The Region - News from March 27, 1986

One 15-year-old girl was murdered and another was raped by a stranger who offered them a ride in Riverside County. Sheriff’s deputies found the body of Diane Harper in a remote area called The Badlands, northeast of Moreno Valley, after her friend was released by their attacker. Officers said the girls, both students at La Sierra High School in Riverside, had evidently skipped classes for the day and accepted a ride from the stranger when he offered to show them his marijuana fields. Deputies said the Harper girl was beaten to death. The girl who was released told deputies the man dropped her off near a ranger station after she begged him not to kill her.