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In the summer of 1974, 29-year old Barbara Hall was found dead near a horse trail in the San Dimas/Claremont area. Her life was tragically ended at the hands of a murderer who had kidnapped her from Pomona, sexually assaulted her, and took her life.

Her murder remained unsolved until a few weeks ago when the Cold Case Unit of L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide, working with the Sheriff’s Crime Lab, was able to use more advanced DNA testing capabilities to solve the case.

Through the analysis of DNA, a Pomona man who drove an ice cream truck in the area during the 1970's, was recently proven to be the murderer.

Robert Edward Stansbury died in 2003 in San Quenten prison at age 60 while serving time on death row for the 1982 rape and murder of a 10 year old girl whose body was found in Pasadena, after being abducted from the Baldwin Park area.

Sheriff’s Cold Case Homicide investigators re-opened the case recently, and found there was sufficient DNA that in past years would not necessarily have been sufficient to identify the murderer of Barbara Hall. Sheriff’s Crime Lab (Scientific Services Bureau) technicians soon got a DNA match, and proved the killer was Stansbury.

The story of this horrible crime began on August 13, 1974, when Barbara was found strangled to death on a trail near Mills Avenue and Mount Baldy Road, in an area bordering unincorporated San Dimas and Claremont. At the time, Homicide investigators learned that Barbara, who was developmentally disabled, had been abducted from the Pomona area on August 12, 1974. The case lingered for decades until it was re-opened by Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit Sgt. Richard Longshore.

In re-tracing the suspect’s steps back over 36 years ago, Cold Case detectives learned that for years Stansbury drove an ice cream truck in the San Gabriel Valley and the unincorporated areas of East Los Angeles. Given the totality of what they learned, detectives believe Stansbury used the truck as a ruse to commit his criminal acts.

His criminal history included sexual assaults on adults and minors of both genders, dating back to 1959.

Sheriff’s Cold Case detectives feel it’s likely there were other victims of Robert Edward Stansbury, or other people who may have had contact with him between 1974 to 1982.

Although he is now dead and can no longer murder any innocent people, the Sheriff’s Department is asking for any victims, witnesses, or anyone with knowledge of other cold cases committed by this ruthless criminal to come forward and help bring closure, regardless of the date of incident.

"In all cold case homicide investigations, it is important to help families who have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one, to be able to help bring closure to their loss," said Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit Lieutenant Wes Sutton. "The Homicide detectives of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will never rest in solving the terrible crime of homicide, no matter how many years it takes."

Direct any information to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Homicide Bureau’s Cold Case Unit at 323-890-5000. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call "LA Crime Stoppers" by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Lieutenant Wes Sutton
Cold Case Unit
Homicide Bureau
Detective Division
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
323-890-5529

Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800


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***In the Pasadena Star News***

Detectives say DNA proves killer of Baldwin Park girl also strangled Pomona woman

Barbara Elaine Hall usually took a bus from her job at a Pomona day care center, arriving home around 4 p.m. But on Aug. 12, 1974, the 29-year-old Pomona woman went missing after leaving work. The next day, her body was discovered on a bridle trail in Claremont. For 36 years, her killing remained a mystery - until last month. Through DNA testing, investigators discovered Hall's murderer: a convicted killer...

Read 12/30/10 coverage in the Pasadena Star News (Note: This link is provided for your convenience. The LASD does not endorse products or services.)

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_16968357


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Cold Case Homicide solved - 1974 Murder of Pomona woman

See posting on www.lasd.org at:

http://sheriff.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lasd/media/detail/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/lasd+content/lasd+site/home/home+top+stories/cold_case_homicide_solved_barbara_hall


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