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Christine Ruth "Chris" Thornton (November 7, 1948 - c. Summer 1977), nicknamed “Granger Greta” while unidentified, was a woman found murdered in Wyoming in 1982. She was identified in 2015, after her initial disappearance in 1977. Her family identified her as a subject of serial killer Rodney Alcala's photographs and eventually as the victim he buried in Wyoming. Thornton was expecting a child at the time of her murder.

Case[]

The free-spirited Thornton left her family in San Antonio, Texas, with her boyfriend in 1977, with plans to visit Montana, shortly after announcing her pregnancy. By June of the same year, the pair split while were in Biloxi, Mississippi. Based on a “turbulent” relationship, family members were fearful that her ex may have potentially harmed her after contact ceased.

CThornton reconstruction

Reconstruction

Sometime afterward, she encountered serial killer Rodney Alcala, and she allowed him to photograph her, as he did with many of his victims. Investigators believe he murdered her shortly after the image was taken; he left her body off Interstate 80, near Granger, Wyoming, where it remained undiscovered until 1982. She was six months pregnant at the time she died.

CThornton reconstruction1

Three-quarter view

The skeletal remains were estimated to belong to a female between 25 and 39. At the time, it was believed she had died around 1980, although the maximum postmortem interval was up to six years.

Identification[]

In 2013, Thornton's sister recognized her in an image depicting a dark-haired woman in a yellow shirt riding a motorcycle. After noticing a physical resemblance, Thornton’s distinctive toe was observed, strengthening the likelihood of a match. She had been directed to look through the released images of potential unidentified Alcala victims by a relative who saw the case discussed on an episode of television series 48 Hours after failing to find any evidence of Thornton’s activity after 1977. The image was taken in close proximity to where she was later buried. Many subjects of his portraits have never been identified; some have been confirmed to be his victims.

After her identification in the summer of 2015, Rodney Alcala was charged with her murder. Alcala admitted to meeting and photographing her, yet he claimed she was "alive before [he] left her." He is believed to have killed up to 130 people before he was apprehended. He was convicted of five murders in California and New York, and he awaits execution. His victims were all females, ranging from children to young adults. He also had a history of sexually assaulting his victims, although it is unknown if this happened to Thornton.

Alcala was not tried for Thornton’s murder, as seven convictions had already been made. He died in 2021 on death row.

Gallery[]

Media[]

  • Thornton appeared on an episode of 48 Hours when the Alcala case was discussed.

Sources[]

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