The 48 HOURS episode titled “The Boy Across the Street”, which aired on May 3, 2025, presents a chilling and tragic true-crime story involving the murder of Catina Rose Salarno, a young woman whose life was violently cut short by her high school boyfriend, Steven Burns. This case, which shook the San Francisco Bay Area in 1979, remains a haunting reminder of the devastating consequences of jealousy and obsession. Through the episode, Erin Moriarty delves deep into the investigation, the motives behind the crime, and the continuing fight for justice by Catina’s family.
In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the case of Catina Salarno, the complicated relationship between her and Steven Burns, the tragic day of her death, and the aftermath of the case, including the ongoing efforts by her family to ensure Burns remains behind bars.
THE BEGINNING OF A TRAGIC LOVE STORY
Who Were Catina Salarno and Steven Burns?
Catina Rose Salarno born on 13 Jan 1961 California, USA. In the summer of 1977, a seemingly typical suburban neighborhood in San Francisco, California, became the stage for a tragic and senseless crime. The Burns family had recently moved across the street from the Salarno family, and it wasn’t long before the two households became intertwined. Steven Burns, a popular high school football player, quickly struck up a relationship with Catina Rose Salarno, the young, intelligent, and ambitious daughter of the Salarno family.
At just 15 years old, Steven was charismatic and well-liked, while Catina, a quiet but highly driven teenager, had big dreams of becoming a dentist. They were high school sweethearts, inseparable for almost two years. Steven was frequently at the Salarno home, sometimes helping out with their family business, and his relationship with the Salarnos grew close. Catina’s family considered him a part of the family, with Steven often coming over for family dinners and spending time with them, including her father, Dominic Salarno, who owned a small business.
However, as often happens with young love, the relationship began to falter. By the summer of 1979, Catina had decided to end the relationship, partly because she wanted to focus on her studies as she prepared to attend college at the University of the Pacific. But while Catina had made a decision to move on with her life, Steven’s feelings of rejection would lead to deadly consequences.
Steven Burns’ Obsession with Catina
While Catina was preparing to leave for college, Steven’s behavior took a darker turn. Friends and family of Catina describe how Steven became increasingly possessive and controlling. He didn’t take well to the breakup, and it wasn’t long before he began making threats. He would send Catina harassing messages, threaten to hurt himself if she didn’t reconsider, and at one point told her that if he couldn’t have her, no one else would.
The intensity of Steven’s obsession raised concerns, but because he had always been an ingrained part of their lives, Catina and her family didn’t initially view him as a dangerous person. This was a critical mistake, one that would haunt them in the years to come. Catina’s father, Dominic, who was familiar with Steven’s temper and volatility, reportedly tried to counsel him, but to no avail.
Despite warnings from her family, Catina didn’t see Steven as a serious threat. However, the situation escalated quickly and tragically.
THE NIGHT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
September 3, 1979: The Final Meeting
On the evening of September 3, 1979, Catina was preparing for her first day of college at the University of the Pacific. She was excited to start this new chapter of her life, but that night, she received a call from Steven. According to Catina’s college roommate, Joanne Marks, Steven had convinced Catina to meet with him one last time to “talk things through” and gain closure. Despite her reservations, Catina agreed, thinking this would be the end of their relationship for good.
Catina left her dorm room that evening, leaving behind her belongings and a future that had just begun. She didn’t realize that this meeting would turn out to be the most fateful and dangerous choice she would ever make.
The Tragic Encounter
Steven picked Catina up and drove her to a secluded part of the university campus. He claimed that he just wanted to talk and that he had something important to say. But as soon as they were alone, his intentions became clear.
Steven had been carrying a gun, which he had stolen from the Salarno family’s business weeks earlier. According to the investigation and later testimonies, Steven pulled out the weapon and shot Catina in the back of the head, execution-style. She fell to the ground, and Steven, without a trace of remorse, fled the scene, leaving her for dead.
At approximately 9:45 p.m., a passerby found Catina’s lifeless body and immediately alerted the authorities. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, but despite the doctors’ best efforts, Catina succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
Steven Burns: Arrest and Motive
The news of Catina’s death sent shockwaves through the community. Police immediately launched an investigation, but the pieces quickly fell into place. Witnesses recalled seeing Steven near the campus that evening, and the stolen gun was found in his possession. With a clear trail of evidence, investigators arrested him the following morning.
Steven was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. According to police reports, he admitted to the crime during questioning, but his explanation for why he did it was chilling: he couldn’t bear the thought of Catina leaving him for good. He had grown obsessed with her and had planned the murder for days, waiting for the right moment.
In 1980, Steven Burns was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 17 years to life in California state prison. Despite his admission of guilt, Steven’s sentence sparked outrage in the community. Many felt that he had not only robbed Catina of her future but had also left an entire family devastated.
WHERE IS STEVEN BURNS NOW?
Still Behind Bars
As of now, Steven Burns is 64 years old and still in prison. He has repeatedly tried and failed to gain parole. His first hearing was in 1987. Over the last 45 years, he has been denied parole 13 times, most recently in January 2023. His next eligibility date is January 2030. As of now, he is serving time at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, California. Despite his many attempts to secure release, the Salarno family has fought each time to ensure he stays behind bars.
Their efforts have played a key role in keeping Catina’s memory alive — and ensuring that her killer does not go free. The next parole hearing in 2030 will mark yet another chapter in this family’s unending pursuit of justice.
A FAMILY’S FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
The Salarno Sisters Step Up
Catina’s murder shattered her family. Her youngest sister, Nina Salarno, was just 14 years old when it happened. But the tragedy inspired her to take action. Nina became a prosecutor, focusing on domestic violence cases, and has served as District Attorney of Modoc County since 2023.
“I chose to make that my career because I believed, like my sister, so many victims are either not heard, afraid to be heard, or just don’t understand the magnitude of what’s happening to them,” she told 48 HOURS.
Regina and Nina Remember the Warnings
Catina’s sisters, Nina and Regina Salarno-Novello, recalled how Steven had made threats before. But because he was so embedded in their lives, they didn’t believe he’d act on them. “Why would he destroy a family that he loved?” Regina asked during the interview. It’s a question that still haunts them.
WARNING SIGNS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
“Last-Time” Meetings Can Be Deadly
Nina Salarno now works to educate others on the dangers of abusive relationships. She says the most dangerous time in a domestic violence situation is when the victim tries to leave. That’s when the abuser may feel they’ve lost control — and that’s when violence is most likely to happen.
“I think she did probably one of the most courageous acts,” Nina said of her sister’s decision to meet Steven. “But also in the history of domestic violence in relationships, it’s the most dangerous time. And unfortunately, she was killed.”
Nina’s message to current victims is clear: Don’t go alone. Don’t respond to texts or calls. Make a clean break.
The story of Catina Rose Salarno is more than just a tragic crime — it’s a powerful reminder of the dangers of ignoring warning signs in relationships. Her family’s courage and dedication have not only kept her killer behind bars but also sparked important conversations about domestic violence.
This week’s 48 HOURS episode, “The Boy Across the Street,” captures the full emotional weight of this case and shines a light on the strength of the Salarno family, especially Catina’s sister, Nina, who turned grief into action.
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Where Are Catina Salarno’s Mother and Sisters Now?
