Governor Offers $50,000 Reward for Information in Unsolved Murder Case

580 Pine Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Chief of Police: Carl Miller
Contact: Lieutenant Thomas Uretsky
Telephone: (831) 648-3151

For Immediate Release
Sunday, June 13, 2004

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the issuance of a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the brutal murder of Kristopher Olinger. Olinger was a 17 year old Monterey high school student who was stabbed to death at a beach in Pacific Grove on the night of September 18, 1997.

Kris had borrowed his mother’s car, a silver 1986 Honda Accord, saying that he wanted to take some night pictures. He visited some friends in Monterey and left a little before midnight. At 6 am the following day, his body was found in a beachfront parking area in Pacific Grove.  He had been stabbed over 30 times.  His mother’s car was missing, along with his wallet, camera, watch, and ring. Ten days later, the car was found on Willow Glen Way in San Jose. Kris’ murder remains unsolved.

Under the Governor's Reward program 173 rewards have been offered since 1967 and 16 have been paid. The reward process was initiated when the Governor received a written request from Chief Carl Miller of the Pacific Grove Police Department. Senator Bruce McPherson of the 15th Senate District supported the reward request . Sadly, the McPhersons lost their son Hunter in a senseless act of violence in San Francisco on November 16, 2001.

Rewards may be offered for crimes listed under California Penal Code section 1547 and subject to statutory maximums. Rewards do not expire and are only paid if the information leads to the arrest and conviction. Public assistance is vital to law enforcement, and rewards often encourage public cooperation essential to apprehend those who have committed serious offenses.

Anyone with information in the Kristopher Olinger homicide should contact the Investigative Division of the Pacific Grove Police Department at (831) 648-3151

Kristopher Olinger

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