Seventeen-year-old Michele “Missy” Avila was lured into the Angeles National Forest and drowned in 1985. Her friends Karen Severson and Laura Doyle were eventually convicted of killing her. The case was especially disturbing because the killers remained close to Missy’s grieving family while the crime was still being investigated.
Content note: violence, abuse, or loss. Linked material may contain graphic descriptions. Screen dramatizations may change events and dialogue.
California, United States. The map provides regional context; individually verified historical places are listed below.
Map sources checked September 14, 2026. No case-specific Odd Stops location was found in this review.
See this case’s source review
Odd Stops
No verified match found. Source imagery is linked; only separately licensed photos are reproduced.
MurderData
No verified match found.
ArcGIS essay
Not included in this essay.
Reddit map
Reviewed as a general resource. Its coordinates and victim counts were not adopted as case evidence.
“No verified match” describes the accessible material found in this review, not proof that a source has never covered the case. MAP’s anonymous records were not individually matched to people.
Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.
watch.afi.com
A Killer Among Friends (1992) — film information
Dramatized screen account. Follow the link for the title listing or available viewing options; scenes and dialogue may be adapted.
IMDb title reference connected to the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Listed release: 1992. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.
This section is awaiting its first entry.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
04Newspaper clippings
1 items
Original newspaper coverage, hosted by Newspapers.com. Read each article in the context of its publication date; later findings may differ. Full-page access may require sign-in.
Featured newspaper clipping
Read a featured clipping here, then explore more reporting in the newspaper archive.
North County Times · 1990-03-11 · Page 12
Doyle and Severson sentenced for Avila’s killing
A sentencing report records the prison terms and statements from Michele Avila’s family.
Historical reporting; read in the context of its publication date.
Loads the article viewer from Newspapers.com. That service receives your browser and connection information and may use cookies. Access is controlled by the publisher; a subscription may be needed for additional archive material.
Case videos, posts, family pages, and creator communities. Creator channels and groups cover multiple cases; each includes a link to the relevant episode. Facebook or TikTok may require sign-in, and groups may require membership approval. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting.
People are the Worst Podcast
The Brutal Murder of Missy Avila
Video from People are the Worst Podcast covering the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Length: 40:14.
Outside blogs, personal essays, and creator write-ups. These reflect each author’s perspective. Check publication dates and compare claims with reporting and court records.
True Crime Stories · Blog / essay
Missy Avila
An outside blog or essay discussing Michele “Missy” Avila. Read the author’s analysis alongside the dated reporting and court sources in this case guide. Some publishers require a subscription.
Read It! (For Those of Us That Are Avid Readers): Missy's Murder
An outside blog or essay discussing Michele “Missy” Avila. Read the author’s analysis alongside the dated reporting and court sources in this case guide. Some publishers require a subscription.
Individual records from Internet Archive: library books, historical broadcasts, and preserved web pages. A catalog listing does not guarantee free reading or full playback. Access, previews, and borrowing are controlled by Internet Archive.
Internet Archive · Library record · 1991
Missy's murder
Kingsbury, Karen. A library catalog record for a book connected with Michele “Missy” Avila. The record may offer a preview or borrowing options; full reading access is not guaranteed.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
11Court records & documents
1 items
Court opinions, filings, transcripts, and dockets, alongside clearly labeled parole records, released investigative files, and courtroom recordings. Each item identifies its source and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. These selections are not complete case files. Where an online document could not be verified, a separate guide identifies the records office or archive to contact.
Habeas findings and recommendationGovernment repository
Doyle v. Hornbeck — parole-related habeas recommendation
A magistrate judge’s findings and recommendation on Laura Doyle’s challenge to a parole denial. The filing identifies the conviction involving Michele Avila and Karen Severson. It is a recommendation, not the final district-court order.
Court / agency
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
New material will appear here after editorial review.
13Where are they now?
0 items
The latest information verified for this collection is listed below. Each source has its own date; these are not live custody records.
A current-status update has not been verified for this case yet.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
14Positive Outcome
0 items
Documented laws, advocacy, and reforms connected to this case. Changes do not undo the harm, and listing a law does not claim that it is effective or universally supported.
No case-specific law, reform, or advocacy initiative has been verified for this collection yet. This does not mean that none exists.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
Michele “Missy” Avila — media, court records & case files | Unforgotten Casebook
07Social Media
5 itemsCase videos, posts, family pages, and creator communities. Creator channels and groups cover multiple cases; each includes a link to the relevant episode. Facebook or TikTok may require sign-in, and groups may require membership approval. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting.
People are the Worst Podcast
The Brutal Murder of Missy Avila
Video from People are the Worst Podcast covering the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Length: 40:14.
Watch on YouTubeThe Missy Avila Documentary
DEADLY BETRAYAL - THE MISSY AVILA STORY
Video from The Missy Avila Documentary covering the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Length: 15:37.
Watch on YouTubeResidue: A True Crime Podcast
30: Lady Starlight: The Murder of Missy Avila
Video from Residue: A True Crime Podcast covering the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Length: 47:43.
Watch on YouTubeThe Missy Avila Documentary
DEADLY BETRAYAL: THE MISSY AVILA STORY: Episode 001 - A phone call with Laura Doyle.
Video from The Missy Avila Documentary covering the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Length: 12:50.
Watch on YouTubeThe Missy Avila Documentary
DEADLY BETRAYAL, THE MISSY AVILA STORY PODCAST - EPISODE 002
Video from The Missy Avila Documentary covering the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Length: 12:02.
Watch on YouTube