{{Short description|1986 murder}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2018}} {{Infobox person |name = Cara Evelyn Knott |image = Cara Knott 1986.png |image_size = 175px |caption = |birth_date= {{Birth date|1966|2|11}} |birth_place=Ventura, California, U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/cara_e_knott_born_1966_9581271|work=California Birth Index|title=Cara E Knott, Born 02/11/1966|accessdate=January 2, 2016|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316083906/https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/cara_e_knott_born_1966_9581271|url-status=live}}</ref> |death_date={{Death date and age|1986|12|27|1966|02|11}} |death_place=San Diego County, California, U.S. |death_cause=Strangulation |disappeared_date= |body_discovered =December 28, 1986, near Mercy Road bridge on Interstate 15 }}
'''Cara Evelyn Knott''' (February 11, 1966 – December 27, 1986)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/25-Years-After-Cara-Knotts-Murder--136258773.html|work=NBC San Diego|title=Mom to Face Cara Knott's Killer|date=December 27, 2011|author=Bledsoe, Greg|accessdate=January 1, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074149/http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/25-Years-After-Cara-Knotts-Murder--136258773.html|url-status=live}}</ref> was an American student at San Diego State University who disappeared on December 27, 1986,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sinha |first=Shivangi |date=2023-11-13 |title=Craig Alan Peyer: Where is Cara Knott's Killer Now? |url=https://thecinemaholic.com/cara-knott-murder-craig-alan-peyer/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=The Cinemaholic |language=en-US}}</ref> while driving from her boyfriend's home in Escondido, California, to her parents' house in El Cajon. The following day, December 28, Knott's car was found on a dead-end road at the Mercy Road offramp from Interstate 15 in San Diego County. Her body was recovered at the bottom of a {{cvt|65|foot}} ravine nearby.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-27 |title=Shocking Details Of College Student's 1986 Murder Still Haunt San Diego |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cara-knott-craig-peyer-murder-san-diego_n_65837f5ce4b04da98425aa68 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-25 |title=Former CHP officer who killed San Diego State student in 1986 could see early release from prison |url=https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/crime/chp-officer-murder-san-diego-state-student-prison-craig-peyer-cara-knott/509-e9c41aa4-afb5-441a-adeb-7f10dabb99ce |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=cbs8.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Knott's killer, Craig Alan Peyer (born March 16, 1950),<ref>[https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1771858.html Profile of Craig Peyer], caselaw.findlaw.com. Accessed 18 October 2022.</ref> was a police officer and thirteen-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). At his trial, it was revealed that Peyer had been targeting women along the interstate and had made predatory sexual advances on multiple female drivers during traffic stops.<ref name="ff"/> He was convicted of Knott's murder in 1988.
==Murder== thumb|right|Scene of the crime. On the night of December 27, 1986, twenty-year-old Cara Knott was driving south on Interstate 15 from her boyfriend's home in Escondido, California, to her parents' home in El Cajon when Craig Peyer, who was on duty in a marked California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle, directed Knott to pull off the freeway on an isolated, unfinished offramp.<ref name="ff"/> It was later discovered that Peyer also had been harassing several other female drivers in the same area by pulling them over on the same offramp, supposedly trying to pick them up as dates. In the Knott case, it was believed that the situation escalated to physicality when Knott threatened to report Peyer for his inappropriate actions. When he attempted to grab her, she slashed and scratched at his face. Peyer then bludgeoned her with his flashlight and strangled her to death with a rope.<ref name="la"/> He then threw her body over the edge of the Los Peñasquitos Creek Arch Bridge, where she fell into the brush below.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
Coincidentally, two days later, while covering the investigation of the murder, a reporter with San Diego station KCST-TV interviewed Peyer during a ride-along segment about self-protection for female drivers. At the time of the interview, Peyer had scratches on his face which, as details of the case unfolded, were thought to have been inflicted by Knott during the struggle with him.<ref name="ff"/> Peyer claimed the scratches were caused when he fell against a fence in the CHP parking lot, but the fence was found to be too high to have caused them. Moreover, within about an hour of when the murder was thought to have occurred, witnesses at a gas station saw a dishevelled Peyer drive in at high speed.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
==Investigation== {{Cleanup|section|reason=needs additional citations|date=May 2018}} Just after the KCST broadcast, nearly two dozen telephone calls, mostly from women, were received by authorities, with the callers reporting that Peyer was the officer who had pulled them over on the same offramp, even though in these cases Peyer was not hostile or violent towards them. They said that while Peyer may have been friendly with them, he also made them uncomfortable. In some cases, he gently stroked their hair and shoulders, which caused them some distress. In addition, several women had made complaints about Peyer before the murder, but these were dismissed because of his positive reputation within the CHP.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
