Offender Record · OFF-2026-106
Theresa Cross Knorr (photo from the Radford University biography)
Theresa Jimmie Knorr
Also known as Theresa Cross, Theresa Jimmie Francine Cross, Tammy Johnson
Sex
Female
Race
White
Height
5'4"
Born
1946
Custody
Incarcerated
States
CA, UT
Custody
Incarcerated at California Institution for Women, Chino, California
Custody record at the facility
Sentenced October 17, 1995 to two consecutive life sentences; eligible for parole in 2027.
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Summary of the record
Theresa Jimmie Francine Knorr (née Cross) was convicted of torturing and murdering two of her six children in California. In July 1984, she burned 17-year-old Suesan Knorr alive near Squaw Valley with the assistance of her sons Robert and William. In June 1985, she starved to death 20-year-old Sheila Gay Sanders by locking her in a closet in Sacramento. Knorr pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences on October 17, 1995. She remains incarcerated at the California Institution for Women in Chino, California.
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 Jul 16, 1984, Squaw Valley, California
First Degree Murder
Placer County Sheriff's Office · Placer County Superior Court · California Penal Code · Arrested Nov 10, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life sentence (one of two consecutive)
On July 16, 1984, Theresa Knorr bound the arms and legs of a 17-year-old daughter with duct tape, placed tape over her mouth, and ordered her sons Robert and William to transport her unconscious body to Squaw Valley. Knorr then doused the victim in gasoline and set her on fire, leaving her to die in a remote wooded area near Interstate 80 outside Truckee, California.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Knorr, Theresa Cross; Theresa Knorr: Mother Most Evil; Theresa Knorr; Theresa Knorr Biography: Convicted murderer
Offense date Jul 16, 1984, California
Conspiracy to Commit Murder
Placer County Sheriff's Office · Placer County Superior Court · California Penal Code · Arrested Nov 10, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Concurrent with murder sentence
Conspiracy to commit murder charge related to the death of 17-year-old daughter.
SourcesTheresa Knorr: Mother Most Evil; Theresa Knorr
Offense date Jun 1985, California
Conspiracy to Commit Murder
Placer County Sheriff's Office · Placer County Superior Court · California Penal Code · Arrested Nov 10, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Concurrent with murder sentence
Conspiracy to commit murder charge related to the death of 20-year-old daughter.
SourcesTheresa Knorr: Mother Most Evil; Theresa Knorr
Offense date Jun 1985, Sacramento, California
First Degree Murder
Placer County Sheriff's Office · Placer County Superior Court · California Penal Code · Arrested Nov 10, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life sentence (one of two consecutive)
In May-June 1985, Theresa Knorr locked a 20-year-old daughter in a 2x2 foot closet, hog-tied and bound with duct tape over her mouth, refusing her food and water. The victim died of dehydration and starvation several days later. Knorr and her sons placed the body in a cardboard box and dumped it in a wooded area in the Sierra Nevada near Truckee, California, where it remained unidentified for years.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Knorr, Theresa Cross; Theresa Knorr: Mother Most Evil; Theresa Knorr; Mother Appears in Court on Counts of Killing Children; Theresa Knorr Biography: Convicted murderer
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, Power or control
Range from home
local
Accomplice
Yes
Confessed
Yes
Education
some high school
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
1946 – 1962 · Birthplace and residence with parents Jim Cross and Swannie Gay Cross in Rio Linda area
Galt, California
1962 – 1964 · Lived with first husband Clifford Clyde Sanders
Sacramento, California
1964 – 1976 · Family residence where abuse of children and murders occurred 1984-1985
Chino, California
1995 – present · California Institution for Women, Chino, California
UT
Salt Lake City, Utah
1990 – 1993 · Moved to Salt Lake City; enrolled in night school for certified nurse's aide certification
Salt Lake City, Utah
1990 – 1993 · Worked as in-home care nurse and home health aide
Salt Lake City, Utah
Nov 10, 1993 – Nov 10, 1993 · Arrested at home in Salt Lake City
Timeline
Mar 14, 1946
Theresa Jimmie Francine Cross born in Sacramento, California.
Mar 02, 1961
Theresa's mother Swannie Gay Cross died of a heart attack.
Sep 29, 1962
Theresa Cross married Clifford Sanders at age 16.
Jul 06, 1964
Theresa Cross shot and killed her first husband Clifford Sanders in Galt, California.
Sep 10, 1964
Theresa Cross acquitted of murder of Clifford Sanders on grounds of self-defense.
Jul 09, 1966
Theresa married Robert Wallace Knorr.
1970
Theresa divorced Robert Wallace Knorr.
Jul 16, 1984
Theresa Knorr burned alive a 17-year-old daughter near Squaw Valley, California, with sons' assistance.
Jun 1985
Theresa Knorr's 20-year-old daughter died of starvation and dehydration after being locked in a closet in Sacramento.
1990
Theresa Knorr moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and enrolled in night school to become a certified nurse's aide.
Oct 28, 1993
Theresa's youngest daughter Terry contacted America's Most Wanted after recognizing her sister on the show and reported the murders to investigators.
Nov 10, 1993
Theresa Knorr arrested in Salt Lake City by Placer County detectives and local police.
Nov 15, 1993
Theresa Knorr arraigned in Salt Lake City courtroom; charged with two counts of murder, two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, and two special circumstances charges: multiple murder and murder by torture.
Dec 1993
Theresa Knorr extradited to Placer County, California and arraigned before Superior Court Judge J. Richard Couzens.
Oct 17, 1995
Theresa Knorr pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
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 · PeoplePill ·
Theresa Knorr Biography: Convicted murderer“On July 16, 1984, Knorr packed all of Suesan's belongings in trash bags and, after binding Suesan's arms and legs and placing duct tape over her mouth, ordered her sons Robert and William to put Suesan in their car.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
Theresa Knorr“Theresa Jimmie Knorr is an American woman sentenced to two consecutive life terms in California for torturing and murdering two of her children in 1984 and 1985.”
Other government record · California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ·
California Institution for Women (CIW) Inmate Locator“Use the statewide CDCR inmate locator to search by the inmate's name or CDCR number.”
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 · James LeToile ·
Killer Mom“Theresa was charged on November 14, 1991 and extradited to California.”
News report · Medium ·
Theresa Knorr: Mother Most Evil“On Oct. 17, 1995, she was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. She is currently serving her sentence in the California Institution for Women in Chino, California.”
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Knorr, Theresa Cross“Theresa Cross Knorr pleads guilty and is convicted to two consecutive life terms.”
News report · Deseret News ·
Mother Appears in Court on Counts of Killing Children“Theresa Knorr, 47, is accused of conspiring with two of her sons, William Knorr and Robert Knorr Jr., to torture and kill two of her daughters, Sheila Gay Sanders and Suesan Marline Knorr.”
Discussion
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