The Unsolved Murder of Marina Habe
On New Year’s Day in 1969, 17-year-old Marina Elizabeth Habe was found dead in a remote ravine near Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles. She had been viciously attacked—stabbed multiple times, her throat cut, and her body showing signs of severe blunt force trauma. More than half a century later, Marina Habe’s tragic death remains a mystery that continues to raise chilling questions.
Follow a deep investigation into Marina Habe’s murder, dissecting evidence, timelines, and suspects—including details drawn from coroner records, old newspaper reports, and other sources. The goal: uncover what’s been missed in one of Los Angeles’ most haunting cold cases.
By carefully sifting through the layers of time and unanswered questions, this investigation aims to provide a comprehensive look at an enduring mystery—one that still casts a long shadow over a city known for both dreams and darkness.
Explore the Case
Part 1: Key Figures
Marina Habe’s disappearance began with what seemed like an ordinary date in December 1968. But before retracing the events of that night, we must first meet the key figures: Marina herself, her devoted mother, and the young man she spent the evening with. The two families shared a web of personal and professional connections that stretched back years.
Part 2: The Disappearance
To understand what happened to Marina Habe, we must first retrace her final known hours—the night she vanished in December 1968. It was an evening that began like any other but ended in mystery. In this section, we examine the timeline of that fateful night and explore several discrepancies that still raise questions today.
Part 3: Inside the Autopsy
In this section, we closely examine Marina Habe’s autopsy report to address critical questions: When was she murdered? Was she sexually assaulted? Had she been fed during her captivity? Each finding is explored in depth to shed light on what may have happened during her final hours.
Part 4: The Suspects
In the suspects section, we examine the individuals and groups connected to Marina Habe’s case—including the last known person to see her alive, a suspected serial killer dubbed the Co-Ed Killer, and a violent outlaw biker known as Spanky.
Part 5: The Manson Family
This section examines the Manson Family’s possible connection to Marina Habe’s murder. Striking parallels and geographic proximity raise serious questions—Hornburg lived near the Family, and one of Sharon Tate’s killers resided close to Marina. These overlaps warrant deeper investigation.
Part 6: Marina’s Family
Marina Habe came from a remarkable and complex family. Her mother, Eloise Hardt, was an actress with deep ties to Hollywood, including a close relationship with director John Huston. Her father, Hans Habe, was a war hero, journalist, and trained in psychological warfare. Despite their divorce, both parents remained deeply involved in Marina’s life.
