Truckee River - Truckee River Murderer

Truckee River Murderer

On 2 December 1908, James Matthew Murphy, a resident of Lake Tahoe, was found brutally disfigured by the banks of the Truckee River. Because of the temperature and time of year, the body was well preserved despite the massive blood loss and removal of limbs. There were no weapons or any other clues left at the site of the murder, thus leading to his killer being only known as 'The Truckee River Murderer'. In early 20th century folk legend, the Truckee River Murderer was told to be a mass murderer who would follow his victims along the bank of the river, repeatedly chanting 'Truckee, Truckee, Truckee' over and over again, until finally going silent and striking his victims. The identity of the killer was never found.

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