San Francisco Call, Volume 87, Number 72, 10 February 1902

The Baffling Murder of Nora Fuller

Nora was just 15-years-old when she disappeared and became one of San Francisco’s oldest cold cases

Photo of Nora Fuller, San Francisco Call, Volume 87, Number 47, 16 January 1902

Eleanor Maude Fuller, known to friends and family as “Nora,” was an American girl born in China around 1886. The daughter of Wilfred and Alice Fuller, Nora had three siblings: an older brother named Louis, a younger sister named Sybil, and a baby brother called Wilfrid. The family made their home at 1747 Fulton Street in San Francisco, California.

In January of 1902, Nora’s life was taken at just 15-years-old. That fact alone is tragic enough. The circumstances surrounding the child’s murder are baffling.

Nora Goes Missing

Mr. and Mrs. Fuller struggled financially and had become estranged. Nora wanted to ease her mother’s s burden, so she quit school and sought employment.

Nora responded to an ad in the San Francisco Chronicle that read, “Wanted — Young white girl to take care of baby; good home and good wages.” She was ecstatic to receive the following post:

“Miss Fuller: In answer to yours in…