On February 4, 1979, Billy Baumgartner, a 17-year-old resident of San Mateo, California, was tragically killed during a robbery at the Payless Drug Store located at 666 Concar Avenue. Billy, along with two other employees, Tracy Anderson, 16, and Michael Olson, 24, were shot execution-style in the back of the head. This heinous crime shocked the local community and has remained one of San Mateo's most notorious unsolved cases for decades.
The robbery, which resulted in the theft of
approximately $20,000, left investigators with few leads. Despite extensive efforts by the San Mateo Police Department, the case went cold. Over the years, detectives have continued to revisit the case, hoping to uncover new evidence or information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the perpetrators. In 2011, police announced that they had developed new information, but the details were not disclosed as the investigation remained active.
The families of the victims, including Billy Baumgartner's relatives, have made numerous public appeals for information that could help solve the case. They have worked closely with law enforcement, participating in press conferences and offering rewards for any tips that might lead to an arrest. The Governor of California has also offered a reward for information leading to the resolution of this tragic crime.
Despite these efforts, no arrests have been made, and the case remains unsolved. The San Mateo Police Department continues to investigate, reviewing old case notes and evidence in the hope of finding a breakthrough. The community remains hopeful that justice will eventually be served for Billy Baumgartner and the other victims of this brutal crime.
