Murder of Polly Klaas

Murder Files Unsealed

Polly Klaas was just 12 years old when she was kidnapped on October 1, 1993, from her residence in Petaluma, California, during a slumber party with two classmates of the same age. Her abduction ignited a nationwide search effort, drawing in thousands of volunteers and making her story widely recognized across the country.
Tragically, the search for Polly concluded two months later when her body was discovered in a wooded area approximately 50 miles from her home, having been strangled. The perpetrator, Richard Allen Davis, an ex-convict with a documented history of substance abuse and on parole for a prior kidnapping, incited public outrage and calls for stricter sentencing laws.
In response to Polly's murder, California voters enacted the three strikes and you’re out law a year later, which mandated longer prison sentences for repeat offenders like Davis. He was convicted of her murder in 1996 and is currently on death row at San Quentin. However, as of June of this year, the state of California has suspended executions.
This overview provides essential information regarding the Polly Klaas murder case.