Joseph Naso: The Alphabet Killer

For decades, the murders of four women in Northern California remained separated by time, geography, and unanswered questions. But investigators would eventually uncover a disturbing connection—and a suspect hiding in plain sight.

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, Susan and Jocelyn examine the case of Joseph Naso, the convicted serial killer whose victims included Roxene Roggasch, Carmen Colon, Pamela Parsons, and Tracy Tafoya. Investigators noticed an eerie pattern: each victim's first and last names began with the same letter, earning Naso the nickname “The Alphabet Killer.”

The investigation took an extraordinary turn when authorities searching Naso's home discovered photographs, handwritten writings, and a cryptic list containing references to women and locations. Prosecutors would use evidence accumulated over decades to build the case against him.

How did investigators finally connect Naso to murders committed years apart? What did the writings and photographs discovered among his possessions reveal? And could the mysterious list point to additional crimes beyond the four murders for which he was convicted?

This is the story of Joseph Naso and the Alphabet Killer case—a decades-long investigation involving cold cases, forensic evidence, disturbing records, and questions that remain long after his conviction.

Everyone lies. The evidence doesn't.

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