Skip to content
Unsolved homicide

Killing of Olivia Thorndike

Year
1981
Where
Henrico County, Virginia
Source
Virginia State Police
Evidence
1
What the record says

On November 25, 1981, the victim, identified as Olivia Thorndike, was discovered deceased in the stairwell of her Harbor Village apartment during a welfare check. The victim had been the target of an on-going stalking situation involving a person who is a suspect in her murder and is known to this agency.

From the Virginia State Police cold case database. Records change. The source is the authority.

Where to start

Got ten minutes? Do one of these.

What does the record establish, and what has never been explained?

  • Read the source and write down every date, place and name it gives.
  • Find the earliest news report you can and note what it says that later accounts dropped.
  • List what has never been explained. One line each.

New to this? Read the field guide. Five short lessons.

Coverage and records

What is out there.

Nobody has researched this case yet. Have the AI search the web for reporting, podcasts and videos about it.