The person at the center of this case
Joan Rosenthal
Homicide · Open
16 years waiting · since 2009
VICTIM - JOAN ROSENTHAL - TIBURON, CALIFORNIA
Justice for Joan Rosenthal — the trail went cold in 2009, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Who had access to the Tiburon residence and knowledge of the victim's routine?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What firearm was used in the shooting and can it be traced to a known weapon?
👁️
witness
Lead #3Did any neighbors or passersby observe suspicious activity or unfamiliar vehicles near the residence on the evening of September 21?
On September 21, 2009, 75-year-old Joan Rosenthal was shot once in the head at her Tiburon, California home and discovered by her housecleaner the following morning. The recently widowed grandmother and library volunteer had no known enemies and lived a quiet, local life, leaving investigators with limited leads. Despite years of investigation, her killer remains unidentified and the case remains unsolved.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Why would someone target a quiet, elderly widow with no known enemies or significant assets?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Tiburon, California September 21, 2009 On September 22, 2009, at approximately 10:00 a.m., the body of Joan Rosenthal, a 75-year-old White female, was discovered outside of her residence in Tiburon, California. Tiburon is a small town located approximately 20 miles north of San Francisco.
Rosenthal was found by her housecleaner inside her enclosed front yard near her front door. She had sustained a single gunshot wound to her head.
Investigators determined the time of death to be approximately 9:00pm the night before on September 21, 2009. Rosenthal was recently widowed and living alone.
She was a grandmother, library volunteer, had a small circle of friends, and did not travel much outside of Tiburon. Her homicide is still unsolved.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Tiburon Police Department.
Timeline of Events
👤
2009-09-21
21:00Estimated Time of Death
Joan Rosenthal was shot in the head at approximately 9:00 p.m. on September 21, 2009, outside her residence in Tiburon.
🔍
2009-09-22
10:00Body Discovery
Joan Rosenthal's body was discovered by her housecleaner at approximately 10:00 a.m. on September 22, 2009, inside her enclosed front yard near her front door.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:September 21, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Last Updated:September 12, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:September 21, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Last Updated:September 12, 2026