At around 6:25 a.m. on August 6, 1968, a parking attendant found Helga Beer’s dead body in the backseat of her VW bug. The car had been parked at a lot on Carling Street in London, Ontario.

Helga, 31, immigrated to Canada from Germany and shared an apartment with her brother. She worked as a hairstylist at a downtown Elizabeth Arden Beauty Salon located in the Simpson’s Department Store. By all accounts she was lively and had many friends.

On the evening of Aug. 5, 1968, Helga was bar hopping with friends in downtown London when the group decided to head over to someone’s apartment on King Street for drinks. As they were entering the apartment’s front door, Helga recognized a man on the street and stayed to chat with him as the others went inside. Helga then brought the man with her into the apartment.

None of Helga’s friends reported that she was uncomfortable with the man and, although no one could remember his name, they were not worried when Helga left with him about a half hour later.

When police were called to the parking lot the next morning, Helga was found nude from the waist down. Semen was found on her clothing, and she had been beaten and strangled.

FACTS & SPECULATION

There was a Person of Interest early on in the investigation, but he left the country a few days after Helga’s murder and has never been seen again.

Helga’s friends gave the following description of the man Helga was with the night of her murder:

• White
• 24-34 years-old
• 5’9″ to 5’11”
• 180-195lbs
• Full head of dark hair
• Full face with a broad-based nose