Suspect in 1982 Anne Pham murder case pleads guilty

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Robert John Lanoue pled guilty to the murder of Anne Pham Thursday morning, according to the Monterey County District Attorney's Office.

Lanoue pleaded guilty to the crime of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering 5-year-old Anne Pham in Seaside in 1982.

Pham had gone missing on January 21, 1982 while walking to Kindergarten at Highland Elementary School.

Her remains were found later in the former area of Fort Ord by an Army Criminal Investigation Division investor.

After being a cold case for years, the case was reopened in 2020 using DNA evidence to find a suspect.

Lanoue was arrested in his Reno, Nevada home and charged with one count of first-degree murder, with special circumstance allegations that he murdered Pham while committing kidnapping and a lewd act on a child under the age of 14.

Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges and Seaside Police Department released the following statement on their Facebook page:

To Anne:

I wish you were here. We wall wanted to see who you would’ve become. Your sweet and innocent life was taken so soon.

You deserved to live a long and vibrant life and a monster took that from you and everyone who loved you. I never forgot reading your case file many years ago. We never forgot about you.

When the Monterey County Cold Case Task Force formed, we knew good things would come. Investigator, Bill Clark and DA Matthew L’Heureux played major roles in solving your case. We are so grateful to them.

We caught him in 2022, Anne. Today, he admitted to his guilt and will spend the rest of his life behind bars. He can never hurt another child again.

Your picture was once very conflicting for me. I could not tell if you were smiling at me or asking for help. Today your picture is clear to me. I see your beautiful little smile. We can all see it now.

You are finally at peace. Rest well. It’s all done sweetheart.

Lenoue is expected to spend the rest of his life in prison.