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ID of woman found near Manson murders site stirs mystery

This undated photo provided by Anne Jurvetson shows her sister, Reet Jurvetson, of Montreal. Los Angeles police said Wednesday, April 27, 2016, they're investigating whether Reet Jurvetsen, newly identified as the 19-year-old young woman found stabbed over 100 times in 1969, is connected to the Manson family killings. Investigators have interviewed Charles Manson about the woman and are now trying to track down a man known as either "John," or the name's French pronunciation, "Jean," said Detective Luis Rivera. (Anne Jurvetson via AP)
This undated photo provided by Anne Jurvetson shows her sister, Reet Jurvetson, of Montreal. Los Angeles police said Wednesday, April 27, 2016, they're investigating whether Reet Jurvetsen, newly identified as the 19-year-old young woman found stabbed over 100 times in 1969, is connected to the Manson family killings. Investigators have interviewed Charles Manson about the woman and are now trying to track down a man known as either "John," or the name's French pronunciation, "Jean," said Detective Luis Rivera. (Anne Jurvetson via AP)

By Associated Press 4 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The identification of a 19-year-old Canadian woman found savagely stabbed to death in Los Angeles in 1969 has brought some closure to her last living immediate relative but also resurrected decades-old speculation that her murder is connected to the Manson family killings.

Los Angeles police revealed Wednesday that they had at last identified the young woman as Reet Jurvetson of Montreal, described by her sister and a friend as full of life and longing for adventure.

Jurvetson’s body was found Nov. 16, 1969, by a birdwatcher in dense brush off iconic Mulholland Drive, about 6 miles from the site of the Manson family killings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate, the wife of director Roman Polanski, and four others.

Jurvetson had been stabbed 150 times, wasn’t carrying identification and eventually became known as Jane Doe. No. 59.

Police made the identification, first reported by People magazine, using DNA after Jurvetson’s sister recognized a photo of the young woman’s body posted online. The confirmation came in December.