Shannon LeFree was only 3 1/2 years old when she saw a man in her home at 12900 East Baranmor Parkway.
She would later tell Aurora police that she believes she had seen the man at a softball game shortly before that day. The young girl was only able to give a very vague description of the man.
He had entered the home on the afternoon of April 21, 1980 without leaving signs of a forced entry.
Shannon’s father, Stephen Dean LeFree, worked at a milk distribution business run by his father-in-law and went to work early every day, said Aurora Det. Steve Conner, who investigates cold cases.
He was a relief worker, who filled in for sick milk delivery workers. His wife, Ann, was a stay-at-home mom who was five months pregnant.
On this particular day he returned home at 3:15 p.m.
It was odd that the front door was open, he would tell Aurora homicide detectives.
He went into the home and found his daughter Shannon in her room.
As he searched the home he said he found his wife, Ann Francis LeFree, 25, in a bathroom.
She was lying on the floor, bleeding from the head and mouth, according to Aurora police records.