Unguarded: A Security Guard’s Murder Remains Unsolved on the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of Her Death
Cold cases grow cold because their stories stop being told. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office published an interactive map and timeline last year with over sixty missing and murdered people whose cases remain unsolved. We have taken on the task of writing about each and every one of those cases, to keep their stories alive and hopefully find justice for the victims and families. Remember, as Jean Racine, the French playwright once said, “There are no secrets that time does not reveal.”
Sandra Kay Albiani
Twenty-five years ago on June 9th, 1997, horror, grief, and speculation fell over the company town of Scotia when a 45-year-old night-security guard went missing. Her body was eventually found buried in a pile of wood chips at the Pacific Lumber Company Mill.
Sandra Kay Albiani was a married, mother of two who worked as a night security guard for the lumber company. She was not supposed to work the night she was murdered, but she opted to cover a shift to help out. By all accounts, that’s who she was – a helpful, loving employee, wife, mother and community member.
Sandra was born Sandra Kay Coppini on Sunday, May 4th, 1952. Raised in Humboldt, Sandra was well-known and well-liked. As an adult she was a faithful Catholic, attending St. Patrick’s Church in Scotia. Those that knew her described her as a sweet-natured person.
Sandra’s murder shocked the small community of Scotia, at the time, a company town for the Pacific Lumber Company Mill. A Scotia resident said, “Our little town of “Mayberry” was freaked out.” Other residents said that speculation that a murderer lived amongst them put everyone on edge. Families began to worry about their loved ones that also worked the night shift. The peace in the idyllic town was shattered.
Speculation remains today as the murder has never been solved. With no solid leads, rumors have spread from suspicions surrounding Sandra’s husband Bruno, to John Annibel who is currently serving time for the 1998 murder of Debra Sloan, to a fellow employee accidently running Sandra over with a forklift and burying her body in a panic.
Current Investigation
Many community members, friends and family of Sandra’s have voiced frustration with the Humboldt County Sherriff’s Office’s (HCSO) handling of the case, some feeling like the murder was swept under the rug. However, HCSO Investigator, Robert Metaxas has been actively working on the cold case for the past 4 to 5 months.
Metaxas has been revisiting old leads and trying to track down new ones. We had the opportunity to discuss the murder of Sandra Albiani with Investigator Metaxas, a case he said keeps him up at night.
One of the biggest issues in solving the case is determining a motive for the murder of the beloved community member.
As a security guard, one might believe Sandra’s was killed in a botched robbery or something of that nature. However, Metaxas said there was no evidence that anything was stolen from the mill the night of Sandra’s death.
Several theories about an accidental death, covered up in a panic, surfaced. However, the forklift or vehicle accident does not hold up to reports that Sandra was strangled.
Many people focused their attention on Sandra’s husband, as did the HCSO investigators, then and now. The public scrutiny and speculation still follow Sandra’s husband twenty-five years later as is evident by the amount of social media comments and emails sent to this reporter focusing on the Albiani’s marriage. Statistically, a woman’s murderer is a current or former intimate partner over 50% of the time.
However, Metaxas told us that Sandra’s husband was quickly cleared of her murder at the time of her death, and again by him when he took on the cold case earlier this year. When pressed further, Metaxas said that Bruno has “bent over backwards” to assist in finding his wife’s murderer and has been very cooperative. The investigator is aware of the speculation that has followed Sandra’s husband but says that he has been cleared in 3 to 4 areas and is not a suspect.
What We Know
-Sandra was reported to have been strangled.
-There is no known evidence of a robbery.
-Sandra’s body was found buried in a pile of wood chips, possibly indicating that someone buried her with a piece of equipment.
-There was no evidence of a sexual assault.
-Investigators do have DNA evidence to compare to any possible suspect.
How Can We Help
As time goes by, memories fade and details blur. Investigators and loved ones fight against the clock to uncover evidence and witnesses to bring justice for those who die at the hands of another.
The quest for justice for Sandra has been long, but it is not without hope. Metaxas is committed to solving this case and bringing closure to Sandra’s friends and family. The investigator said he is hoping that someone will step forward to help bring closure to Sandra’s family who has already suffered tremendous tragedy, including the loss of her oldest son in a tragic motorcycle accident eight years after his mother’s murder.
Any detail, no matter how little may be of use to the investigation. Metaxas encourages the public to contact the HCSO tip line or him directly to discuss the case.
HCSO asks that if anyone has information to share about this case, “please contact our Crime Tip Line at 707-268-2539, submit information using our Online Crime Tip Form, or email [email protected]. Please reference the case number associated with the case when reporting information.” The case number for the death of Sandra Kay Albiani is 199703626.
To contact Investigator Metaxas directly, email him at [email protected] or call at (707) 476-2497.
This article is written by Lisa Music, a local freelance journalist. To reach Lisa about tips, questions or comments, email her at [email protected]
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I remember that incident.. Did PL run a night shift back then?
Yes
Both swing and graveyard…
Incident? SMH. JEEZ
I have always windered if it was an enviromental whack job. There was a lot of clash between enviromentilist and PL at the time. IF memory serves me right didnt PL logging cause a slide in Stafford the year before? Could be some nut retalating and spreading fear. I remember Earth First calling for violance back then.
environmental activists don’t know how to operate equipment. it was obviously an employee.
