Missy’s Murder
Karen Kingsbury
A book-length account for readers who want more detail.
1985 · California, United States
Michele “Missy” Avila
The story behind Missy’s Murder
Seventeen-year-old Michele “Missy” Avila was lured into the Angeles National Forest and drowned in 1985. Her friends Karen Severson and Laura Doyle were eventually convicted of killing her. The case was especially disturbing because the killers remained close to Missy’s grieving family while the crime was still being investigated.
EXPLORE THE CASE
The Story
When1985
WhereCalifornia, United States
In this collection28 resources
Start here.
Choose a book, screen story or audio episode from this case’s collection.
A Killer Among Friends (1992)
IMDb · Screen title
A documentary perspective to explore alongside the written sources.
Lady Starlight: The Murder of Missy Avila
Residue: A True Crime Podcast
An audio option for exploring this case while listening.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon buttons marked “paid link” may earn us a commission. Affiliate disclosure
Where are they now?
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
Nicknames & media names
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Blogs & Essays
Read our articles here and explore outside perspectives, credited to their writers and publications. See this case in the Journal →
From the journal
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
Blogs & essays
2 itemsAbout these sources
Outside essays and reading guides reflect their authors’ perspectives. Compare claims with reported and primary sources.
True Crime Stories · Blog / essay
Missy Avila
An outside blog or essay discussing Michele “Missy” Avila. Read the author’s analysis alongside the dated reporting and court sources in this case guide. Some publishers require a subscription.
Outside CommentaryAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Read It! · Blog / essay
Read It! (For Those of Us That Are Avid Readers): Missy's Murder
An outside blog or essay discussing Michele “Missy” Avila. Read the author’s analysis alongside the dated reporting and court sources in this case guide. Some publishers require a subscription.
Outside CommentaryAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
EXPLORE THE CASE
Books
CONTINUE YOUR READING
Search this case on Amazon · paid linkSearch results may include unrelated titles. Check the author, edition, and case connection before purchasing.
Explore Reading & Streaming Options · Our case guides are free.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon buttons marked “paid link” may earn us a commission. Affiliate disclosure
Books
1 itemsKaren Kingsbury
Missy’s Murder
A nonfiction account of this case. See the linked edition for publication details and available formats.
BookAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Search Amazon · paid linkExplore this book
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Movies & TV
Movies
2 itemsAbout these sources
Watch links, previews and title listings are identified below. Rentals or subscriptions may be required.
watch.afi.com
A Killer Among Friends (1992) — film information
Dramatized screen account. Follow the link for the title listing or available viewing options; scenes and dialogue may be adapted.
Fiction / DramatizationAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Search Amazon · paid linkViewing options & film details
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
IMDb · Screen title
A Killer Among Friends (1992)
Scripted dramatization. IMDb title reference connected to the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Listed release: 1992. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate. Actors, dialogue and reconstructed scenes should not be treated as documentary evidence.
Fiction / DramatizationTitle Details · Not Playback
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Search Amazon · paid linkCredits & title details on IMDb
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
TV & documentaries
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Audiobooks
Listen to a book connected to this story. Each edition below is matched to its author and audiobook source.
Audiobook
Missy’s Murder : Passion, Betrayal, and Murder in Southern California
Audio edition verified at the linked source. The Amazon button is a title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed.
Edition checked 2026-10-12
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon buttons marked “paid link” may earn us a commission. Affiliate disclosure
EXPLORE THE CASE
Fiction Work
Fiction Work
Browse all →Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.
watch.afi.com
A Killer Among Friends (1992) — film information
Dramatized screen account. Follow the link for the title listing or available viewing options; scenes and dialogue may be adapted.
Fiction / DramatizationAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Search Amazon · paid linkViewing options & film details
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Podcasts
Podcasts
14 itemsAbout these sources
Audio episodes and oral histories. Personal recollections are attributed perspectives; some services require sign-in.
Residue: A True Crime Podcast
Lady Starlight: The Murder of Missy Avila
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released June 11, 2024. About 51 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
People are the Worst
Missy Avila | 98
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released May 2, 2024. About 44 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Criminal Curiosity
11. The murder of Michele 'Missy' Avila
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released June 24, 2021. About 31 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
The Brown Couch
The Tragic Murder of Missy Avila
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released October 28, 2022. About 19 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
True Crime Recaps
Jealousy Drove Her Childhood Best Friend to Kill: The Michele Avila Case
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released March 19, 2025. About 21 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Curious Nyxsins
The Murder of Missy Avila
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released February 24, 2025. About 40 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Show 8 more podcasts
So Cal Slaughters's Podcast
Michele "Missy" Avila
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released April 26, 2026. About 44 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
The Book of the Dead
Chapter 90: Frenemies to Fatalities-The Murders of Missy Avila & Skylar Neese feat. Beyond the Rainbow Podcast
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released January 14, 2025. About 50 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Cruel Tea
Deadly Friendship: The Missy Avila Murder Season 2 Episode 241
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released May 12, 2023. About 56 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Crimes and Consequences
EP119: The Murder of Missy Avila
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released January 17, 2022. About 67 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Menopause is Murder
Missy Avila
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released March 23, 2026. About 63 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Murder and Moonshine
Episode #143 The Murder of Missy Avila
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released September 23, 2025. About 71 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Murder: True Crime Stories
SOLVED: Missy Avila 1
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released February 10, 2026. About 38 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Murder: True Crime Stories
SOLVED: Missy Avila 2
Podcast coverage of the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Released February 12, 2026. About 43 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
EXPLORE THE CASE
Social Media
BRING YOUR PERSPECTIVE
Where would you start?
