Polly Hannah Klaas, a 12-year-old girl, was abducted at knifepoint from her home in Petaluma, California, on October 1, 1993, and later found murdered. Richard Allen Davis was convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 and sentenced to death.
SF From Marin Highlands3 — Credit: en:User:Paul.h · Public domain
Polly Hannah Klaas was a 12-year-old girl from Petaluma, California. On the evening of October 1, 1993, she was hosting a slumber party with two friends at her mother's home. A man carrying a knife entered the bedroom, bound her two friends, and abducted Polly at knifepoint. The kidnapping set off one of the most prominent missing-child searches in California history, drawing thousands of volunteers who helped distribute her photograph across the country.
Richard Allen Davis was arrested roughly two months after the abduction. He led investigators to Polly's body, which was recovered on December 4, 1993, in a shallow grave in Sonoma County, about 50 miles north of her home. Her cause of death was determined to be strangulation.
Because of extensive pretrial publicity, Davis's trial was moved from Sonoma County to Santa Clara County. In 1996 a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, together with special circumstances of kidnapping, burglary, robbery, and attempted lewd act on a child. He was convicted on June 18, 1996. Following the jury's recommendation, the court imposed a death sentence for the murder, five terms of life without the possibility of parole, and a determinate term of 31 years for the additional felonies. The convictions were affirmed on appeal in 2009, and Davis has remained on California's death row.
In 2024 Davis petitioned for recall and resentencing under a California law addressing certain sentencing enhancements. A Santa Clara County judge denied the petition, finding that it amounted to an unauthorized challenge to the death sentence, which could only be pursued through a writ of habeas corpus; a related habeas petition remained pending.
The case had a lasting effect on public policy and child-safety efforts. Polly's father, Marc Klaas, became a nationally known child advocate and founded a foundation in her name dedicated to protecting children. The case is widely cited as a catalyst for California's 1994 "three strikes" law, which increased sentences for repeat offenders, and it prompted upgrades to law-enforcement radio systems so that alerts about abducted children could be broadcast more widely. Polly Klaas continues to be remembered in her community, including through a performing arts venue named in her honor.
Polly Klaas is abducted at knifepoint from her mother's home in Petaluma, California, during a slumber party; her two friends are bound and left behind.
1993-12-04
Polly Klaas's body is recovered from a shallow grave in Sonoma County, about 50 miles north of her home.
1994-03-08
California's "three strikes" law, spurred in part by the case, is signed into law.
1996-06-18
Richard Allen Davis is convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances of kidnapping, burglary, robbery, and attempted lewd act on a child.
1996-08
Davis is formally sentenced to death.
2009
Davis's convictions are affirmed on appeal.
2024-05-31
A Santa Clara County judge denies Davis's petition for recall and resentencing.
Best coverage
Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
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People
Polly Hannah Klaas
VICTIM
12-year-old girl abducted from her home in Petaluma, California, and murdered in 1993.
Richard Allen Davis
CONVICTED
Convicted in 1996 of first-degree murder with special circumstances of kidnapping, burglary, robbery, and attempted lewd act on a child; sentenced to death.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Polly Hannah Klaas, a 12-year-old girl, was abducted at knifepoint from her home in Petaluma, California, on October 1, 1993, and later found murdered. Richard Allen Davis was convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 and sentenced to death.
Where did the murder happen?
Petaluma, California, United States.
Who was convicted?
Richard Allen Davis (Convicted in 1996 of first-degree murder with special circumstances of kidnapping, burglary, robbery, and attempted lewd act on a child; sentenced to death.).
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