AZ AZ - Elena Lasswell, 15, Phoenix, 10 July 2004

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nba961

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A very sad story...

http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special14/articles/0127coldcase27.html

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The headline of the July 12, 2004, edition of The Arizona Republic read, "Girl, 15, found dead in bedroom."

The story began: "Police are investigating the death of a 15-year-old Phoenix girl whose brother found her dead Saturday night in her bedroom.

Elena Lasswell, who lives near the Encanto neighborhood, had been dead for several hours when her brother found her, said Detective Tony Morales, a spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department. She had injuries to her face but investigators aren't sure if the wounds caused her death, he said."

The night Elena, 15, was killed, her parents were staying at a hotel just 10 minutes from their home as a prize they won in a church lottery. Elena was the fifth of six children whom the Lasswells adopted as infants. The eldest son, 19, found his sister's body.

An autopsy found Elena had been strangled.

Police have not identified specific leads, but in an interview after her daughter was killed, Molly Lasswell said she later learned her daughter had invited a man she had met at the movies into her bedroom that Saturday.

Police say one of Elena's girlfriends was at the house and saw a man come in.

"She had prepared for this guy," Molly Lasswell said in July. "She had brought in candles to her bedroom and cleaned her room. It was definitely someone she knew."

Police say the man who visited Elena that night arrived in a small dark green or black four-door sedan, and they have released a composite of the person. Silent Witness is offering a $2,500 award for information leading to an arrest.

However, 18 months later, no suspect has been caught.

How you can help: Call Silent Witness at 1-800-343-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
Click to expand...
 
Been a long time for this poor girl. If this was a boyfriend or at minimum someone she liked (at 15) did she not talk about him to some of her friends? Were there phone calls made? Who did she go to the movies with and can they tell us anything about this man? Were there surveillance tapes at the theater? How long had it been since she met him (supposedly) at the theater to when she had been killed? If it had been even a few days she must have called or saw him in person. So many questions...
 
Her obit:

Elena Lasswell - Obituary
Elena Teresa Adell Lasswell, 15, born January 17, 1989, died at her home in Phoenix on July 10, 2004. Elena attended St. Gregory's Catholic School, Sirrine Elementary School, and Phoenix Preparatory Academy, where she graduated in May, 2004. She was registered to attend North High School starting this fall. Elena is survived by her parents, Steve and Molly Lasswell, her brothers, Martin, Joseph, John and Michael Lasswell, her sister, Katie Lasswell, plus her grandparents and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
 
FB post 11/12/2014

Missing Persons Of Arizona


Elena Laswell of Phx, Az was murdered in 2004, She was strangled. Her killer is still unknown, and the case cold.. After a decade the only thing that remains is a sketch and what the killer was driving and The pain her family has to deal with every single day as the killer walks free... If you can please help in any way... Her family needs justice..

Girl murdered at home likely knew her killer
 
PayrollNerd said:
FB post 11/12/2014

Missing Persons Of Arizona


Elena Laswell of Phx, Az was murdered in 2004, She was strangled. Her killer is still unknown, and the case cold.. After a decade the only thing that remains is a sketch and what the killer was driving and The pain her family has to deal with every single day as the killer walks free... If you can please help in any way... Her family needs justice..

Girl murdered at home likely knew her killer
Click to expand...
Did they ever catch the killer?
 
Elena's Find A Grave:

www.findagrave.com

Elena Teresa Adell Lasswell (1989-2004) - Find a...

Obit; Elena Teresa Adell Lasswell, 15, born January 17, 1989, died at her home in Phoenix on July 9, 2004. Elena attended St. Gregory's Catholic School, Sirrine Elementary School, and Phoenix Preparatory Academy, where she graduated in May, 2004. She was registered to attend North High School...
www.findagrave.com www.findagrave.com

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So tragic, I see her mother passed, hopefully for the rest of the family the killer will be found, terrible that the information is no longer assesible, which would aid in finding the killer.
 
formerlyme said:
I have friends who had gone to the same school St Gregs, spent many times in that neighborhood. The family was very loved, all of the children (6) including Elena had been adopted, so much love in that family. My heart goes out to them.
moms obit, gives more info on the family.
Click to expand...
She sounds like a truly amazing person. She had a lot of interesting experiences but died so very young! And not very long after after Elena's murder. That must have been an incredibly stressful and horrific thing to go through. That poor family. I hope the survivors are doing well these days.
 
I just can't imagine how no one has been held accountable, a 15 year old girl is murdered in her home. They have a car description, a very well drawn composite and it appears that the bad guy was known to her. Unfortunately it seems most of the story that was available is not online but I cannot help but feel someone knows something, a friend knew who she was crushing on, or someone knew someone was going to go to her house.
 
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