On the night of August 13, 1978, 16-year-old Barbara Nantais and her 17-year-old boyfriend James “Jim” Ault went to Torrey Pines State Beach in San Diego, California. It was a warm summer night, and the teens—who had been dating for nearly a year—planned to sleep under the stars after spending time with friends.

Who Barbara Was

Barbara was known for being:

• energetic
• outgoing
• funny
• very popular
• a talented athlete who earned a spot on the varsity cheerleading team as a sophomore

Her friends said Barbara and Jim were deeply in love. They were both cheerful, social, and well-liked.

The Night at the Beach

Barbara and Jim met up with friends Richard Selga and Cynthia Ancog. The group hoped to surf, but the waves were poor, so they gathered around a bonfire with others on the beach. They spent the evening talking and drinking.

As the fire died down, Barbara and Jim decided to sleep on the sand, side by side in their sleeping bags. Their friends chose more comfort and slept in a nearby car.

Everything seemed normal.

The Morning of the Attack

Around 6 AM, Jim woke up violently shaking, dizzy, and weak. When he tried to sit up, he collapsed. He soon realized he had been attacked in his sleep—his head was bleeding heavily, and he could barely move.

Then came the most horrifying discovery:

Barbara was gone.

Her sleeping bag was missing. Jim’s was gone too.

Even in his disoriented state, Jim crawled and stumbled toward the nearby road, trying to find help. A passing driver eventually spotted him and called authorities.

Discovery of Barbara’s Body

Police searched the area. Roughly 100 yards away, they found Barbara’s body, partially unclothed and brutally beaten. Her injuries indicated a violent physical assault. Investigators believed the attacker had dragged her away from the sleeping area before killing her.