Elaine Davis was 17 when she was abducted from her Walnut Creek, California, home on December 1, 1969. She was home alone with her younger sister when an unknown assailant entered through a rear sliding glass window. Her parents returned that evening to find her missing; parts of her clothing were recovered scattered in the backyard, suggesting a struggle.

On December 19, 1969, a body was found floating off Lighthouse Point in Santa Cruz. The victim was initially misestimated to be 20 to 25 years old, which delayed linking the remains to Elaine. The body was found decomposed with extensive damage and was not officially identified as Elaine Davis until 2001.

Investigators and researchers have noted possible connections between Elaine’s abduction and murder and the Zodiac Killer, including a letter believed to be from the Zodiac sent to the San Jose Police Department around the time of her disappearance and the proximity in time to the disappearance of Leona Roberts a few days later. The death remains unsolved; anyone with information is asked to come forward.