The Napa Murder of Anita Fagiani Andrews: A Cold Case That Caught a Serial Killer

by Raymond A. Guadagni

In 1974, the brutal murder of Anita Fagiani Andrews, a fifty-one-year-old former beauty queen and mother of two, shook the small working-class town of Napa. Detectives, criminalists and forensic experts raced to identify who'd struck Anita down in her own bar, but despite their efforts, the case went cold. Decades passed, during which the town grew into a world-renowned wine region and tourist destination, but the case remained an open question. After thirty-seven years, thanks to DNA evidence, the killer--imprisoned for a different murder--was finally found and brought to justice. Join author and retired judge Raymond A. Guadagni as he tells the story of the shocking murder, the investigation and the subsequent trial over which he presided in 2011.

208 pages, Paperback

Published January 18, 2021

Reviews

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very readable - a detailed account of the investigation and trial of a very old cold case.

[booksbymonth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short true crime book about a Napa murder in 1974. Very interesting and something I'd never heard of. Really makes one grateful for new technologies and detectives who never give up.

 However, I will say and I've always heard that when a case starts going cold then the victim's family just needs to keep pressing the detectives for information, leads, and what's going on. They will be more apt to keep it open if they keep hearing from you. Just like in this case...the sister never gave up so the police didn't either.