Cold Case Quest: Anita Lias

16 year- old Anita Lias was a track star at Eastmoor High School, now Eastmoor Academy. Unfortunately, Lias did not get to realize her full potential.

Her body was found on Monday, Sept. 1, 1975 in front of the garage of 862 S. Champion St. She was last seen alive on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 30, 1975. Lias died from stab wounds but she was also strangled.

On Aug. 30, she had walked down Avalon Place to a store at Nelson and Broad St. Anita and a man in an 1969 or 1970 blue Chevelle had waved at each other. People in the neighborhood had seen the man before in the area. The neighbors said that he was a black man, 25–30 years old and wearing curlers in his hair.

As far as I can tell, the man was not found or identified. How did the police not find this man? As you can see, the blue Chevelle is a flashy car. A man with curlers in his hair is also not trying to hide. Did this mystery man kill Lias or could he have information? Currently this man would be about 70–75 years old.

Lias was found about 3.5 miles away from the store, which was close to her home. I doubt that she got there on foot. It’s more likely that she got into a car, willingly or not.