Missing Items Sought as Murder Clues

Costa Mesa police are looking for a wedding ring set, a lady’s watch and a calculator which belonged to a 22-year-old woman who was stabbed to death in her apartment on July 18, police said Wednesday.

Police also disclosed that the victim, Malinda Godfrey Gibbons, was sexually assaulted before she died.

Kent W. Gibbons discovered his wife’s body in their apartment upon returning from work. The couple had lived in the apartment for two days, after moving from Harrisville, Utah.

At the time of the murder, there were no signs that a robbery had taken place. However, a recent inventory of Gibbons’ possessions in the apartment by family members revealed some things missing, Police Lt. Rick Johnson said.

Johnson said bulletins have been issued to other police departments and pawn shops about the jewelry. The items were described as a wedding and engagement ring set welded together, the engagement ring containing three diamonds and the wedding ring containing three diamonds with one diamond in the center; a lady’s watch, either Pulsar or Citizen brand; and a Casio scientific pocket-size calculator.

Johnson also said it has now been determined that Gibbons was sexually assaulted before she was killed. She was found bound and gagged with her husband’s neckties in the bedroom of the apartment in the 2400 block of Harbor Boulevard. She bled to death from a stab wound to the heart, police said.

Police said they still have no suspects.

Irvine-based Western Digital Corp. is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

Kent Godfrey, 25, had started work as an electrical engineer at the company the day of the slaying.