Jovita Dizon “Vita” Collazo was a Filipino-American woman who initially disappeared on May 1, 1992. Her remains were later found in 1994 but remained unidentified for two decades. Her boyfriend, pleaded guilty to her murder and that of his future wife and mother-in-law in 2013.
Case[]
At the time of her disappearance, Vita lived with her boyfriend, Michael Richardson, and her daughter. She was separated from her husband, Michael Collazo (her daughter's father) but remained good friends with him. She vanished in 1992, and her remains were found in 1994. She was not identified for a long time because her missing person's report was lost.
When Vita was identified, it was discovered Richardson was charged with killing his new wife, Thao Richardson and her mother, Than Lyi in 2010. Richardson confessed to all three murders and went to prison for life, but never explained why he killed them. Vita's daughter testified that Richardson had sexually abused her and he had also been convicted of molesting his teenage niece.
Gallery[]
Media[]
- Collazo's case appeared on an episode of season 2 of Who Killed Jane Doe? in 2018, titled “A Girl Has No Name.”
Sources[]
- Vita Collazo at the Charley Project
- San Diego Union Tribune
- CBS News
- Global Nation Inquirer
- Who Killed Jane Doe?