Choose your reading route, then share a question with your community.
Your choice stays on this page. No vote is submitted or counted.
Talk about sources and storytelling with care for the people affected. A documentary, a book and a court record serve different purposes.
EXPLORE THE CASE
News & Reading
More Reading & Audio
3 sourcesExplore book records, previews, library audiobooks and selected documents. Access labels distinguish free material from library loans and paid subscriptions.
hoopla · Library Access
Missy’s Murder — Karen Kingsbury (Audiobook)
An account of Michele “Missy” Avila’s murder and the investigation involving her friends. Borrowing requires a participating library account; your library determines availability.
Check Library Access ↗Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
Open Library · Catalog / Availability
Missy's Murder by Karen Kingsbury
Bibliographic record for related reading. Check the edition page for previews, lending and other access options; full text has not been confirmed.
View Catalog & Access Options ↗Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
Google Books · Catalog / Availability
Missy's Murder
Related book record. Google may offer selected pages or another edition; full-book access is not confirmed.
View Catalog & Access Options ↗Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
Reading Access Notes
Search reviewed 2026-09-16. Sources searched: Google Books, Internet Archive, Open Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Magazine, The Atavist Magazine, hoopla, Google Books (case/title search), Scribd, Everand, OverDrive and hoopla (combined title search). Search indexing is incomplete; this is not an exhaustive list of the web. Access can change by edition, country and library membership. Library loans may require sign-in or a wait. Everand titles may need a paid subscription; a trial is not permanent free access. Scribd documents are third-party uploads, with uploader details noted where checked. We link to source pages and write our own descriptions rather than reproducing copyrighted books.
A separate Texas Monthly search was blocked by the publisher’s automated-access rules and could not be verified.
News & reporting
1 itemsLos Angeles Times
Reporting and case background
Linked reporting or commentary. Read the source date for its historical context; access may require a subscription.
JournalismAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Newspaper clippings
1 itemsFeatured newspaper clipping
Read our original summary below. The archive link opens the newspaper’s own clipping viewer.
North County Times · 1990-03-11 · Page 12
Doyle and Severson sentenced for Avila’s killing
A sentencing report records the prison terms and statements from Michele Avila’s family.
Historical reporting; read in the context of its publication date.
Newspaper ReportingAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Read the original at Newspapers.com. Access and subscription requirements are set by the archive.
Open full clipping at Newspapers.comKeep following the newspaper trail.
Search original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.
Explore more on Newspapers.comNewspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.
Internet Archive
1 itemsAbout these sources
Library records and preserved media. A catalog listing does not guarantee full reading or playback.
Internet Archive · Library record · 1991
Missy's murder
Kingsbury, Karen. A library catalog record for a book connected with Michele “Missy” Avila. The record may offer a preview or borrowing options; full reading access is not guaranteed.
Archive ResourceAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
EXPLORE THE CASE
Court & Files
Court records & documents
1 itemsAbout these sources
Documents are labeled by type and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. This collection is not the complete case file.
Habeas findings and recommendationGovernment repository
Doyle v. Hornbeck — parole-related habeas recommendation
A magistrate judge’s findings and recommendation on Laura Doyle’s challenge to a parole denial. The filing identifies the conviction involving Michele Avila and Karen Severson. It is a recommendation, not the final district-court order.
- Court / agency
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- Document date
- September 17, 2008
- Case / citation
- 1:06-CV-1863 AWI JMD HC · Document 11
- Hosted by
- GovInfo
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
EXPLORE THE CASE
Positive Outcome
Positive Outcome
0 itemsAbout these sources
Documented laws, advocacy and reforms. Listing a change does not claim it is effective or universally supported.
No case-specific reform has been verified for this collection yet.
Social Media
5 itemsAbout these sources
Case-specific posts, videos and communities. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting. Platforms may require sign-in.
People are the Worst Podcast
The Brutal Murder of Missy Avila
Video from People are the Worst Podcast covering the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Length: 40:14.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
The Missy Avila Documentary
DEADLY BETRAYAL - THE MISSY AVILA STORY
Video from The Missy Avila Documentary covering the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Length: 15:37.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Residue: A True Crime Podcast
30: Lady Starlight: The Murder of Missy Avila
Video from Residue: A True Crime Podcast covering the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Length: 47:43.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
The Missy Avila Documentary
DEADLY BETRAYAL: THE MISSY AVILA STORY: Episode 001 - A phone call with Laura Doyle.
Video from The Missy Avila Documentary covering the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Length: 12:50.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
The Missy Avila Documentary
DEADLY BETRAYAL, THE MISSY AVILA STORY PODCAST - EPISODE 002
Video from The Missy Avila Documentary covering the Michele “Missy” Avila case. Length: 12:02.
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)