Unsolved Mysteries Wiki
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Carla Wright

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Carla Wright

Carla Wright

Real Name: Carla Ann Wright
Nicknames: No known nicknames
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Date: January 7, 1980

Case[]

Details: Twelve-year-old Carla Wright of Tacoma, Washington, was known as a kind and giving person. She woke up every morning at 4am to deliver newspapers on her route. She often gave the money she made to her friends. On the morning of January 7, 1980, she asked her mother, Sharon, for a ride to school. Unfortunately, Sharon was unable to take her because she was on medication and had to get ready for a doctor's appointment. At 8am, Carla left their home and took a shortcut to Gray Junior High School. It was a trail that went between rows of houses beside a brush-covered hill. However, she never arrived at school and was never seen again.
That afternoon, when Carla did not come home, Sharon reported her missing. Twelve days later, on January 19, her body was found 100 yards from the trail, hidden under a large piece of plastic. She had been raped and strangled to death. Her murder remains unsolved.
Suspects: Police suspect that convicted child killer David Fisher may be responsible for Carla's murder. He killed thirteen-year-old Laura Burbank after befriending her in Tacoma in 1970. He escaped from prison in 1974.
Police believed that Carla knew her killer since it appeared she went with them willingly.
Extra Notes:

  • This case first aired on the December 6, 1989 episode, which focused on David Fisher. Those of Jenny Bastian and Michella Welch were also featured.
  • It was excluded from the FilmRise release of the Robert Stack episodes.
  • Psychic Dorothy Allison, who was also featured on the show, came to Tacoma in 1980 to assist in the investigation.

Results: Unsolved. Fisher was arrested as a result of the broadcast. However, he was never connected to Carla's murder. More recently, police have considered convicted killer Guy Rasmussen a suspect. He knew Carla and another murdered girl named Angela Meeker. He was also familiar with the area where Carla was found. However, Rasmussen has never been charged in either case.
Jenny and Michella's cases have since been solved; it is not known if either of their killers are believed to be connected to this one.
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