A Nevada man has been sentenced to life in prison for the decades-old murder of 5-year-old Anne Pham, who was abducted, sexually assaulted, and strangled to death in 1982.
The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced on March 20 that Robert Lanoue, now 72, received a sentence of 25 years to life, with an additional 31 years.
Lanoue pleaded guilty in February to first-degree murder, kidnapping, committing a forcible lewd act on a child under 14, forcible rape, and forcible sodomy. He is also required to register as a sex offender for life.
Disappearance and Murder of Anne Pham
On January 21, 1982, Anne Pham disappeared while walking to her kindergarten class at Highland Elementary School in Seaside, California.
Her mother usually walked her to school, but shortly before her disappearance, Pham told her, “Stay home, Mom. I can walk by myself.” Sadly, she was “never seen alive again.”
Two days later, authorities discovered Pham’s body. An autopsy confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Despite an initial investigation, no arrests were made, and the case remained unsolved for 40 years.
