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Thora Chamberlain Missing Person Case

Last seen in Campbell, California on Nov 2, 1945

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Victim Details

Jan 26, 2017

Jul 25, 2023

Thora

Chamberlain

95

14

62 inches

120 lbs

125 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Nov 2, 1945

Campbell

California

Santa Clara County

No

25565

Campbell Police Department

Campbell

California

Santa Clara County

95008

70 North First Street, California

4088662101

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/1030/Police-Department

2016-4053

Campbell Police Department

Brown

Blue

Blue

Oct 17, 2026


Area Last Seen:

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Thora Chamberlain
The Murder of Thora Chamberlain

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP36923) and 8 other sources
Thora Afton Chamberlain, a 14-year-old girl, was last seen on November 2, 1945, in Campbell, California. Thora had been walking with friends after school, heading to a football game, when she encountered a man in a blue Plymouth sedan. This man, later identified as Thomas Henry McMonigle, told her he was looking for a babysitter for his sister's children. Despite her friends' presence, Thora got into the car, and she was never seen again.

Following her disappearance, the investigation quickly focused on McMonigle, a man with a criminal history that included assaults and attempted rape. After Thora went missing, he left California for Illinois. When he returned, FBI agents arrested him after he attempted suicide while on a bus. His inconsistent statements regarding Thora's fate further fueled suspicions.

During the investigation, evidence emerged that supported the theory of foul play. McMonigle confessed to having shot Thora with a .32-caliber revolver and claimed to have disposed of her body by throwing it off a cliff known as Devil's Slide. Although her body was never recovered, various items belonging to Thora were found in places linked to McMonigle, including her shoes and school materials.

In late 1945, McMonigle was charged with murder and subsequently convicted in a trial that lasted only 38 minutes of jury deliberation. He was sentenced to death and executed in 1948. The case remains notable not only for the tragic circumstances surrounding Thora's disappearance but also as one of the earliest examples of a no-body homicide conviction in California.
Last Seen: Nov 2, 1945

Links to Additional Sources (8)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Murder of Thora Chamberlain - Wikipedia">Murder of Thora Chamberlain - Wikipedia
  • Thora Afton Chamberlain - The Charley Project
  • Thora Chamberlain | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • The 1945 Disappearance of Thora Afton Chamberlain
  • 4271DFCA - Thora Afton Chamberlain - Doe Network
  • Eerie echoes of 1945 case in Sierra LaMar's fate - The Mercury News
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP36923
  • Solved with no body: The case of Thora Chamberlain - YouTube

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (5)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    81%Moderate
    Jane Doe — San Jose, California - unidentified case UP129724
    Jane Doe — San Jose, California
    UP129724 • Found Jan 23, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%8 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 75 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3"–5'5" vs 5'2"
    Weight 100%120–125 lb vs 120–125 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — San Jose, California - unidentified case UP125213
    Jane Doe — San Jose, California
    UP125213 • Found Oct 27, 1985
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 18–32 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%5 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 40 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2" vs 5'2"
    Weight 100%135 lb vs 120–125 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — California
    UP2361 • Found Feb 10, 2005
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 78%88 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 59 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'2"
    Weight 100%115 lb vs 120–125 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
    76%Possible
    Jane Doe — San Francisco, California
    UP5958 • Found Jun 19, 2004
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 90%45 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 59 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1" vs 5'2"
    Weight 100%109 lb vs 120–125 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — Orinda, California - unidentified case UP12922
    Jane Doe — Orinda, California
    UP12922 • Found Aug 23, 1975
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 18–29 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 91%43 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 30 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'2"
    Weight 46%166 lb vs 120–125 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    Thora Afton Chamberlain was 14 when she vanished in Campbell, California, on November 2, 1945. She... ...Read More
    10/01/2024

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