The victim, Vicki Johnson. Credit: Seaside Police Department.
On Jan. 3, 1991, Vicki Johnson’s body was found in the playground area of Sabado Park in Seaside, California. Johnson suffered a violent death—she had been strangled, suffocated and set on fire. Her death shocked the Seaside community due to the details of the brutality.
For decades, the case remained cold and left Seaside with a reputation of a violent and unsafe community. Johnsons’ case was one of many reopened after the launch of the Cold Case Task Force led by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
Working collaboratively with investigators from the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, additional items of evidence were submitted to the California Department of Justice for DNA testing, resulting in the identification of the murder suspect, Frank Lewis McClure. McClure passed away in 2021 at the age of 77. The relationship, if any, between Johnson and McClure is not known.
Johnson was 34 years old when she was murdered. Evidence clearly demonstrates Johnson put up an incredible physical battle against McClure and fought until the last moments of her life. McClure left significant DNA underneath Johnsons’ fingernails, which could only be a result of Johnson fighting vigorously for her life. The motive of her murder is still unclear. Investigators do know McClure had a history of violence before his passing.
Cold cases remain a priority of the Seaside Police Department and every life taken from the community will be investigated and reexamined habitually.
“The resolution of Johnson’s murder is another example of how we honor and respect every community member and never forget their legacy. We are grateful to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office for shining light on victims in our community,” the police department said in a statement.
Republished courtesy of the Seaside Police Department.