Teresita Basa
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Teresita Basa was a nurse who gained posthumous attention for the unusual circumstances surrounding her murder[1] and its investigation. Her case has been featured in multiple true crime series and podcast, including Morbid: A True Crime Podcast (Episode 477), Unsolved Mysteries[2] and Voice from the Grave.[3]
On February 21, 1977, Basa was murdered in her apartment in Lincoln Park, Chicago,[4][5] after finishing her shift at Edgewater Hospital. After retuning home, she had dinner and spoke with a friend by phone in two calls: the first around 7:10 pm, discussing the sale of tickets,[6] and the second around 7:30 pm, with Ruth Loeb.[7] The first call lasted approximately 20 minutes, during which Basa mentioned that she was expecting a male visitor.[8]
Neighbors late noticed the smell of smoke coming from her apartment and alerted the janitor, who called 911. Firefighters responded around 8:40 pm to her unit on the 15th floor of 2740 N. Pine Grove Ave. Basa was found mortally wounded, stripped naked, with a butcher knife plunged into her chest. Her clothes were scattered over her body, and the mattress had been set on fire. Initial speculation suggested a sexual assault, but the autopsy later ruled this out.[9]
Police interviewed co-workers, friends and family members, who reported no known enemies or threats. Despite these efforts, the investigation stalled due to a lack of leads.
