Paige Lawrence, 24: May Have Fallen Victim To Serial Killer In 1986
She remains a missing person, but authorities believe she could have been murdered by a serial killer terrorizing Sacramento.
The last time anyone saw Paige Lawrence was on February 12, 1986, in Sacramento, California. Her family reportedly watched the 24-year-old leave her home, and sadly, Paige has never been seen or heard from again.
While there hasn't been definitive proof, investigators believe she is one of several victims of 43-year-old handyman Morris Solomon Jr., a serial killer who terrorized the Sacramento area in the mid-1980s.
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A Serial Killer Reports His Own Crime
Solomon’s victims included Yolanda Johnson, 22; Angela Polidore, 25; Maria Apodaca, 18; Cherie Washington, 26; Linda Vitela, 24; Sheila Jacox, 17; and Sharon Massey, 29. The women were murdered in 1986 and 1987, and all were either drug addicts or sex workers who were found bound, nude, and/or wrapped in a sheet. The pattern was clear, but the culprit wouldn’t be discovered until Solomon reported the death of Yolanda to authorities. It’s speculated that he did this to avoid appearing to be a suspect.
Authorities asked Solomon to provide his fingerprints and DNA, and he obliged. In 1987, Solomon reportedly lived in an abandoned car lot, and police asked to search the premises. He said yes, and authorities noticed something strange in the soil. Soon, they discovered the bodies of the missing women, and the investigation would uncover living victims who testified against Solomon at his trial.
Five victims would share their terrifying tales of being grabbed, kicked in the face, stabbed, strangled with a chain, and raped by Solomon. Because they survived their attacks, the women were considered lucky, but the trauma and terror he inflicted were never forgotten.
Morris Solomon Jr. Charged & Tried, But Questions Remain
In 1992, Solomon was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to death, and on August 1, 2024, he died at the California Health Care Facility.
Paige Lawrence remains a missing person, and her case is unsolved. It has not been confirmed that she is a Morris Solomon Jr. victim or deceased.
Paige Lawrence: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance, Paige Lawrence stood 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 105 pounds. She had black/dark brown hair (styled in a long/large Afro) and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black pants, an orange shirt, and athletic shoes. She has a 1.5-inch scar across her nose. Paige’s middle name is “Rochelle” or “Rochell.” She went by the aliases “Angelia Christine Bass” and “Peaches.”
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Sacramento Police Department at (916) 808-0605 or (916) 874-1751, or their local authorities. The agency case number is 86-43215.
Please share this story about Paige Lawrence to help bring closure to her case. She is our sister, and her life matters.
Case Number: 86-43215
Agency: Sacramento Police Department
Phone: (916) 808-0605 or (916) 874-1751
Email:
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