That is a big assumption. People that have never worked for PL know how to run equipment.
John Annibel knew how to operate equipment and he lived just 23 miles south of Scotia on his parents property. He is suspected in several disappearances and murders. All women. He is serving a life sentence for murdering another woman.
Have they compared the DNA evidence they have to Annibel? I’m sure they have. Probably not a match therefore why he has not been charged.
In 1997 John Annibel lived over 3 hours away, in Fort Bragg.
More likely a whack job domestic abuser who is fishing buddies with the Sheriff.
If they were going to be violent I would assume a security guard would be the least likely target
Naa they go after the weak not some big healthy logger. Who know what goes through peoples minds. It could have been a thrill ill aka random killing just to see what it is like. Why anyone would do something like this is beyond me.
Loggers backs are all stoved up and they can’t run unless they’re dragging chokers!
Omg…you remember wrong or you’re making that up.
You know it is someone right there in the community. Walking around, shopping in the stores, eating his meals, breathing air. Sickening.
‘His meals’ that’s is sexist and I am offended
No sign of robbery but use of heavy equipment likely. Who was working at PL that night who had access to heavy equipment? In particular certain type of heavy equipment?
The so called heavy equipment was a bobcat. They wrapped her in a tarp and put her in the bobcat and dumped her out back of the power plant then put the bobcat back where they got it from. The story goes
My guess is the HCSO knows who did it. They just can’t prove it in a court of law.
At the time a lot of people were suspicious of her husband . However, he was good ol’ boy and domestic violence murders often get swept under the rug around here.
Did you read where the Sheriff’s Department said he had been cleared.
Like I trust them smh ..
And so many people posted on the article on Humboldt County on Alert about this woman recently that they were neighbors with this woman and her husband and she was a victim of domestic violence and they’d hear him abusing her and this went on for years. So he would in actuality be the prime suspect.
Kym: you must know that the sheriff’s dept. “clearing” someone can mean nothing, right? As a true crime enthusiast, people can be “cleared” that actually are the murderer. Connections can make all the difference. Someone says “oh, he was with me at that day/time,” when the person was paid to say that, or bribed to say that, or…….. As a journalist, you can’t be that naive. And nothing personal toward you. You are fantastic, but no way does someone being cleared NECESSARILY mean they weren’t actually the killer.
Another conspiracy theorist…
The willingness to turn a blind eye to the obvious (spouse) in favor of the random is a common problem in law enforcement, journalism and in our culture. It’s WHY so many female homicides remain unsolved . An alabi is easily faked, investigators can be manipulated and just fail to do their job, as men tend to believe other men, and are grotesquely bonded in their collective disrespect and disdain of women. Like judge Judy says, “If it doesn’t make sense it’s not true ” and no other perpetrator makes as much sense as her reportedly abusive husband finding a way to make her disappear. Whether he did it himself, or as it might seem- had help- chances are high his hands are dirty. Lemme guess, he cashed in the life insurance and hooked up with a replacement immediately afterwards?
Yes, yes, and yes. The fact that folks say “but he was cleared” is so stunning to me. Alabi’s are SO easily faked. The folks saying that should know better, frankly. And everything you said is SPOT ON. Lots of commenters on a prior thread talked of hearing him abuse her for years. So him, or had someone do it, which is incredibly common and those who don’t realize that are naive.
Another case of domestic violence murder swept under the rug????
Likely.
I remember when this happened and it was terrible. I’m no detective but if you have DNA and a suspect in prison this should be a no brainer. He either did it or not. Let’s start looking somewhere else. Who ever did it could be dead by now.
.
Did they ever look into the profile of the person she was supposedly covering for that night? Maybe they were the intended target…
I remember this tragic event. I worked with her sister in law. The whole family was distraught. I always felt like it was someone known to her. Like the bosses son, just saying. Hope the perp is found.
Good question!🤔
I wonder if they’ve considered running the DNA against Genealogy DNA databases?
Was it a large amount of wood chips that’s why they assume equipment was used ? Could the dna be put into a genealogical website/database to see if the killer can be found similar to the Golden State Killer?
We think it was one of you pot smokers from the greater L/A area (Mexico border to Weott).
My first thought when seeing this article was John Annibel. He also killed my best friends niece who lived with him at the time of her disappearance. Her remains were discovered years later behind his place of employment at the time she disappeared. Our DA opted not to prosecute him for it. He also killed a nurse years before that. He claimed then it was accidental and was not prosecuted for that death either. John.Annibel was probably Humboldt Counties first serial killer.
Jon’s dad worked or ran the mills around here.He was one of the big boss.Thats why I fill they never or got away with it the DA……
Ms. Stockton,
I’m working on a podcast about John Annibel. I’d like to correspond with you about it.
Id like to be kept in the making of anything concerning my dad if that’s ok feel free to email me
He murdered my mother Debbie Sloan
It is very cool hearing from the locals on this story including Annibel bits. I feel sorry for Sandra and Annibel’s victims. Scotia was never the same after Sandra’s murder. The Palco employees knew they were working with a cold-blooded murderer among them.