Woman Killed at School Was Strangled

The woman found dead on the steps of a Ventura elementary school this week was strangled, authorities said Friday.

Marsha Ann Lane, a 43-year-old transient, was killed on the grounds of Lincoln Elementary School between 5 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. Tuesday.

A teacher found her body on the steps near the principal’s office, said Det. Gary McCaskill.

Officials have not yet identified a suspect, McCaskill said.

“We have talked with a lot of witnesses or friends that knew the victim and are still looking for others that we know were her friends,” he said.

Lane listed Project Understanding--a Ventura-based homeless advocacy group--as her home address. She was known by police to frequent areas around west Ventura.

She had at least two grown daughters and a 3- or 4-year-old son who was taken from her by Child Protective Services several years ago, her friends said.

Lane was sentenced to probation and had to undergo anger management and parenting classes after being found guilty of willful cruelty to her son in 1994. She was also in court in January for a probation violation on a separate incident in the fall, according to court records.

One man, who asked not to be identified, said he had been friends with her since 1995 when the two met at an Ojai homeless shelter.

“We hit it off pretty good,” he said. “We were just good friends, you know. I knew she was hoping to straighten out and get custody of her son again.”

The man said the last time he saw Lane was Monday when she was at a free lunch in west Ventura with her boyfriend.

Police said they were still looking for anyone else who might have seen Lane on Monday. Anyone with information should contact McCaskill at 399-4482.