Knott was last seen alive at a Chevron gas station just two miles away from the murder scene. The attendant remembered seeing a marked CHP patrol car making a U-turn on the road just after Knott had driven away. Furthermore, Peyer's own logbook revealed a hasty falsification about the time of the murder, as well as changes he made to several traffic tickets that had been written sometime later, according to the motorists to whom the tickets were written. Forensic dentist Norman Sperber examined the rope found in Peyer's patrol car and determined they seemed to match the rope marks around Knott's neck, although Sperber was later barred from testifying about his findings in court.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-16-me-2151-story.html|title=Top Forensic Dentist Sinks His Teeth Into Tough Crime Cases|last=Menn|first=Joseph|date=September 16, 1988|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 21, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=October 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005150111/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-09-16/local/me-2151_1_forensic-dentist|url-status=live}}</ref>
A distinctive and unusual gold rayon fiber—found to have been made using a yellow pigment instead of a dye—found on Knott's dress matched a shoulder patch Peyer wore on his CHP uniform.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-02-me-39916-story.html|title=Jurors Told Fibers Link Peyer, Knott|last=Reza|first=H. G.|date=February 2, 1988|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 21, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=September 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920074023/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-02-02/local/me-39916_1_purple-fibers|url-status=live}}</ref> Tire tracks on the bridge showed a car had pulled out hastily, leaving black marks on the pavement. A drop of blood also was found on one of Knott's boots, which was found to be consistent with Peyer's blood type (AB negative, the rarest type)<ref name="ff"/> and other genetic markers, although conclusive DNA testing was not available at the time of the investigation. Microscopic purple fibers also linked Peyer to Knott's murder.<ref name=":0" />
An internal investigation showed that while Peyer stopped many drivers for various legitimate violations, most of them were females who were driving alone. Additionally, they were of the same age group and physical description as Knott.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/crime/chp-officer-murder-san-diego-state-student-prison-craig-peyer-cara-knott/509-e9c41aa4-afb5-441a-adeb-7f10dabb99ce|title=Former CHP officer who killed San Diego State student in 1986 could see early release from prison|date=August 25, 2020|website=cbs8.com|accessdate=November 10, 2021}}</ref>
==Trials== The first trial resulted in a hung jury, after a 7–5 split in favor of conviction.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-killer-knott-case-denied-parole-2012jan11-story.html |title=Killer in 1986 Knott case denied parole |last=Littlefield |first=Dana |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=January 11, 2012 |access-date=December 26, 2020 |archive-date=December 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210162135/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-killer-knott-case-denied-parole-2012jan11-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon retrial, testimony regarding a potential second suspect and a hearsay explanation for the defendant's scratches was ruled inadmissible. Peyer was found guilty of murder, the second conviction related to a murder by an on-duty CHP officer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/05/11/Former-highway-patrolman-convicted-in-death/6797453096000/ |title= Former highway patrolman convicted in death |last=Greenwald |first=David |work=UPI |date=May 11, 1984 |access-date=May 18, 2025}}</ref> On August 4, 1988, Peyer was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.<ref name="la">{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-04-me-9995-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|title=An Emotional Judge Gives Peyer 25 Years for Killing Cara Knott|author=Reza, H. G.|access-date=December 29, 2015|date=August 4, 1988|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307161844/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-08-04/local/me-9995_1_cara-knott|url-status=live}}</ref>
Peyer refused to provide DNA for the test. At an initial parole hearing in 2004 after having served 17 years, when asked why he wouldn't provide a DNA sample, Peyer refused to answer. For this reason and his lack of remorse, the board denied his parole request.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
==Aftermath== Shortly after the trial, a wave of incidents was reported when female drivers traveling alone refused to stop when ordered to by the police.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
On November 30, 2000, Sam Knott, Cara Knott's father, died of a heart attack only a few yards from the site where Cara's body was discovered, where the family had constructed a memorial garden for her.<ref name="ff">{{cite episode|series=Forensic Files|title=Badge of Betrayal (Season 9, Episode 18)|network=truTV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-02-me-60177-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Sam Knott; Father of Murder Victim|date=December 2, 2002|access-date=January 1, 2016|author=Perry, Tony|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307095442/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/dec/02/local/me-60177|url-status=live}}</ref>
