Overview of MURDERED: Dorothy “Toby” Tate
This episode revisits the 1983 unsolved murder of Dorothy “Toby” Tate, a free-spirited traveler whose death on California’s Highway 1 remained a cold case for more than four decades. Using preserved evidence, modern DNA genealogy, and old fingerprint work, investigators eventually identified two likely suspects and reconstructed what they believe happened the night Toby was killed.
What Happened to Dorothy “Toby” Tate
- On November 15, 1983, deputies responded to what initially looked like a minor car accident near Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County.
- Inside Toby’s van, they found her dead from a single gunshot wound beneath her left ear.
- The van showed signs of a collision, but investigators quickly determined:
- the shooting happened outside the van,
- Toby was likely ambushed as she was leaving the beach,
- and the crash evidence was part of a robbery-and-escape scenario rather than the cause of death.
- Two dogs were connected to the scene, and Toby’s leashes were still around her neck, reinforcing the idea that she had been out with them shortly before the attack.
Who Toby Tate Was
- Toby was 41 years old and known as a free spirit who lived out of her van, which she named Esmeralda.
- She had taken on a wide range of work over the years, including:
- nanny
- bartender
- photographer
- dog breeder
- church restoration work in British Columbia
- garden design in Dallas
- plans to grow a cleaning business in Colorado
- She was traveling at the time to visit family in California after the death of one of her aunts, then planned to continue south with her dogs.
Key Evidence That Drove the Original Investigation
Crime Scene Reconstruction
Investigators believe Toby:
- spent the afternoon at a campground near the beach,
- took her dogs to the beach,
- returned to her van,
- was shot through the driver’s side window,
- and then her van rolled until it struck another vehicle or object.
Physical Evidence
- A bullet casing was found up the road from the van.
- A Coke can near the scene yielded latent fingerprints.
- A cigarette was found near Toby’s body, though she was not a smoker.
- A blood trail led away from the van, suggesting the killer was injured.
The Stolen Camera
- Toby’s camera, reported stolen years earlier, resurfaced in 1985.
- It was traced through multiple hands back to Texas, but none of the people in that chain matched the scene fingerprints.
- This helped confirm the case was a robbery-related homicide, even though it didn’t identify the killer at the time.
The Cold Case Breakthrough
DNA Leads to Stephen Hardy
- Detective Clint Cole reopened the file decades later and focused on the blood evidence.
- Testing produced an unknown male DNA profile.
- Genealogy work pointed to Stephen Hardy, though he had no obvious violent history and no direct record placing him in California.
Fingerprints Point to Charlie Sneed
- Forensic specialist Shelby Liddell re-examined the Coke can prints without relying on the suspect name first.
- The prints matched Charlie Sneed, a violent man from Texas.
- That shifted the theory: Hardy and Sneed likely knew each other and may have worked together.
What Investigators Believe Now
The current theory is:
- Charlie Sneed and Stephen Hardy were together in California
- they likely targeted Toby for robbery
- one of them shot her during the attempted theft
- the other helped move her body and flee the scene
Because both suspects are now deceased, prosecutors said there is sufficient probable cause to charge them if they were alive.
Why Charlie Sneed Is Considered the Likely Shooter
Investigators noted that Sneed had:
- a documented history of violent, reckless behavior
- incidents involving firearms
- a connection to a pickup truck matching the broader suspect-vehicle description
- a pattern of escalating aggression that fit the crime better than Hardy’s quieter background
Remaining Mystery
One major unanswered question remains:
- Male touch DNA found on Toby’s clothing did not match either Hardy or Sneed.
- That leaves open the possibility of:
- contamination from investigators or medical personnel,
- another unknown person at the scene,
- or a third participant not yet identified.
Emotional Impact on Toby’s Family
The episode highlights how Toby’s murder devastated her family for decades:
- Her father died two months later.
- Her sister Priscilla lost her faith and never stopped calling for updates.
- Another sister struggled with alcoholism.
- The grief spread through the family for years, including additional losses and tragedy.
For Priscilla, the eventual solve brought real relief, especially when she visited the California coastline and finally understood where Toby’s last moments happened.
Bottom Line
This episode is a classic cold-case breakthrough story:
- an initially baffling roadside death,
- decades of stalled investigation,
- preserved evidence that survived long enough for modern science,
- and a long-awaited answer that brought partial closure, even though some details are still unresolved.
If You Have Information
Investigators still want to hear from anyone who knows more about the 1983 homicide of Dorothy “Toby” Tate or had contact with:
- Charlie Sneed
- Stephen Hardy
- or anyone connected to them in Texas or California
Contact:
- San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office Detectives Division: 805-781-4500
- San Luis Obispo County Crime Stoppers: 805-549-7867