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Crime & Safety

Cold Case Arrest Solves 1986 Murder

A 17-year-old girl was brutally attacked and killed in Boulder Creek. San Mateo County's sophisticated forensic lab and the tenacious work of detectives have finally cracked the case.


A teenaged girl was raped, beaten and killed in 1986--her body dumped off Skyline Blvd. just north of Alpine Rd. in San Mateo County. For nearly three decades her attacker got away with murder. Then came DNA testing and tenacious investigators determined to solve the case.

Now, her accused killer is behind bars awaiting justice.  

John William Kelley, 49, a registered sex offender living in the Sierra foothills town of Placerville, was arrested Wednesday and brought back to San Mateo County. He’s being held in the Maguire Correctional Facility for kidnapping, rape and murder, according to a prepared statement from Lt. Larry Schumaker of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

Kelly is scheduled for arraignment Friday.

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The victim was Annette Thur, just 17 years old, who lived in the Santa Cruz Mountains town of Ben Lomond. On Dec. 6, 1986 she attended a party in nearby Boulder Creek. Her body was found the next day. At the time, investigators were told that Thur planned to hitchhike home from the party. After an initial probe, the case went cold.

Earlier this year, evidence from Thur’s murder was re-analyzed by the San Mateo County Forensic Lab. Technicians found Kelly’s DNA. The case was officially re-opened and assigned for further investigation.

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On Wednesday, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office detectives traveled to Placerville where they interviewed Kelly about the case. He was arrested, transported to San Mateo County and booked into jail. His photo has not been released.

If you have any information about this crime or the suspect, contact Det. Andy Armando at 650-363-4347 or email aarmando@smcgov.org or Det. Matt Broad at 650-363-4363 or email mbroad@smcgov.org.   You may also contact the Sheriff’s Office Anonymous Witness Line at 800-547-2700.

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