Anne Gillin outside Poma’s during a shoot for the TV series “Terriers”.
UPDATE: It has been confirmed by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office that Anne Gillin’s body was found in the bay on April 28th. Her case is pending and no more details will be released for 30 to 90 days.
OB Crime Watch Facebook Describes Death of Anne Gillin – A Local Character – Possibly Homeless
The OB Crime Watch facebook has been carrying a story about the death of a local OB woman by the name of Anne Gillin . Although there are no San Diego news or coroner’s reports on her, the facebook that many in OB rely on regarding info or news of crimes, has been discussing her.
Anne was a local character – and known by many who saw her always in brilliant lipstick and dressed up – no matter what hour it was. It was very possible that she was homeless at the time.
According to OB Crime Watch:
Around April 28th, here body was found by the docks and her clothes were found scattered by the trash cans next to the boat launch on Shelter Island. Police scoured the shoreline looking for any clues and reportedly questioned one man for a long time. There were no signs of foul play/trauma on her body when they pulled her out of the water.
The original comment about Anne’s death was claimed to have been made by someone who has a Harbor Police source. Observers speculate that the police investigators are still doing an investigation.
Celeste McClure, one of the originators of the OB Crime Watch facebook page, shared a posting about Anne (author unknown) – NONE OF THE BELOW HAS BEEN CONFIRMED:
Just a little history on Annie.
She was born in Malta, her mother married an Australian and they raised her there.
When she grew up and got married, her and her husband moved to Ocean Beach in the 70’s.
She supported her family as a stripper for many years which she loved actually. If you have been around that long you probably caught a performance of hers at some point in time. I’ve met many people who have. She was still working the clubs in 1998 when I moved here.
A few years later she retired, and did anything she could to survive (no 401K).
Many people in OB gave her a places to stay over the years; some of them have passed away already.
She was a born again Christian….. she put all her faith in God. Always carried a bible with her.
She was diagnosed with schizophrenia about 6 years ago at Scripps, a diabetic for many years….. and she never ever ran out of red lipstick.
Sometimes it’s easier to understand a person if you know where they came from. I just wish I would have obtained a way to contact her son while she was staying with me. She went up to Oregon to visit him a few years ago to meet her granddaughter. I don’t think they had much contact over the years.
Anyways, I just wanted to share what I know about her.”
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t know this lady, but I have seen her in OB from time to time by herself always walking around. The way she always dresses & flaunts her stuff, you kinda knew she was at risk to the public & for her safety. I always wonder if she was actually a local hooker or just like to dress like that because of her confidence. Sorry to hear about her death, but it seems like she was a nice person.
How sad we are as a nation when we assume someone was murdered just because of the way they dressed. We do not have the facts in this case. And even if we did, women should never be blamed for violent crimes against them for the way they dress. That is an outdated fallacy that keeps women oppressed and offers a criminal a way out of their horrific crimes.
Sad story Saw her around OB fairly regularly If you saw her you couldn’t miss her on her high heels and headed to the beach. Never talked to her but she seemed harmless enough just another OB character. Saw her on Shelter Island several weeks ago which I thought was strange because it was the wrong side of the hill from where I usually saw her. I don’t think she was a hooker just strange
Rest In Peace Anne
Aww. I remember seeing her around as far back as I can remember. She always seemed to be in a good mood; pretty darn cofident woman that’s for sure. That’s crazy that she’s gone. Thanks for sharing about her Celeste.
Please use actual verifiable sources other that Facebook posts. Your story has many factual errors.
– Her name was Anne Gillin, not Anne Hollywood
– She was not a prostitute
– No foul play is suspected, so far it looks like an accidental drowning
– She was not nor has ever been homeless.
– She had moved over near Shelter Island and this is why she was often seen in that area. The location she was found at was at the small beach next to the boat launch where she used to sunbath and swim.
Also, anyone who is “victim blaming”, get a grip. This woman was proud of the way she looked and had every right to dress the way she did. She was very quiet, respectful and by all accounts, very nice. Never in 40 years have I seen her doing anything unsavory or indicative of prostitution. Please be respectful in your comments, she has a son and a grandchild who live in Oregon.
She was a person, just like all of us. Her name was Anne Gillin and may she forever rest in peace.
Ron I’m not sure you knew her very well. I’ve been here for 18 yrs and if she had a home, why was she couch surfing all these years. Many nights she would sleep on the beaches if she didn’t have a place to stay. She stayed at my house many times because she was homeless. I’m also tired of people commenting on the conditions of the incident, when the police report hasn’t even been released. I spoke to someone who lives down on Kohlers Docks, who spoke to the Police that morning. He was told it was a brutal death. I’m more inclined to believe the people who were there. I loved Annie. She was a trickster, she turned tricks all over Point Loma…. everybody knew that. It broke my heart when I found out. We are still planning a memorial for her, however we were waiting for the Police report to come out.
You have your “sources” and I have mine. I have seen Anne around Ocean Beach for nearly the past 40 years and stand by my statements, pending the release of the official reports.
You are the only one I have heard that claims to have known Anne personally to describe her as a prostitute and whatever other information you have beyond the report(s) that have not been released is unverified and thus rumor and innuendo. You might want to familiarize yourself with the word “allegedly” and actually use it when you are making such statements that again, are not verifiable at this time.
