Carole DeFleice

Do you know who murdered Carole?
Carole DeFleice, a woman known to some as “Nina Star,” was new to San Diego in the winter of 1984, having been in the city for only about six weeks. She was making a life for herself while living at the Sea Point Motel. Her work as a prostitute was centered along the bustling, neon-lit strip of El Cajon Boulevard, a major city thoroughfare that in the 1980s was known for its car culture, drive-in theaters, and a burgeoning nightclub scene. For her appointments, she would use the Aztec Motel, located at the end of the 4400 block of Camino Del Rio South.

The last day of her life was Friday, February 25, 1984. That evening, Carole was out on El Cajon Boulevard. A close friend saw her at around 9 p.m. Carole had mentioned she had a date planned for later that night and was expecting to be picked up at about 11:00 p.m. It was the last conversation they would have. Just a little after 11 p.m., the same friend was in a car passing through the area when she made a devastating discovery. She saw Carole’s body lying on the ground. Carole had been brutally killed, having suffered multiple stab wounds.

The San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit immediately launched an investigation into the murder. Detectives worked the scene and began piecing together Carole’s final hours. They learned about her recent arrival in San Diego and the specific motels she frequented for her life and work. The area along El Cajon Boulevard, a historic stretch of the former U.S. Route 80, provided a backdrop of transience, with countless people passing through, making the task of identifying a suspect incredibly challenging for investigators.

Despite their efforts, the case grew cold. For decades, there were no arrests and no significant public developments. The investigation remained open, but leads were exhausted. Years later, a potential connection to another crime surfaced in public records. Court documents filed in a different homicide case in 2014 revealed that a career criminal had been a person of interest in Carole's murder back in 1984. This individual, a former police officer from Arkansas with a history of violent crimes against women, including kidnapping and rape, was investigated in connection with her death. However, he was never arrested or charged for Carole's killing.

The link, however tenuous, provided a rare glimpse into the police investigation that had been quiet for thirty years. It suggested that detectives had explored possible connections between Carole's murder and other violent acts in the region, even if it did not lead to a resolution in her case. For those who may have known Carole during her short time in San Diego, and for the investigators who have not forgotten her, the case remains a painful, unanswered question.

As of today, Carole DeFleice’s murder is unsolved. The San Diego Police Department continues to list her case as open and encourages anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Decades have passed, but the hope remains that a new tip could finally provide the missing piece needed to deliver justice for Carole. Anyone with information is urged to call the SDPD Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293. For those who wish to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.