Offender Record · OFF-2026-048
Theresa Cross (photo from the Radford University biography)
Theresa Jimmie Cross
Also known as Theresa Knorr, Theresa Jimmie Francine Cross, Theresa Jimmie Francine Knorr
Sex
Female
Race
White
Height
5'4"
Born
1946
Custody
Incarcerated
States
UT, CA
Distinguishing featuresNo tattoos or scars noted in public records; 1993 mugshot shows short dark hair
Custody
Incarcerated at California Institution for Women (CIW), Corona, California
Custody record at the facility
Sentenced to two consecutive life sentences on October 17, 1995, with parole eligibility in 2027, when she will be approximately 80 years old.
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Summary of the record
Theresa Jimmie Francine Cross (born 1946) was convicted of torturing and murdering two of her six children, a 17-year-old daughter by burning alive on July 16, 1984, and a 20-year-old daughter by starvation confinement on June 21, 1985, in Sacramento County, California. She pleaded guilty on October 17, 1995, to two counts of first-degree murder and torture and is serving two consecutive life sentences at the California Institution for Women.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date 1984, Sacramento County, California
Torture
Placer County Sheriff's Department, California · Placer County Superior Court · Arrested Nov 10, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 25 years (concurrent with murder sentences)
Torture convictions related to sustained severe abuse of daughters including shooting, beating, force-feeding, and confinement prior to their deaths.
SourcesTheresa Knorr; Theresa Knorr
Offense date Jul 16, 1984, Sacramento County, California
First Degree Murder
Placer County Sheriff's Department, California · Placer County Superior Court · Arrested Nov 10, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life without parole (consecutive)
A 17-year-old daughter (Suesan Marlene Knorr, born 1966) was severely abused over months including being shot and force-fed. She was rendered unconscious by liquor and driven to woods near Lake Tahoe where her mother set her on fire using gasoline. Body recovered near Squaw Valley in burned condition.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Cross, Theresa; Theresa Knorr; Theresa Knorr
Offense date Jun 21, 1985, Sacramento County, California
First Degree Murder
Placer County Sheriff's Department, California · Placer County Superior Court · Arrested Nov 10, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life without parole (consecutive)
A 20-year-old daughter (Sheila Gail Sanders, born 1965) was locked in a 2x2 foot closet without adequate food and water in extremely hot conditions until she died of starvation and dehydration. Her body was placed in a cardboard box and transported to woods near Truckee, California.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Cross, Theresa; Theresa Knorr; Theresa Knorr
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
2
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1984–1985
Victim profile
Children, Family members
Stated motive
Domestic or partner
Range from home
local
Accomplice
Yes
Confessed
Yes
Marital history
Married, Divorced, Widowed
Children
6
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
CA
Sacramento, California
approx. 1946 – 1976 · Rio Linda area and Orangevale suburbs; lived 13 years in Orangevale
Orangevale, California
approx. 1970 – 1984 · Sacramento suburb where children were abused
Sacramento, California
approx. 1978 – 1990 · Various employment during period of child abuse
Chino, California
1995 – present · California Institution for Women (CIW), transferred to Corona location in 1996
UT
Salt Lake City, Utah
approx. 1990 – 1993 · Moved alone to Salt Lake City; enrolled in night school to become certified nurse's aide
Salt Lake City, Utah
1990 – 1993 · In-home care nurse, caretaker for 86-year-old woman (landlord's mother)
Salt Lake City, Utah
Nov 10, 1993 – Nov 10, 1993 · Arrested at her home
Timeline
Mar 14, 1946
Theresa Jimmie Francine Cross born in Sacramento, California to James Cross and Swannie Gay.
Mar 02, 1961
Theresa's mother died of a heart attack in a grocery store.
Sep 29, 1962
Theresa married Clifford Sanders at age 16.
1964
Theresa married Robert Wallace Knorr.
Jul 06, 1964
Theresa shot and killed her first husband Clifford Sanders.
Sep 10, 1964
Theresa acquitted of murder of Clifford Sanders on grounds of self-defense.
Jun 1983
Theresa shot her daughter Suesan in the chest; bullet lodged in back. She left Suesan in bathtub for nearly a month while nursing her back to health.
Jul 16, 1984
Theresa transported unconscious daughter Suesan to woods near Lake Tahoe and set her on fire using gasoline; she died.
Jun 21, 1985
Theresa's daughter Sheila's body removed from 2x2 foot closet where she had been confined without adequate food and water; placed in box and left in nearby woods.
1990
Theresa moved to Salt Lake City and enrolled in night school to become a certified nurse's aide.
Oct 28, 1993
Theresa's youngest daughter Terry called America's Most Wanted hotline after recognizing burned victim as her sister Suesan in news segment.
Nov 04, 1993
Son William Knorr arrested in Woodland, California.
Nov 10, 1993
Theresa arrested in Salt Lake City at her home; was using maiden name Cross and working as in-home caretaker for 86-year-old woman.
Nov 15, 1993
Theresa charged with two counts of murder, two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, and two special circumstances charges: multiple murder and murder by torture.
Oct 17, 1995
Theresa pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without possibility of parole.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Murderpedia ·
Theresa Knorr“Date of murders: July 16, 1984 / June 21, 1985. Date of arrest: November 10, 1993. Plead guilty on October 17, 1995. Sentenced to two consecutive life terms.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Theresa Knorr“Theresa Jimmie Francine Knorr is an American woman convicted of torturing and murdering two of her six children while using the others to facilitate and cover up her crimes.”
News report · Grokipedia ·
Theresa Knorr“Knorr was convicted on the plea in October 1995 of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of torture. Sentencing occurred in December 1995 in Placer County Superior Court.”
News report · Crime Library ·
Mother Knows Best: The Story of Theresa Jimmie Cross“Theresa was charged in the torture slayings of her two daughters and arraigned in a Salt Lake City courtroom on November 15, 1993.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Cross, Theresa“Theresa Cross Knorr pleads guilty and is convicted to two consecutive life terms on October 17, 1995.”
Discussion
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