I clarified my comment below about Anne being homeless. You are also the first and only person that I heard claiming that she slept on the beaches. Regardless of our differences of opinions and sources, to me it is rather classless to make statements such as you did about someone who recently departed and you claim that you loved dearly – things that even if they are true are deeply personal subjects that I am sure she would not be proud of if they are indeed true and certainly making such allegations would definitely be harmful to any family members or friends that knew her differently if they happen upon this article. What you said I find to be extremely inappropriate.
Perhaps you truly are sick of people commenting on what the actual circumstances of her death were. I only reported what I was told by the Medical Examiner’s Office as did Frank yet you post “I spoke to a friend that spoke to the police…”. That is unverifiable information and again, nothing more than rumor. Maybe you should heed your own advice and stop posting unconfirmed information as well and like the rest of the majority of us at this point – wait until the official reports to come out.
Surely you must understand that when something like this first happens, people are going to speculate and make some assumptions that can be either right or wrong or have their own particular sources for information as well. It is the natural cycle of developing news, especially regarding stories that have had so very little information released such as this has.
We are now moving past that phase, just sitting and waiting for the details to come out in the official reports. I would suggest you do the same and I am very glad that I am not your “friend” and I had passed, as I would never want to know that such unsavory things would be said about me in remembrance – regardless if they were true or not.
Anne was married to my mate Shayne from Australia she treated like shit.
I even saw the way she treated Shayne.
Frank, you quoted me from a post I put on facebook about her history. Thanks for the credit. I don’t think you should report the details of the incident without a police report. The “no trauma to her body”….. “no foul play”….. then why is the investigation still going on? Don’t report a story if you don’t have the facts yet.
We posted information from you – we didn’t know your name – so, thanks for coming on and providing more info. Why would you or anyone for that matter post incorrect info about Anne on facebook? We don’t have access to any police report or coroner’s report – we tried – but sometimes there is enough to go on without having all the facts known by everybody, that’s why we have a comment section, so readers can add details – like you just did.
“Unknown Author”
Unfortunately, very little information has been released to the public. Many people in the community are curious as to what happened including myself as she was OB icon for many years. I’m assuming that the authorities will not release any information until the next of kin is contacted. Ron, is this something that you may be able to help with?
My heart is broken Annie was the first person I met in sandiego when I moved hereIin 1983. I’ve known her for 30 years a few years back my son and I let her stay with us .Annie told me one night she’s putting lipstick on because if she dies in her sleep she wants to look pretty dead too.Her mom recently past away in Austraila never heard her called ann hollywood.She most definitely was not a hook
er. She has dressed with a wife beater shorts or a mini skirt from as long as I’ve known her. So all these rude comments people are saying obviously knows not a thing about annie. I just can’t see annie drowning I’m sorry and I will keep all the great times I had with this woman she sure could rock those high heels at 4 ft 11 and 60 something years of age amazing shape for that age! Her sons name is kirkand is in oregon. Let annie rip !
I hope they get to the bottom of this and I hope everyone sees what I wrote about annie
Hi Terri! RIGHT ON! I have known you since I think around 85 back from the Niagara St apts thru the PL College girls and Michelle your friend, I think that was her name! You are amazing, my old friend and I hope you are doing well! You told it like it and these people need to stop with the mean comments and calling her Anne Hollywood and show some respect to a very kind woman, a longtime resident of OB, a mother, a grandmother and your friend as well as friends to others. May the always lovely dear Anne Gillin forever rest in peace x
I also have seen her for years a few weeks ago at the boat launch at shelter.
I hope when I die people say decent , true , honest things about me.
jim grant
I just saw her 2 weeks ago — everything seemed normal… Heels, lipstick, her normal eye catching outfit… she went to the bus stop. What a surpsise!!! I never knew her whole story. Hope the public will hear more about her life and hopefully information about the cause of her death can be released eventually.
Thank you for editing this developing story Frank. I would respectfully request that you please remove the reference of Anne Gillin as “aka Anne Hollywood”. Like Terri Panza and I both said, she was not known by that name and I personally find it to be disrespectful. I could understand if you were referring to cat like Clint Cary, aka The OB Spaceman as he self identified with that moniker pretty much and it was used by the community for decades. However as far as most locals know, Anne never self identified as Anne Hollywood nor was she know to us by that name. To me, it sounds like something a few people made up to poke fun at her and therefore is rather derogatory. Thank you for your consideration.
Also to clarify, allegedly she was a times between places to stay so technically she would have been a “sheltered” homeless person or in more colloquial terms, someone who stayed at different friends houses in her later years. It has been fairly well established that she was not homeless and without shelter, ie: she was not living on the streets at any time in her life.
Done.
Thank you very much Frank!
I knew Anne for years..My heart is broken that she’s gone, it seems so strange to think, we’ll never see her walking down5 Newport again. She was a real OB Girl.
I am hosting a memorial on Saturday at 3 pm on Bermuda Beach, at the end of Bermuda Ave. Please bring your photos of her for a collage, and your fond memories.
I moved here 9 years ago and always seen her around.About 5 years ago i was having lunch at a subway in OB and i asked if i can sit at her table because it was only one left,and she kindly said yes.I spoke a few words to her,we ate our sandwiches and we departed.She was very nice.i then seen her at a storage unit on Pacific Highway,where it is Reported that she was Living in her storage unit.Regardless of the unknown,i will truly miss seeing her walking around.She was different and she was interesting….RIP Anne