Peyer has been denied parole two additional times: in 2008 (after serving 21 years),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forpublicsafety.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=109&Itemid=48 | title=Former CHP Denied Parole Four More Years | accessdate = August 18, 2014 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131021205646/http://www.forpublicsafety.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=109&Itemid=48 | archivedate = October 21, 2013 |last=Moran |first=Greg}}</ref><ref name=SDUTparole2008 /> and 2012 (after serving 25 years).<ref name="parole2012">{{cite web |url=http://www.10news.com/news/board-denies-parole-for-ex-chp-officer-craig-peyer |title=Board Denies Parole for Ex-CHP Officer Craig Peyer |publisher=ABC 10 News |date=January 11, 2012 |accessdate=August 18, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719024738/http://www.10news.com/news/board-denies-parole-for-ex-chp-officer-craig-peyer | archivedate=July 19, 2013}}</ref> His next eligibility for a parole hearing is set for January 2027, when he will be almost 77 years old. Peyer is serving his sentence at California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo, California. At the time of his second parole hearing in 2008, he had "a nearly unblemished prison record" and "worked as an electrician at the facility"<ref name=SDUTparole2008>{{cite news |title=Parole board declares Peyer a risk, keeps him imprisoned |url=http://legacy.sandiegouniontribune.com/uniontrib/20080201/news_1m1peyer.html |first=Greg |last=Moran |date=February 1, 2008 |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915121859/http://legacy.sandiegouniontribune.com/uniontrib/20080201/news_1m1peyer.html |archive-date=September 15, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> for years, making $52 per month in salary from the job in 2003.<ref name=SDMparole2008>{{cite magazine |title=The Killer Cop |url=http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/February-2004/The-Killer-Cop/index.php?cparticle=1&siarticle=1 |first=Lisa |last=Petrillo |date=February 20, 2007 |magazine=San Diego Magazine |access-date=November 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104010328/https://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/February-2004/The-Killer-Cop/index.php?cparticle=1&siarticle=1 |archive-date=November 4, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He had worked briefly as an apprentice electrician after getting fired from CHP while on bail before the trial.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Region |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-04-mn-4740-story.html |date=June 4, 1987 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316083912/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-04-mn-4740-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Firm's Owners to Keep Peyer on Job Despite Threats |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-05-me-2944-story.html |author=Reza, H. G. |date=June 5, 1987 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316083845/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-05-me-2944-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> His third wife, Karen, whom he married 18 months before the murder and visited him regularly, divorced him around 2007.<ref name=SDMparole2008/><ref name=SDUTparole2008/>
==Media== {{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}} The Craig Peyer case has been covered in several books: * ''True Stories of Law & Order: SVU'' by Kevin Dwyer and Juré Fiorillo (Berkley/Penguin 2007) * ''You're the Jury'' by Judge Norbert Enrenfreund and Lawrence Treat (Holt Paperbacks 1992) * ''Badge of Betrayal: The Devastating True Story of a Rogue Cop Turned Murderer'' by Joe Cantlupe and Lisa Petrillo (Avon Books (Mm) 1991.) *''One Day: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary 24 Hours in America'' by Gene Weingarten (Blue Rider Press 2019) The case was also the subject of a few episodes of different television shows: * ''City Confidential'': "Badge of Dishonor" (2003) * ''Unusual Suspects'': "Betrayal of Trust" (2011, Season 1, Episode 2) - Investigation Discovery TV series * ''Forensic Files'': "Badge of Betrayal" (2004, Season 9, Episode 18).
==See also== *Cara Knott Memorial Bridge *Lists of solved missing person cases *{{section link|Police misconduct|United States}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20099196,00.html 1988: A California Highway Patrolman Is Tried Once Again for a Shocking Murder Under the Freeway] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140606223815/http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/February-2004/The-Killer-Cop/ 2004: The Killer Cop] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120313183230/http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041128/news_1n28dna.html 2004: Killer Peyer refused prosecutors' offer to test DNA] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120313183235/http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20040106-9999_1n6peyer.html 2004: Parole board to revisit Knott murder] *[http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/January-2008/No-Clemency-for-Peyer/ 2008: No Clemency for Peyer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606222347/http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/January-2008/No-Clemency-for-Peyer/ |date=June 6, 2014 }} *[https://archive.today/20120905171234/http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-parole-denied-chp-officer-murdered-coed,0,3248527.story 2012: Parole denied for CHP officer] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100408075014/http://zyberzoom.com/CaraKnott.html Memorial page for the victim, Cara Knott] via Internet Archive *{{YouTube|F5lJJ2wpb6o|Video showing the SD Crime Victims' Oak Garden built at the scene of Cara Knott's murder. Directions included}} *California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation [https://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov/ Inmate Locator]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knott, Cara}} Category:1980s in San Diego Category:1980s missing person cases Category:1986 in California Category:1986 murders in the United States Category:Asphyxia-related deaths by law enforcement in the United States Category:California Highway Patrol Category:Deaths by person in California Category:Deaths from asphyxiation Category:December 1986 in the United States Category:Female murder victims Category:Formerly missing American people Category:Missing person cases in California Category:Murders by law enforcement officers in the United States Category:People murdered in California Category:Violence against women in California