MUS-2026-0004
Archive card
MUS-2026-0004
Homicide
- Incident
- August 25, 1991
- Indexed
- Oct 1, 2026, by MuseUnsolved
- Agency
- San Luis Obispo Police Department
- Location
- San Luis Obispo CA
Public record. Index entry.
Index entry. Case details compiled from public reporting; our researchers have not verified this file yet.
Summary
What happened, as the record shows.
Marina Ruggiero, 20, of San Pedro, California, was in San Luis Obispo for a family friend's wedding at the Monday Club on Sunday, August 25, 1991. She left the reception alone for her room, room 327, at the Cuesta Canyon Lodge at 1800 Monterey Street. Around 10 to 11 that night, 911 calls reported a stabbing victim; she was found unresponsive and died that night. No arrests have ever been made and no charges ever filed. The San Luis Obispo Police Department treats the case as cold. Detective Sergeant Chad Pfarr has logged more than 1,000 hours on the file and has said he hopes advances in DNA and fingerprint analysis will solve it. The case has been covered by the San Luis Obispo Tribune, the Daily Breeze, and true-crime podcasts including California True Crime and SLO Crime.
Timeline
What the record establishes.
- August 25, 1991
Marina Ruggiero, 19, marries at the Monday Club, 1815 Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo, California.
- August 25, 1991, evening
After the reception, Marina leaves alone for room 327 at the Cuesta Canyon Lodge, 1800 Monterey Street.
- August 25, 1991, about 10 to 11 p.m.
A series of 911 calls brings responders to the room. Marina is found unresponsive and dies that night.
- 1994
Marina's family wins an $80,000 civil suit against the motel.
- February 17, 2010
The San Luis Obispo Tribune revisits the case.
- September 7, 2011
The Daily Breeze covers the case.
- March 8, 2019
The San Luis Obispo Tribune publishes a new retrospective.
- September 14, 2020
The California True Crime podcast covers Marina's story.
- October 12, 2025
The SLO Crime podcast releases an episode on the case.
Key people
The people in the file.
20, of San Pedro, California. In San Luis Obispo for a family friend's wedding; found dead the night of August 25, 1991.
Her father John Ruggiero has spoken publicly about the case, including to the Torrance Daily Breeze. The family won an $80,000 civil suit against the motel in 1994 and has cooperated with investigators. No privacy or takedown requests are on record.
A Parents of Murdered Children listing gives the department's line as (805) 781-7100; a Crime Stoppers text named detectives Chad Pfarr and Amy Chastain at (805) 781-7336. Confirm the current assignee before publishing contact details.
Investigating agency
Where tips go.
This case is with the San Luis Obispo Police Department. If you know something, say something to them.
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