Teen's Murder by Friends

The case involves the murder of 17-year-old Michele 'Missy' Avila, whose body was found drowned in a shallow creek in California's Angeles National Forest in October 1985. Her body had been subjected to brutal treatment, including her waist-length auburn hair being hacked off and a 100-lb. log placed over her body. Initially, Missy's mother, Irene Avila, mourned her daughter's death with Missy's best friends, Karen Severson and Laura Doyle. Severson even moved into Irene's home and vowed to help find Missy's killer. However, the investigation took a shocking turn when another friend, Eva Chirumbolo, came forward with crucial information. It was revealed that Doyle, who had recently broken up with her boyfriend and blamed Missy for the breakup, and Severson were responsible for Missy's murder. The motive was rooted in jealousy, as Doyle and Severson perceived Missy as promiscuous. The two girls, who were taller and bigger than Missy, forced her into the creek, tied her hands behind her back, gagged her, and held her head under the water until she died. They then left her body under the log. In July 1988, Doyle and Severson were arrested, convicted of second-degree murder, and sentenced to 15 years to life. The case highlighted the deceptive nature of their grief and their involvement in misleading investigators with false leads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.