MISSING PERSON
CASE #: 1995-42
Sylvia Ann Lee
Also Known As:
Shorty
Status:
Open
Date of Last Contact:
Date of Last Contact:
Jurisdiction:
Missing From:
Campbell, California
Summary:
Sylvia Ann Lee went missing on October 31, 1995, in Campbell, California. In 2011, convicted sex offender Wilbur Wade Atcherley pleaded guilty to her abduction and murder, confessing that he met her at a light rail station, took her by taxi to New Almaden, sexually assaulted and killed her, leaving her body in a creek bed. Her remains have never been recovered.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Disappearance:
Sylvia was last seen on the afternoon of October 31, 1995, by her boyfriend as she boarded a transit bus blocks from the Campbell Police Department. She had planned to transfer to a light-rail train to reach her grandmother's house in San Jose. She was never seen again.
Additional Details:
Wilbur Wade Atcherley, a recent resident of Campbell at the time, had been at the Police Department that day to complete his registration as a convicted sex offender. Atcherley had been convicted of a number of forcible sexual assaults, including kidnapping and rape. Atcherley was not a suspect at the time Sylvia vanished, but on the fifth anniversary of her disappearance he contacted investigators and offered to assist in solving the case. During an interview conducted by Campbell police investigators, Atcherley confessed to murdering Sylvia and provided details that only the killer would have known. He allegedly said he met the girl at the Curtner light-rail station and took her by taxi to a remote location in New Almaden, where he murdered her and left her body on the bank of a creek bed. Records from the Yellow Cab taxi company indicated a fare on that date near the light rail station with a drop-off in New Almaden, prosecutors said. Atcherley was transported from prison to the area where he murdered Sylvia to indicate to investigators where the crime happened. Investigators did not locate her remains. Authorities believe her remains were washed away. Wilbur Atcherley pleaded guilty to Sylvia's murder in 2011, sixteen years after her disappearance. He was sentenced to 76 years to life.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
Wilbur Atcherley pleaded guilty to Sylvia's murder in 2011, sixteen years after her disappearance.
On the fifth anniversary of Sylvia's disappearance, Atcherley contacted authorities and confessed to killing her.
Sylvia was last seen on the afternoon of October 31, 1995, by her boyfriend as she boarded a transit bus blocks from the Campbell Police Department.
Associated Persons
Wilbur A. (Suspect) - Living
Family Tree
Why is this important?Missing person
Father
Mother
Paternal Grandfather
Paternal Grandmother
Maternal Grandfather
Maternal Grandmother
Paternal Grandfather's Mother
Paternal Grandfather's Father
Paternal Grandmother's Mother
Paternal Grandmother's Father
Maternal Grandfather's Mother
Maternal Grandfather's Father
Maternal Grandmother's Mother
Maternal Grandmother's Father
Paternal Grandfather's Mother
Paternal Grandfather's Father
Paternal Grandmother's Mother
Paternal Grandmother's Father
Maternal Grandfather's Mother
Maternal Grandfather's Father
Maternal Grandmother's Mother
Maternal Grandmother's Father
Paternal Grandfather
Paternal Grandmother
Maternal Grandfather
Maternal Grandmother
Father
Mother
Missing Person
Missing Person
Case Content Disclaimer: The details on this case page are sourced from numerous locations to include family, friends, news postings and government public releases. Solve the Case, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy of any content as case pages are living documents that frequently update as case details expand.
