Husband Arrested In Murder Of NHS Graduate
Authorities searching Lake Piru for body of Marcia (Litoff) Forsberg
By Logan Hall
1967 Nordhoff High School graduate Marcia Forsberg, who has been missing since February, is now believed by authorities to have been murdered by her husband, Richard Gustav Forsberg, 61, of Rancho Santa Margarita. Investigators are now searching for her body in the area of Lake Piru.According to Jim Armormino, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner’s Office, friends and family of Forsberg — some of whom are from Ojai — had reported earlier this year, that she had not been seen since February. In initial interviews, when asked the whereabouts of Forsberg, her husband had indicated she was with friends in Arizona. On a second attempt by authorities to question Forsberg’s husband, he was nowhere to be found until the Sheriff’s Department received a tip from Palm Springs Hospital. “We got a call last night from medical staff that he was in the hospital in Palm Springs,” said Armormino. “He had been treated for attempted suicide. During the interrogation he made incriminating statements implicating himself in the murder of his wife. We have found no motive at this time. Homicide detectives are now following a lead at Lake Piru.”While authorities seem to be getting closer to a conclusion of the case, friends and family of Forsberg are beginning to get the answers to questions that have plagued them for months. “The entire story is just unfathomable,” said Forsberg’s brother Tony Litoff of Ventura. “Not having any knowledge of what happened made it feel like we were blowing in the wind. Knowing my sister and her husband’s personalities, this is a really big shock to everyone.”Litoff said that he is grateful to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for their efforts in the investigation. He also says that he appreciates the people who came forward with their concerns regarding Forsberg’s whereabouts. “My sister had a very tight-knit relationship with a handful of people that she graduated Nordhoff High with,” said Litoff. “I really want to praise her longtime friends that raised the questions that helped create the outcome.” Richard Forsberg is now in custody in the Orange County
I can not belve this could happen to my family. I am sad that I have not seen sharon since I was a small child, I am her and Tonys cousin, I wish I could have known her, she had so many friends that loved her. Tony if you read this please try to give me a call.
Love to you and to your mom. Sondra Litoff
Marcia’s death is shocking, heartbreaking news. We became close friends 40+ years ago at Ventura College and have corresponded for years. We reached the Christmas card stage and were both often late – but after not hearing from her for too long, I decided to try Facebook as a contact and could not believe this news. I feel so, so sorry for Marcia’s family, and so sad to have lost a very dear friend and correspondent. So many times I’ve wanted to revisit the Ventura area and spend some time with Marcia, but while she had no children, I have six and now grandchildren – my large family limited my travel time. But I’ve saved every card, letter, and photo, and recall every confidence we shared for so many years. I send my sincere regrets and condolences and hope you find this message. Marcia lives on in my memory. Kathy Balderson – June 11, 2011
Marcia will live on in the hearts of all of us that she touched at Nordhoff. She will always be remembered with a smile on her face and a light in her eyes. She will be missed by all of us. This is a tragic thing to happen to such a special and wonderful person.
Something I want to share here: a message from her brother on the VC Star blog and my response (link below)
“I am Marcia’s brother. I want to thank you all you sharing your gentle thoughts of my sister and your condolences to not only the family but to all who knew my sister over her good and happy life.
Those thanks go out especially to wraskala#3116944, dukester, sfrancina#245388, and any other posters that will follow this message whose post might also include a little snapshot of their remembrances, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, of my loving sister at any stage of her life. It saddens me to be in a position to tell you how comforting it makes a family member feel. The tears of joy those stories bring, reflecting on the cameos of happiness of a lifetime, helps to hasten the healing. It really does.
Marcia was a good sister, always respectful and supporting of the differences between us and never crowding me for more involvement in my life. She could be difficult at times, and sometimes a bit of a conundrum to her family and friends, but still, and to be certain: her presence and her time on earth made almost every life she touched richer, happier, fuller.
Those qualities are the only rights I have to ask of a sister.
Peace always Marcia……………….Tony”
in response to TahoeTony:
Dear Tony, brother of Marcia,
It does my heart good to read your loving thoughts. We love your sister Marcia, and in the coming days we will find ways to honor her beautiful spirit. I have two younger sisters and I know being a sibling can be much harder than being a friend! As siblings we see the shadow side that every human being carries.
Our Nordhoff class-of-1967 group had so much fun with Marcia at the Ya-Ya lunches that she organized at Suzanne’s in Ojai. She was definitely the leader of our pack! Kind and gracious, and whispering delicious bits of harmless gossip in my ear. I can see her perfectly in my mind’s eye… as others have mentioned, all these years she sent us Christmas and realy cute fun birthday cards (even though I confess I never reciprocated) and now I’m especially glad that I saved them.
My most special connection with Marcia was that we always e-mailed each other on or around the night of the full moon. Don’t laugh. We pretended we were yodelling each other names from the mountain top…Marzzzzzziaaaaa… Sometimes we were so attune that our messages crossed in cyberspace. This part makes me so sad — the full moon came that suddenly her messages stopped…It was so strange that I wondered if I had said something to offend her. No reply when I asked her if she was OK…
Like everyone else in Marcia’s life I am still trying to process what we have learned these past days after so much waiting and wondering… I hold her in my heart and will honor her memory, most especially when I remember her on the full moon…
As I write this I clearly remember standing outside with her on the first night of the Nordhoff High School Centennial Celebration in 2009. We stood still and watched the full moon rising above the Topa Topa… how beautiful and fragile life is.
Rest in peace sweet dear heart…let us mortals that remain take care of earthly concerns…
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/aug/31/authorities-searching-lake-piru-area-for-body-of/?comments_id=494350
Rest in peace beloved soul. You were a trusted confidant, friend and mentor whom I’ve looked up to literally my entire life. To have your life taken like this is beyond comprehension. My heart is broken.
I love you,
Cindy
So sad dear Marcia. You gave a lifetime of love only to have your life taken by the very one you trusted ,loved, and served so faithfully.
We shall all miss your sweet smile, easy going- good nature and enormous intellect. You were a bright light in a dark landscape, a light too soon snuffed out.
Rest in Peace dear heart,
The “Class” of ’67 always and forever in our hearts.