Kathy indicated to Christy that she would like to get a job dancing in a night club or “Go” club if she decided to live with him in Louisiana.
What follows are statements given to officers from the campus security office from those who were Kathy’s dorm mates at Sackett Hall, and others who knew and interacted with her:
Nancy Nicholas
5:10 p.m.
May 20, 1974
She knew Kathy Parks pretty well and she knows she is missing. Nancy last saw Kathy on Sunday, April 21, 1974. She said Kathy talked about how unhappy she was with school and about the second thoughts she was having about going south to either live with or marry her boyfriend. Kathy told her she would probably go.
The whole time Nancy has known Kathy, Kathy did not strike her as the type who would just disappear; she was always very sensible and level headed. She was shocked at Kathy’s disappearance and emphasized that Kathy “wasn’t abnormal.”
In the below reports, the detectives often refer to Kathy as Roberta, in that her full name was actually Roberta Kathleen Parks. However, she preferred to be called Kathy by her family and friends, but in official reports only, it’s Roberta.
May 9, 1974
Roberta Parks’ mother telephoned the Campus Security Office at 9:50 a.m. and requested that the area hospitals be checked to see if her daughter had been admitted. She seems to think it’s possible something may have happened to Roberta. Mrs. Parks also had Roberta’s room checked to see if her makeup box was still there, as Roberta never goes any place without it. The makeup box was still in her room.
At approximately 8:22 p.m., 10 May 1974, an interview was held in the Head Resident’s quarters at Sackett Hall and was attended by the following named persons: Mr. Ray Hoyt, Head Resident, Sackett Hall; Renee Ferguson, student, West Hall room 323 (has food class with Roberta Parks); Edward Warren Sumida, student, Sackett Hall room 223 (friend of Kathy Parks); Miriam Joan Schmidt, student, Sackett Hall (friend and roommate of Roberta Parks).
Missing from the interview but are very close friends of Roberta Parks: Joanne (Joey) Stevens, student, West Hall room 329; Sarah Dugan, student, West Hall room 313
The following information was received from Miss Schmidt, Miss Ferguson, and Mr. Sumida. All agree Miss Parks had only a few friends with which she talked or went out with and then only around campus. For instance, trips to the library building were very few as most of Miss Parks’ studying was done in her room. All agreed she was a little moody at times and in many instances would stay be herself.
Miss Parks does take classes in Scuba Diving, conducted by the men’s gym by Mr. Cramer. It was learned she has some of the equipment in her room but rents tanks and wetsuits from the Divers Den, 2744 SW 3rd Street, City (telephone number). This class (a hobby) she is most interested in and has taken at least three (3) trips to the coast with the class.
At times Miss Parks would ride her bike on campus and also the bike paths at Avery Park. A check was made on her bike and it was found to be in the regular place with the chain and lock (lock is broken). Check of her room by roommate Miss Schmidt indicated that the leg light which she used was still in her room, indicating this was not used on the night in question.
When asked if Miss Parks would hitch a ride to go anyplace away from campus, all indicated she would never hitchhike, but would ask Edward Sumida to take her. For instance, if she wanted to pick up a wetsuit or tanks for her diving class, he would take her. On one occasion Mr. Sumida did take Miss Parks to Portland to go shopping and they returned early in the evening.
Miss Schmidt stated that on the night in question both she and Miss Parks intended to go to another room (334) in Sackett Hall to visit, this was around 10:55 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. When departing their room, Parks said “Go ahead and I’ll be over in a while.” Miss Schmidt went to room 334 in Sackett and about fifteen (15) minutes later she went back to see why Miss Parks was not coming over. This was when Miss Schmidt found her roommate missing.
Each of those interviewed stated they could not understand why or what has happened and also why none has been called by Miss Parks as each considered they all are best of friends.
The interview closed at approximately 10:15 p.m., 10 May 1974.
L. Glass, Investigating Officer
This supplementary report by L. Glass goes deeper into the background of Kathy Parks in an attempt to discover what happened to her. It includes statements from Miriam Schmidt and Edward Sumida.
