Dateline: Cold Case Spotlight - 5 harrowing details of Veronica Perotti's more than 40 years old murder case, explained

Dateline: Cold Case Spotlight highlights one of California's most haunting cold cases-one that's lingered in silence since 1984. Veronica Perotti, a 19-year-old nursing student at Chico State University, was found murdered inside her college apartment. The killer has never been caught.

So, what really happened that summer? Here are five deeply disturbing details from a case that still grips the heart of a grieving mother and a town full of unanswered questions.

Dateline: Cold Case Spotlight - 5 harrowing details of Veronica Perotti's murder case

#1. Veronica's final night was heartbreakingly ordinary:

The evening before her body was discovered, Veronica had a simple plan, which was to read a book and head to bed. She'd also just spoken on the phone with a friend that same night before bedtime.

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Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But by the next afternoon, concern set in after she missed her shift at work. A friend biked over to check on her. What she saw through the back window changed everything.

Veronica was lying motionless on the floor of her bedroom, alone and lifeless. Construction workers nearby helped enter through the window and found her dead.

This wasn't a break-in gone wrong. The front door was untouched. Her bedroom was the only one on the first floor. Investigators later determined she was brutally beaten and likely stabbed. The attack was so violent, her mother, Jan Miller, said the mortuary discouraged an open casket. Jan told Dateline-

"I totally lost my mind."

#2. She was killed in the apartment she hadn’t even moved into fully

According to Dateline, Veronica was set to live with friends in the fall, but until then, she was the only one staying in the new off-campus apartment. Some of her friends had already dropped off belongings, and others often visited.

But that summer, she mostly lived alone. She was enrolled in summer school and juggling shifts at a local restaurant. The plan was simple: get ahead on her studies and enjoy the quiet before the fall semester began.

Instead, her life was cut short in that same apartment. There were no signs of forced entry. Jan believes her daughter likely knew her killer. She tells Dateline-

"Probably it was the person came over and she let them in..."

The attack occurred sometime after midnight on June 28. By morning, her future was gone.

#3. A quiet, vibrant life was shattered overnight

Veronica wasn't just another college student. She was the oldest of four siblings and had a naturally bright, uplifting presence. Jan shared with Dateline that she named her after the comic character Veronica from Archie Comics, saying,

"I always said if I ever had a daughter, I would name her Veronica. So I could call her 'Roni."

Jan described her daughter as upbeat and full of life, mischievous in the sweetest way, always smiling, always thoughtful. Jan recalled on Dateline-

"She hardly cried...She was just one of those quiet kids... very, very mischievous. Always could smile at you and be getting into trouble at the same time."

The kind of person who lit up a room just by walking into it. That light was taken away in the cruelest way possible.

#4. Decades later, the DNA points to a man, but the case remains unsolved

Over 700 interviews have been conducted, and still, Veronica's killer walks free. In 2000, DNA from the crime scene confirmed that the suspect is male. An FBI profile had long described the likely killer as a white man in his early twenties.

Authorities also believe he may have been someone from a similar background, possibly even someone she knew well.

According to Megan McCann from the Butte County Sheriff's Office, the case remains active. She told Dateline-

"BCSO continues to look at emerging technologies... to include advancements in DNA technology."

In 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger even issued a $50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. But despite these efforts, no arrest has yet been made.

#5. Her mother refused to stay silent and continues to fight even today

Ten years after losing her daughter, Jan Miller co-founded Citizens Against Homicide to support other families like hers. Since then, she's helped raise funds for DNA processing in cold cases, including Veronica's. Jan Miller told Dateline-

"It's expensive and a lot of counties don't have that much money..."

Her group has funded billboard campaigns with Veronica's photo and offers a $50,000 reward as an incentive.

Jan also helps keep Veronica's spirit alive through a yearly scholarship at her high school, Marin Catholic. The only criteria? The recipient must remind them of Veronica. She says;

"We don't care what you're studying... the glass has to be half full..."

Her push isn't just about justice. Jan says;

"I don't want to forget Roni. I want my grandchildren to know Roni..."

Dateline's continued focus on Veronica Perotti's story helps ensure her case is not forgotten. Through her mother's fight and the tireless efforts of law enforcement, there's still hope that the truth will come to light.

Until then, the question remains: Who killed Veronica, and why?

Also read: Dateline: Cold Case Spotlight - Who was Veronica Perotti and what happened to her? Details of her murder, explored.