A Crime That Haunted the Valley
Michele Avila was a bright, beautiful teenager growing up in the San Fernando Valley in 1985. She was charismatic, well liked, and often the center of attention.
But sometimes, popularity comes with a price.
Her childhood best friend, Karen Severson, had once been inseparable from her. But by high school, their friendship had soured, poisoned by envy, insecurity, and obsession.
As Michele began spending more time with boys and less with Karen, cracks formed. Karen, threatened by Michele’s growing independence and social status, responded with cruelty. She spread rumors accusing Michele of sleeping with multiple boys. One of those rumors got Michele jumped by a group of girls who believed their boyfriends had cheated with her.
Then came Randy. Michele dated him briefly, then broke it off because he partied too much. Not long after, Karen picked him up where Michele left off. When Randy reportedly flirted with Michele at a party, Michele pushed back and told Karen she should probably break things off. Instead, Karen snapped. Ten days before Michele’s death, the two fought in a park. Witnesses say Karen threatened her with a broken beer bottle, slapped her, and made it clear that she wasn’t over it.
On October 1, 1985, Michele left the house with Laura Doyle, another supposed friend. Laura would later tell Michele’s mother that she dropped her off with three random boys in a blue Camaro.
It was a lie.
Michele never came home.
Three days later, hikers found Michelle’s body in a shallow stream in Angeles National Forest. She had been drowned in six inches of water. Her long hair was cut off. A four-foot log had been placed on her back to hold her underwater.
In the days that followed, Karen and Laura played the part of grieving friends. Laura even sent the Avila family a sympathy card with a $20 bill inside. Karen moved in with Michele’s mother, calling herself a surrogate daughter, obsessing over the case, and claiming to see Michele’s ghost. But behind the theatrics was something far darker: they were both her killers.
The case remained unsolved for nearly three years, until a witness, Eva Chirumbolo, another teenager who was there that day came forward. She told police what really happened.
Karen and Laura had lured Michele to the woods, accused her of ruining their relationships, and then drowned her while yelling at her, mocking her, and pressing her face into the water. The log was to make sure she stayed there.
In 1990, both women were convicted of second degree murder. The jury rejected the premeditation necessary for first degree charges, but the verdict was clear.
Both were sentenced to 15 years to life.
Karen served over 21 years. Laura served 22.
After her release, Karen attempted to publish a memoir and sell the film rights to her story. Michele’s family fought back and California responded by passing Missy’s Law, ensuring that convicted criminals cannot profit from telling the stories of the people they’ve destroyed without notifying the victims’ families.
Michele trusted the wrong people. She thought they were still her friends. Instead, they let jealousy curdle into hatred and took everything from her.
The 1992 made for tv movie A Killer Among Friends was based on this case
