well as the case – scroll down and go through our extensive Crimeline for a solid overview.

Hakari Clues

If you see these items – or any other items or information – that you believe to be connected to this case – or if you have a source that better describes or disputes the information we have here – please fill out the Solve Crimes ClueTip form HERE.

Judy's License

California drive's license with the name Judith Ann Hakari and her photo.

Judy's Purse

A black leather or faux leather purse.

Judy's watch

In nursing, these were called a "duty watch". It was a silver women's Timex.

Judy's shoe

One "saddle shoe". Probably white in color.

Hakari THEORIES

We've compiled a group of theories that we've either read in the press clippings or have considered ourselves. Considering there are a grand total of ZERO publicly known suspects, some of these may seem outlandish, but should be considered until each of these theories are proven false or evidence has been found to prove one is correct. If you have a theory or any information that could help solve this case, please fill out the Solve Crimes ClueTip form HERE.

Bearded Man

The night of Judy's disappearance, a bearded young man went to the nurse's station where she worked at Sutter Memorial Hospital and asked if Judith was on duty. He then left without a word. It is possible that this man followed Judy to her apartment complex.

Three men

Roughly six weeks before Judy's body was discovered, the landowner there confronted three "well-dressed young men" right where Judy's body was later found. They had a shovel and were standing next to a sedan with the trunk open. When the property owner approached, they shut the trunk.

Could Judy have been taken, beaten, raped and strangled by more than one person?

Hidden in the backseat

The evidence left behind in Judy's car were mostly found in the backseat of her car. Could someone (bearded man?) have been hiding in Judy's backseat waiting to pounce once she parked her car?

The problem with this theory is that the perpetrator would have had to plan this attack and have a getaway vehicle already at Judy's apartment complex. This is doubtful - unless she was a specific target all along.

serial killer

Judy's case has been linked to multiple – and similar – killings in the Sacramento Area in 1970. Those killings have had some speculating that a serial killer (the Zodiac, for example) was responsible, forever linking Judy Hakari's name.

But is that actually what happened or was Judy's case an isolated murder? With the evidence that was discovered and the brutal nature of her murder, we don't think that this was the one and only time this person (or persons) has killed, but it's possible.

three men, 2nd theory

Is it possible that a lone killer brutalized and murdered Judy and had two accomplices help simply get rid of evidence?

While that would certainly be an unusual situation, it's not so far fetched as to not be a possibility.

random attacker

With evidence of planning (binding agents, etc.) at both the scene of the abduction and the burial site, it is unlikely the person responsible didn't plan on killing that night. But did they plan on specifically killing Judy Hakari?

We've learned from history that serial killers sometimes prepare to kill and then it's up to an opportunity to present itself.