Denise Lampe
Denise Lampe
Denise Lampe was 19 years when she was murdered on April 1, 1976 in the parking lot of Serramonte Mall in Daly City, CA.
Lampe was known a kind girl who had a lot of friends and was well liked by everyone she met. She was working at Serramonte Mall as a "shopgirl" at the cosmetics case in Mervyn's Department Store. On the day of her murder, she and a friend had the day off, and gone to the mall to shop. She was on her way to her car in the parking lot when she was attacked. She never made it to her parent's house where she was to meet back up with her friend.
Her case would go unsolved for over 40 years. In 2017, the police announced the arrest of Leon Melvin Seymour for the alleged murder. He is currently waiting for trial to start in 2021.
Daly City
Daly City is a town south of San Francisco and in San Mateo County. It was named for its founder: John Daly. It is is known as the "Gateway to the Penninsula." For more information on Daly City check out their city website: https://www.dalycity.org/
Scene of the Crime
Macarthur Dr. in the Broadmoor neighborhood where Denise Lampe lived in Daly City, via google maps
Map from Macarthur Dr., where Denise Lampe lived, to Serramonte Mall where she worked. Took about 7-15 minutes, via google maps.
Serramonte Center, often referred to as mall, in Daly City, CA
Serramonte Mall Map
On April 1, 1976, Denise went to the mall to shop with a friend. at 9:00 pm, the two decided to leave the mall, find their separate cars and meet back up at Denise's house. Denise parked her 1964 1/2 silver-blue Mustang in a lot near Macy's in the north-east corner of the parking lot. It was between the Macy's and a restaurant (possibly a Denny's.)
This photo shows a parking lot in the north-east corner. Also in the north is a parking garage built in 2016, it was not there in 1976. This picture is from Watry Design.
The Case
Picture of men "Wanted for Questioning," The Times, April 6, 1976
The Search
Denise Lampe was found in her car by her friend and a security guard, who was her boyfriend at the time. She was found in the driver's side of her car and had been stabbed 12-20 times. Police believed the motive was sexual assault and asked people to come forward in the case. Though the parking lot was lit and the mall was very busy no one came forward. Some tips led police to two men who looked out of place in the mall parking lot. Despite these leads, leaving a tip line open, pleading with anyone who had information to come forward and interviewing hundreds of possible suspects this case remained unsolved for decades.
Gypsy Hill Murders
Veronica Cascio
Veronica Cascio was 19 years old when she was murdered. She was found on January 8, 1976 in a creek in Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica, CA. Her case was solved in 2014. Pic from FBI.
Paula Baxter
Paula Baxter went missing from Capuchino High School in Milbrae, CA in February 1976. She was found murdered on February 6, 1976 near the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Her case was solved in 2014. Pic from FBI.
Tatiana Blackwell (Tanya Blackwell)
Tatiana Blackwell was 14 years old when she was found near Sharp Park in Pacifica. She had been murdered and was last walking to a 7-11 in South San Francisco. Her case remains unsolved. Pic from FBI.
Carol Lee Booth
Carol Lee Booth was murdered when she was 26 years old. She was last seen leaving a bus stop in March 1976 and was found on May 4, 1976 in a heavily wooded area off a commonly used path. Her case remains unsolved. Pic from FBI.
Seymour
The Alleged Suspect
After solving the murders of Veronica Cascio and Paula Baxter in 2014, they realize the perpetrator in those cases, Rodney Halblower, couldn't have committed Denise Lampe's murder. They go back through the evidence and with new DNA technology find a drop of blood they develop into a profile. This DNA matches Leon Melvin Seymour (right). A man with a long history of rape, attempted rapes and kidnapping. He has been arrested for the murder of Denise Lampe and trial was set to begin in 2020. Coronavirus affected several trial dates and he is expected to go on trial in 2021.
More Information
No Definite Link In Three Murders. (1976 Apr 7). The Times, pg. 30.
Police hoping for witness to slaying. (1976 Apr 3). The San Francisco Examiner, A-2.
Woman stabbed to death in Serramonte auto lot. (1976 Apr 2). The Times, pg. 40.
Serramonte Plagued by Crime Rumors. (1976 May 1). The Times, pg. 10.
LaPierre, Frank. (1976 May 13). Police Still Looking for Killer(s). The Times, pg. 51.
Daly City police again appeal for slaying witnesses. (1976 Apr 17). The San Francisco Examiner, A-2.
2 Suspects sought in stabbing death. (1976 Apr 12). The San Francisco Examiner, A-2.
Brutal DC Slaying Police Seek Clues. (1976 Apr 2). The Times, pg. 52.
Millbrae Coed, 17, Missing. (1976 Feb 6). The Times, pg. 10.
Funeral for Coed. (1976 Feb 12). The Times, pg. 35.
Coed’s Body Found: Clues Sought in Millbrae Slaying. (1976 Feb 7). The Times, A-1.
No New Leads In Girl’s Death. (1976 Feb 10). The Times, pg. 49.
Probe Continues In Girl’s Death. (1976 Feb 11). The Times, pg. 47.
LaPierre, Frank. (1976 May 6). Killer Loose: 4 Murders In 4 Months. The Times, A-1.
Parker, Janet. (1976 May 7). Slayer’s Profile. The Times, A-1.
Sullivan, Rick. (1976, May 7). All-Out Search For Area Slayer. The Times, A-1.
Wanted for Questioning. (1976 Apr 6). The Times, pg. 72.
Talk Foils Rape Try At Airport. (1972 Nov 21). The San Francisco Examiner, pg. 4.
Staff Correspondent. (1973 Jul 20). Tracy Inmate Faces Rape. The Times, pg. 3.
Security Guard Held As Kidnap Suspect. (1972 Nov 21). The Times, p. 29.
Two admit perjury in Seymour case. (1973 Sept 18). Ukiah Daily Journal, A-1.
Staff Correspondent. (1973 Sept 18). Mistrial in Rape Case--Perjury. The Press Democrat, A-2.
Perjury Charges Halt Rape Trial in Ukiah Court. (1973 Sept 21). Mendocino Coast Beacon, pg. 6.
Woman innocent of perjury. (1974 Jan 23). Ukiah Daily Journal, pg. A-2.
P.D. Bureau. (1976 Nov 22). Couple sentenced to prison. The Press Democrat, pg. 4.
Guilty Plea. (1976 Nov 7). Guilty plea. The Press Democrat, pg. 33.
Golding, George. (1968 Mar 23). The Rugged Climb to be Marines. The Times, pg. 31-34.
Durand, Michelle. (2006 Oct 12). Convicted rapist sent to hospital. The Daily Journal.
DNA leads to cold case arrest in deadly stabbing of 19-year-old woman in 1976. (2017 Nov 12). Fox News, https://www.foxnews.com/us/dna-leads-to-cold-case-arrest-in-deadly-stabbing-of-19-year-old-woman-in-1976
People v Seymour, Court of Appeals of California, First Appellate District, Division 2. (2009). https://www.leagle.com/decision/incaco20090129000
Federal Bureau of Investigations, (2014 Mar 6). FBI and Bay Area Law Enforcement Agencies Seek Information Regarding 1976 Cold Cases on the Peninsula. [Press Release}. Ret from: https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/sanfrancisco/press-releases/2014/fbi-and-bay-area-law-enforcement-agencies-seek-information-regarding-1976-cold-cases-on-the-peninsula
For more information about the history of malls you can check out The History of Malls podcast which is hosted by Sean and will be coving the Mall where Denise Lampee was found in an upcoming episode.