This is an incredible true story of persistence and justice from a 1983 cold case in California. Jane Alexander, devastated by the murder of her aunt Gertrude “Gert” McCabe—who helped raise her—spent over a decade building evidence that led to her own boyfriend’s conviction.
The Backstory
Alexander, a wealthy San Francisco mother of six, lost her banker husband in 1977. She started dating his friend Tom O’Donnell, introduced him to Gert, and let him handle her finances. On October 23, 1983, Gert was brutally murdered in her home. O’Donnell vanished months later, leaving Alexander financially ruined after he nearly bankrupted her.
The Pursuit
Police suspected O’Donnell, but evidence was circumstantial. Alexander teamed up with investigator Grant Cunningham, uncovering key proof:
- O’Donnell’s nephew revealed he knew about the murder a day before police did.
- A photo showed O’Donnell tampering with the crime scene.
She went from luxury to a one-room apartment and job at a retirement home, but never stopped—co-founding Citizens Against Homicide to aid other families.
Justice Served
- 1986: O’Donnell convicted of defrauding Alexander (4 years prison).
- 1996: Convicted of Gert’s first-degree murder (25-to-life).
O’Donnell died in prison in 2010; Alexander passed in 2008 at 86, having helped solve 20+ cold cases. Her story inspired the book Citizen Jane (1999) and a 2009 Hallmark movie.
Stories like this show one person’s determination can crack the toughest cases—what cold case do you think needs more attention?