10 May 1974
An interview with Miss Schmidt (roommate) indicated Roberta Parks did in fact have a problem as she (Parks) had been going to the Mental Health Clinic (OSU Student Heath Center) for quite some time. One of her problems was that she and her father did not get along and then she was recently notified her father had just been hospitalized with a slight heart attack. She did state she believed he (her father) would be in good hands.
Miss Schmidt stated lately Miss Parks had been reading the World Bible but she did not think she had gone overboard with religion. When asked about habits (good or bad) Miss Schmidt replied no drinking, only that she smoked. When asked about drugs, Miss Schmidt was reluctant to answer and finally said Miss Parks was a frequent smoker of pot but used pot only while in Sackett Hall.
One other problem was a boyfriend living in Louisiana, who she had planned on living with this summer, but had changed her mind and had called him about her change of plans. Instead Miss Parks mentioned a trip to visit her sister (who lives out of state) sometime during the summer months.
Whether the information about her father, religion, pot, boyfriend, and the fact her Mental Health sessions were not helping may have brought a new low to Miss Parks could not be determined. But it should be considered a factor in her disappearance.
Miss Schmidt stated to this officer she could not understand why the two (2) friends of Miss Parks had gone to Portland when her roommate was missing. She was referring to Joey Stevens (west Hall) and Sarah Dugan (west Hall). Both are Oregon State University students. She believed both of these persons were holding information back as neither wanted to talk to the police about this incident until Sarah Dugan talked to her father who is an FBI agent in Portland. Both parties are in Portland this weekend and will be back Monday, 13 May 1974.
An interview with Edward Sumida showed he was at a complete loss as to the disappearance of Miss Parks and could give no reason for her leaving.
When questioned regarding pot and how often Miss Parks used it he was afraid to answer until this officer indicated this was for information of Miss Parks only. At this time Sumida stated he would give her a joint or two whenever she asked. When questioned if it was possible she (Parks) went off campus to obtain pot Sumida stated he did not think so. When asked about other drugs, a negative reply was given.
Mr. Sumida stated he had taken Miss Parks to rent wetsuits and tanks as he is the only one who has transportation (vehicle) that Miss Parks is friendly with.
L. Glass, Investigating Officer
Campus investigators interviewed numerous people connected to Kathy Parks. Some are close associations while others are not. While some of these are very revealing, they did not lead investigators to any real answers into Kathy’s disappearance. What follows is a detailed report of the interview of Paul Kaehler.
PAUL KAEHLER – 51 Oak Street, Black Point, California
Mr. Kaehler arrived in Corvallis on May 11, and offered his assistance locating his sister-in-law. He advised that on May 6, Kathy’s father had suffered a heart attack, and was taken to the hospital in California. His wife, Sharon Kaehler, telephoned Kathy to advise her of her father’s condition. At 8:20 p.m. on that date, he also telephoned Kathy to inform her of her father’s present condition, which was fair. He further advised that Kathy did not become excited because of her father’s condition and he assured her that he was in good hands and that it was not necessary for her
to return home. She gave no indication at that time that she was intending to return home for any reason.
Paul Kaehler further advised that Kathy was under a great deal of pressure from her boyfriend, Christy McPhee, who she was at that time attempting to break up with. Christy McPhee was at that time employed as a scuba diver in Louisiana. He has corresponded with Kathy regularly in an attempt to convince her that their relationship continues. When Kathy enrolled at Oregon State University in the fall term in 1973, Christy McPhee came out to Oregon and they lived together in an apartment above the Oregon Museum Tavern in Corvallis. She continued to maintain her room in Sackett Hall during the time that the two of them lived together in October ’73 until around Christmas.
Just prior to Christmas vacation, Kathy began experiencing pain in her abdomen, and was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital by ambulance. After several days she was released from the hospital and she and Christy hitchhiked to Canada over Christmas vacation. They stayed in Canada several days and then hitchhiked back to Corvallis where they lived together at the aforementioned residence until early March 1974, when Christy hitchhiked back to Louisiana. Mr. Kaehler believes that Kathy was a very independent and sensitive girl and would not have run off on her own. He also believes that she would not have been easily picked up by a passing motorist.
