Corona woman was mistaken for being wanted killer in 1931
In October 1931, newspapers in Southern California devoted many column inches to the sensational killings of two young women in Phoenix whose bodies were transported to Los Angeles by train in trunks and luggage. The woman accused of the heinous crime, dubbed the “trunk murders” by the media, was Winnie Ruth Judd.
Unfortunately, one young Corona woman spent some uncomfortable moments caught up in the Winnie Judd story. On Oct. 26, 1931, the Riverside Daily Press made clear its opinion when its reporting on the matter started with the following: “The vigilance of stupidity, depending on the point of view, displayed by Los Angeles Police during the search for the notorious Mrs. Winnie Ruth Judd — resulted in considerable discomfort to a Corona resident...”
The Daily Press said the Corona resident in question, who was never named, was one of the “prettiest, most charming and popular young matrons” in the city, a statement which surely brought a blush to the cheek of the young woman, whoever she was.
It seems this young matron of Corona had driven to a public meeting or event of some sort in her personal car. Unfortunately for her, the car matched the description of one driven by the suspected killers. The Corona woman was approached by Los Angeles police officers, who subjected her to questioning. She was completely baffled by the police officers’ motivations until one officer said her resemblance to Mrs. Judd was remarkable. Realizing only then why she had caught the attention of the officers, she tried her best to dissuade them of their notion that she was the missing suspect. But it was not until her husband joined her after he got off work that they finally let her go.
Meanwhile, the real Mrs. Judd was finally caught and tried for the murder of one of the victims. She claimed self-defense and said she shot the women after they argued with her and attacked her. She also said her lover at the time, a local businessman and wellknown philanderer by the name of Jack Halloran, was involved in the coverup of the murders and because of him, no evidence was left that could exonerate her.
Judd was found guilty and sentenced to death. However, at a subsequent hearing, she was found mentally incompetent and placed in the Arizona State Asylum for the Insane. Over the next 30 years, she escaped from the asylum six times. After her final escape in 1963, she remained at large for more than six years and found work as a maid with a wealthy family in San Francisco under an assumed name.
After being caught in 1969 and finally paroled in 1971, Judd went to work for the San Francisco family. She died in 1998 at age 93.
An investigation was done by journalist Jana Bommersbach prior to Judd’s death. Bommersbach found that the police and prosecution were biased against Judd and that Judd was likely innocent. Those interested can read about the crime and Bommersbach’s investigation in “The Trunk Murderess: Winnie Ruth Judd” (Simon and Schuster, 1992). Of course, none of this would be much comfort to the young wife from Corona who found herself being mistaken for a wanted murderer in 1931.