The Murder of Michele ‘Missy’ Avila
Michele ‘Missy’ Avila grew up in the San Fernando Valley in California. Missy lived with her mother Irene and her 3 brothers Ernie, Chris and Mark. I couldn’t find that much information about her growing up, but she was friends with Karen Severson since they were 8 years old. They started to grow apart in high school. They attended San Fernando High School.
Missy
It’s reported Karen Severson became jealous of Missy because Missy was more popular and attractive than Karen. Karen had nothing else better to do with her time than to spread rumors about Missy. She spread a rumor that Missy was sleeping with various boys, boys that happened to have girlfriends. Once, Missy was beat up by a group of girls and they accused her of sleeping with their boyfriends.
During Missy’s junior year, she started dating a boy named Randy. She only dated him for a month because Randy was always partying. Right after their breakup, Karen and Randy started dating and moved in together. Randy was more interested in Missy and even pulled her on his lap once. She was disgusted and trying to be a good friend to Karen. She told Karen to break up with him. Instead of breaking up with him, she turned on Missy and stopped talking to her.
Ten days before Missy died Karen and Missy got into a fight in a park. Karen threatened Missy with a broken bottle, pushed and slapped her.
Missy’s death:
On October 2, 1985 Missy told her mother she was going out with a friend named Laura Doyle. A few hours later, Laura called Missy’s house and asked to speak to her. Irene was shocked and surprised because she thought Laura and Missy were together. Laura told Irene that she dropped Missy off and saw her get in a blue Camaro with 3 boys. Laura said she went to run an errand and when she came back Missy was gone, along with the 3 boys.
3 days later on October 5, Missy’s body was found face down in a stream in Big Tajunga Canyon in Angeles National Forest.
She drowned in 8 inches of water, her long hair was cut off and there was a log on top her.
Big Tajunga Canyon
Irene never suspected Karen or Laura. They both attended the funeral for Missy. However, Karen was obsessed with what she had done. She visited Missy’s grave several times a week, visited where her body was found, had pictures and newspaper clips all over her bedroom walls.
Karen said that she helped the family after Missy died, but that she had ulterior motives for helping. She stated:
““I also wanted to know how the police investigation was going.
”I wanted to know who the suspects were and what evidence they’d found.””
Conviction:
The police didn’t have any leads and the case went cold for 3 years. In July 1988, a teen named Eva Chirumbolo came forward about what happened to Missy. Karen Severson and Laura Doyle were charged with first degree murder. At trial, according to the prosecutor, both girls lured Missy to the stream and yelled at her for having sex with all these boys, including their boyfriends.
In March 1990, Karen Severson and Laura Doyle were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. This baffles me a little but the jurors said they weren’t convinced the girls planned the murder out and threw away the first degree charge.
Karen has stated that she only meant to “torment Missy,” and that things got out of hand. (YA THINK KAREN?)
Karen Severson was released on December 9th, 2011 and served 23.5 years in prison. Laura Doyle was released in December 2012 and served 22 years.
Laura Doyle
Karen Severson
Karen Severson tried to write a memoir about the crime and prison life after she was released and even made a deal to make a film. (I don’t think she has any remorse about what she did). Her book also didn’t do well and has 2 stars on Amazon. Missy’s family sued her in 2015.
The state of California passed Missy’s Law, requires people helping criminals write published works to contact the families of the victims.
Irene Avila, Missy’s mother
Karen and Missy when they were younger and Karen now.
On December 17th, 2014 Karen Severson went on the Dr. Phil show to talk about what she did. I believe she has no remorse and that she was faking her tears and sadness for the show.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
To make matters worse, Karen Severson also tours schools now to talk to kids about not making the same mistakes she did.
I just don’t think Karen actually has any remorse about she did, and I haven’t read anything else about Laura. I did read that Laura posted a picture on a prison pen-pal website though. She probably didn't have remorse either.
Karen has stated that she was jealous of Missy and never admitted it until after she did what she did. I know that a lot of people kill others for jealousy everyday, but Missy didn’t deserve to die over some rumors and some dumb teenage drama.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Michele_Avila
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/i-murdered-best-friend---6077933
