In a shocking revelation, authorities have announced that the unsolved 1986 murder of Cathy Small, a young woman from Southern California, has been linked to William Suff, a convicted serial killer who confessed to the crime. Suff, known as the Riverside prostitute killer or the Lake Elsinore murderer, was sentenced to death after being found guilty of twelve murders committed in Riverside County between 1989 and 1991.

The news conference held by Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Patricia Thomas revealed that DNA evidence from Small's killing matched Suff's genetic profile. Small, aged 19 at the time of her death, was found brutally murdered on a South Pasadena street in February 1986. Her body was discovered clad in a nightgown, with signs of stabbing and strangulation.

For years, Small's identity remained unknown until a resident from Lake Elsinore, approximately 70 miles southeast of South Pasadena, contacted investigators after reading a news article about her murder. This resident identified Small and provided crucial information about her last known movements before her death. He revealed that Small had mentioned being picked up by a man named Bill and offered $50 to drive with him to Los Angeles the night before her body was discovered.

Despite this significant lead, Small's murder remained unsolved for decades. However, in 2019, an investigator from the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office made a chilling discovery while responding to the natural death of a 63-year-old man in South Pasadena. Upon searching the man's house, which was located across the street from where Small's body was found, the investigator uncovered numerous disturbing items. These included photographs of women who appeared to have been assaulted and held captive, possibly by the deceased man himself. Among these items was a newspaper article detailing the identification of Cathy Small as the victim in the 1986 murder case.

Upon revisiting Small's case file, detectives discovered that crucial evidence had never undergone DNA testing. Subsequent testing conducted on the evidence revealed matches to both Suff and an unknown male suspect. However, there was no link found between this unknown male and any criminal activities.

In 2022, detectives conducted an interview with Suff over two days at a Los Angeles County jail. During this interview, Suff confessed to the murder of Cathy Small and provided detailed accounts of her killing. He also admitted to some of his previous murders in Riverside County.

Investigators have stated that they do not intend to pursue a trial for Suff in relation to Small's murder due to his prior convictions and pending death sentence. Additionally, there is currently a moratorium on the death penalty in California, which has been in place since 2019.

Cathy Small left behind two small children and a younger sister. Lt. Patricia Thomas read a heartfelt letter from Small's sister during the news conference, expressing her deep sorrow and expressing her sister's vibrant personality and loving nature. "My sister, Cathy Small, was not a statistic," the letter stated. "She was a protective big sister, a loving mother, and a good daughter. Kathy was funny, smart, and caring. She had a big heart and would do anything for anyone."