"There’s something horrifying about a killer who plans down to the initials."
In the early 1970s, three young girls were found murdered in the Rochester, New York area. Beyond the horror of their deaths, investigators noticed a strange, taunting pattern — each victim had matching initials in their first and last names, and each was found in a town starting with the same letter.
The case became known as The Alphabet Murders, and it remains one of New York’s most unsettling unsolved mysteries.
The Victims
Carmen Colón (age 10)
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Disappeared in November 1971 after leaving a pharmacy.
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Her body was found near Churchville — both her initials and the town’s name began with "C."
Wanda Walkowicz (age 11)
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Went missing in April 1973 while walking home from a grocery store.
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Her body was found in Webster — matching "W."
Michelle Maenza (age 11)
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Vanished in November 1973 after leaving school.
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Found in Macedon — matching "M."
The Pattern
Each girl was young, from a working-class Catholic family, and had matching initials. Each was abducted in daylight, suggesting a bold and calculated predator.
The matching initials theory caught national media attention, giving the killer a twisted, almost theatrical signature.
The Suspects
Several suspects emerged, but no one was ever charged:
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Miguel Colón, Carmen’s uncle, fled to Puerto Rico after her murder but was never conclusively tied to the crimes.
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Kenneth Bianchi, later known as one of the "Hillside Stranglers" in Los Angeles, lived in Rochester during the murders and was briefly considered.
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Other local men were investigated, but forensic limitations at the time hindered progress.
DNA and Dead Ends
With modern DNA technology, investigators have revisited the case many times. However, no definitive matches have been found, and crucial evidence has degraded over the decades.
The Families' Pain
The families of Carmen, Wanda, and Michelle have spent decades without answers, haunted by the randomness and cruelty of their children’s deaths — and the taunting pattern left behind.
Final Thought
The Alphabet Murders case remains a chilling example of how some killers find perverse pleasure in creating a "signature," leaving communities terrified and investigators chasing shadows for generations.
What's in the Files?
The Rochester Police Department still keeps a large, guarded case file. Many documents and evidence logs are not publicly released — fueling speculation and theories among amateur sleuths and true crime enthusiasts.
Follow Killer Thoughts and Twisted Plots every Sunday as we unlock hidden case files, explore chilling theories, and reveal stories authorities would rather keep buried.
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