A search of Kathy’s room revealed that nearly all her clothing, luggage, cosmetics, toilet articles, etc., were still in her room. Numerous letters, found in her desk drawer from her boyfriend, Christy McPhee, indicated that Kathy was attempting to break off their relationship, that she wanted to be on her own and maintain her independence rather than being burdened with a marriage and a permanent responsibility. Information from Kathy’s closest friends indicate that she was in a very depressed condition due to the fact that she could not make a decision as to if she should break off her relationship with Christy or return to Louisiana after spring term and attempt to explain her feelings to him.
The following statements were given by girls who were close friends of Kathy’s:
JOANNE STEVENS – 329 West Hall
Home address: Lafayette, California
Joanne attended junior high school and high school with Kathy. She knows that Kathy was very close to Christy, who lived with her during fall and winter term. She also knows that Kathy has been seeing a psychiatrist while she has been a student at Oregon State University as well as a high school student in Lafayette, California. Kathy took frequent walks in the evening from her room in Sackett Hall to the Memorial Union Commons to get refreshments. This was usually between 9:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Kathy had recently told her she had received a $50 check from her mother which she had deposited in her checking account at Citizen’s Bank in Corvallis. When Kathy failed to return to her room on the evening of May 6, she did not report her missing for the first two days because she did not want to alarm anyone and thought that Kathy probably just wanted to be alone and get away for a day or two as she was quite upset over her relationship with Christy.
SARAH ANN DUGAN – 313 West Hall
Home address: Portland, Oregon
She met Kathy through Joanne Stevens. They last saw Kathy when the three of them were playing basketball outside of Sackett Hall around 8:00 p.m., Monday, May 6. Kathy had already been notified of her father’s heart attack by her sister Sharon, earlier that afternoon. Kathy was in a good mood, indicating that she probably should have been there when her father was in the hospital but that her sister had told her that her father was all right and that she was not to worry about it. Kathy told her that she takes walks in the evenings and has invited her to go with her, however, she never has.
MIRIAM JOAN SCHMIDT
She has been Kathy’s roommate since fall term of last year. Kathy receives letters from Christy on a regular basis, and to her knowledge, she has dated only one person during the time she has known her. She knows this person only by Larry, and believes him to be weird and Kathy complained that he was bothersome to her.
GEORGINE THOMPSON, OSU Mental Health Center, psychiatric social worker
Mrs. Thompson advised that she has counseled Kathy on several occasions during the past year. She believes Kathy is very unpredictable and capable of running off by herself and possibly having suicidal tendencies. She also stated that Kathy has been treated by Dr. Peter Winters, 310 N.W. 5th Street, Corvallis. Dr. Winters was contacted and advised that Kathy had been receiving extensive psychiatric tests. She has been hesitant to accept therapy and that he talked to her on three or four occasions. He believes her to be rebellious and very emotional. She had a poor family-social life, was highly rebellious and a very nervous person to the extent that she bit her fingernails until they were bleeding. She was a very angry and depressed person. He attempted hypnosis to quell her problems, however, this was unsuccessful. She was very reluctant to accept therapy, a very touchy person, very restless, destructive type personality, very unpredictable, and did have possible suicidal tendencies. *She was not close to her father, and was seeking someone whom she could confide in. Dr. Winters last saw Kathy on March 8, and he never did prescribe any medication for her, nor did she request it. She talked at length of her problems with her boyfriend Christy whom she was living with at the time he was treating her.
