May 20, 2024 | By: Jillian Lombardo This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class. Earline Johnson Bagler was a protective, caring, and loving mother who prioritized her family above all else. She was gifted in the arts and a loving auntie to her extended family. Earline strode through downtown Los Angeles, exuding the confidence of a runway model. Despite not having a home, her attire radiated the glamor of a star. “The last time I saw her, she was happy and laughing, and in good spirits,” said her sister Karen Thompson. “She was downtown LA… in an environment where many people had migrated to that were homeless, but she was the best dressed homeless person down there.” Two weeks later, the once iconic Frontier Motel became the final setting for Earline’s life. The circumstances of her murder unfold with stark brutality; Earline was found beaten and suffocated in a downtown Los Angeles motel room.... Read More