Santa Clara county deputies are hoping that a handmade quilt may help solve a murder which has sat unsolved in the cold case files for over 25 years. The quilt was found wrapped around the body of Cathy Zimmer, a mother of two who was murdered on March 8, 1989 in San Jose, CA.
Zimmer had an appointment at the optometrist's office that afternoon at 2:45PM, after dropping the kids off at school, having lunch with a friend, and attending business class at San Jose State University. She never showed up to her appointment. Her body was found two days later at an airport parking lot. Zimmer had been strangled, and her body had been wrapped in the quilt (seen above).
The handmade quilt has a vivid color scheme and a unique collection of patterns. Police were able to determine that the quilt did not belong to Cathy Zimmer, and had not been in her car before. Thus, the quilt presumably belonged to the murderer. Perhaps it was given to the killer as a gift, or inherited from another family member.
This unsolved case went into limbo until recently, when a prosecutor stumbled across the case and realized that the internet might be able to help. The distinctive quilt could be the clue that leads to the arrest of the murderer. Prosecutors are hoping that someone out there in the quilting and crafting community will recognize this quilt, with its distinctive color scheme and vivid colors.
The handmade quilt (seen above) has an orange/gold border, and is made from squares of brightly colored fabric which appear in the deputies' photo to be about 8 inches square.
Anyone with information about the quilt is asked to call investigator Michael Brown at the district attorney's office, (408) 808-3760.
Image courtesy Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office
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