Echoes of a Crime:

The Search for Sharon Santos’s Killer

Written by: Nina Haynes

Between August 17th and 19th, 2004, Sharon Santos vanished from her Burbank apartment under chilling circumstances. Known for her zest for life and reliability, her sudden disappearance sent shockwaves through her family and friends. When her employer reported she had not been to work in two days, her sister contacted the apartment manager, who found Sharon’s belongings intact in her unit. But Sharon was gone. Weeks later, on September 2nd, her body was discovered in the trunk of her abandoned car in Los Angeles’ Chinatown. She had been brutally murdered, with evidence pointing to strangulation.

Nearly two decades later, Sharon’s murder remains unsolved—a painful mystery that continues to haunt her loved ones. Leads grew cold, and despite compelling circumstances suggesting foul play involving someone connected to her apartment complex, no charges have been filed for her kidnapping, assault, and murder. Sharon’s case exemplifies the heartbreak of cold cases, where families are left to grapple with both unimaginable loss and unanswered questions.

Sharon’s case represents just one of the thousands of lives lost to violent crime each year. According to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), over 560,000 people were reported missing in the United States in 2023 alone—an average of 1,500 per day. Women disproportionately suffer violent crimes, with nearly 5,000 female homicide victims reported annually in recent years. People of color, particularly women of color, are also disproportionately affected.

A Broader Crisis

In response to Sharon’s tragedy, her loved ones have united under the banner of Justice for Sharon Santos. Through The SHARE Initiative—Support, Honor, Advocate, Raise Awareness, Engage—they are relentlessly pursuing justice. The team’s efforts focus on generating public awareness and mobilizing community support to keep Sharon’s case active and in the public eye.

Justice for Sharon Santos

The SHARE Team urges the community to stand in solidarity with their fight for justice. By spreading awareness, sharing Sharon’s story, and pressing local authorities for accountability, the public can help ensure her case does not fall further into obscurity. The group asks for support through letter-writing campaigns and sharing her story on social media using #JusticeForSharonSantos. Find out more and learn how to help by following the @justiceforsharonsantos Instagram page.

A Call to Action

The echoes of Sharon Santos’s life and tragic death reverberate far beyond her case. Sharon’s murder reflects a heartbreaking reality faced by thousands of families every year. Supporting her fight for justice sends a powerful message about demanding answers for all victims of violence.