Dr. ROBERT WILSON, M.D., Corvallis Clinic, 530 N.W. 27th, Corvallis
Dr. Wilson first saw Kathy in December when she entered the hospital with severe abdominal pains. He found no physical abnormality of Kathy, however, he was successful in getting her to confide with him and found that she did have a definite conflict with her parents. He communicated with Kathy’s mother by telephone until Mrs. Parks came up from California and took Kathy home. During his visits with Kathy she stated she did not want to confide in her family in regard to her sex life and her relationship with Christy. Christy was not accepted by her family, and this bothered her a great deal. He believed her to be a very erratic girl and he could perceive her running off or possibly committing suicide. She is very confused and depressed, however, very close to her sister, Sharon Kaehler. She was not happy at OSU, and he last saw her in January of 1974. He discussed her condition with Kathy’s mother, who came to Corvallis to visit her before taking her home.
KENNETH NAFFZIGER, OSU Mental Health Center
MR. Naffziger stated Kathy talked with him about “getting away,” taking a boat to see the world. She was not interested in her studies, her career, future, or OSU. She disliked her mother, was very lonesome, and just was trying to find herself. Dr. Naffzinger’s diagnosis was basically the same as Dr. Winters.
WENONA CHRISTENSON, Counseling Center, Lafayette, California
Kathy first came to her about three years ago for emotional instability. She was experiencing family problems, unable to communicate with her parents, particularly with her father, had a great deal of insecurity as to her future, and what she wanted to do with herself. Mrs. Christenson stated that she had not seen Kathy in approximately two years and believes that unless she has improved a great deal from when she last saw her, Kathy would be capable of “excluding herself from society, her friends, family, and anyone else that she … (Author’s note: unfortunately, page 5 of this report is missing and contains the remainder of this statement).
Christy arrived in Corvallis from Louisiana on May 13, after learning that Kathy was missing from OSU. He gave the following statement:
CHRISTY J. MCPHEE, Berwick, Louisiana
From the best of my knowledge I last talked to Kathy on Thursday, May 2. I believe she called me collect in Louisiana. She just wanted to talk. There was nothing striking about her conversation. She just seemed relieved that I wasn’t giving her a bad time about wanting to be on her own for a while. She seemed to think that would be best and nothing but good could come of it. The last letter that I received from her was on Friday, May 10. It was dated May 6 and postmarked May 7. In the letter she sounded depressed over her father’s heart attack and o
ther things not specified. She seemed to have had a bad day that day and just said that she wanted to go out and walk around. That was the last I have heard from her. From what I have heard of her actions immediately prior to her disappearance, just doesn’t sound like her (tearing the picture off the wall I drew for her, throwing away one of my letters.) Everything is so unusual it’s just not like her to take off like that. I just don’t know where she could be.
Following is a copy of a letter Kathy wrote to Christy dated May 6, 1974, postmarked May 7, 1974. First, a quick explanation about dates of letters and how they appear in this section. These letters are being presented in the order they’re contained in the official report. However, some letters appear with earlier dates than the date of the letter preceding it, and it does so without explanation as to why they’re not in chronological order. This juxtaposing of information occasionally occurs in police files, and it’s almost always human error that’s responsible for it. Because it’s important to remain true to the order of the information presented by the official record, I have left these in the order in which they originally appear.
Dear Christy,
I got your letter today. I often wonder what you think of me, being so far away. I had a usual day today, somewhat. Ma reports my Aunt Mary opened her eyes a few days ago, and actually looked human again for the first time since she got sick. That’s a relief. Sharon called from my folk’s house this morning (Ma is still in Alabama). Dad had a heart attack last night around midnight. Evidently, he was conscious enough to call the doctor; get Sue out of bed to take him to the hospital. He’s in the intensive care section for cardiac patients now. Sharon says he’s O.K. now. I’m shook up about it, and I know dad must be, also. I hope he changes his lifestyle after this. I’m feeling down right now, due to a combination of things, I suppose. To tell you the truth, I don’t even feel like finishing this letter. I think I’ll go walk around outside a while. I’m sorry this is such a bum letter. I really am. But, after all, everyone has their ups and downs. This day has especially had its share of bad news. Well – I’m looking forward to seeing you – very much. When you come, please put your arms around me and make me feel like everything is O.K. I really miss you. I’m needing the comfort of your presence now.
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