A Desert Reckoning

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A Desert Reckoning Page 29

by Deanne Stillman


  at Y2K party, 212

  Kueck, Lynne, 87, 157, 254, 255, 271, 277

  LaCroix, Austin, 280

  LaCroix, Kate, 280

  Lake Los Angeles (California)

  Hispanic population in, 131–134, 136, 139

  overview of, 9–10

  Section 8 housing issue, 140

  Steve Sorensen as deputy in, 131–141

  town council, 274

  Lake Los Angeles News (newspaper), 131, 134, 139

  Lamonica, Mark, 278

  L’Amour, Louis, 125–127, 200

  Lancaster Baptist Church, funeral at, 237–240

  Lancaster (California), 9, 33, 83, 129, 136, 185, 220

  Lange, Dorothea, 22

  La Rue, John, 12

  LA Times (newspaper), 42, 44

  Latinos Americanos in Acción, 139

  Law enforcement, as choice of career, 71–72

  Law enforcement museum, 281–282

  Law enforcement response to Sorensen shooting, 46–54, 195–196, 221–222. See also Manhunt

  LeCorbusier, 43

  Leone, Sergio, 197

  Lifesavers, 279–280

  Lillienfeld, Mark, 249, 250, 268

  communication with SWAT, 259

  conversation with Kueck, 256–264, 265, 285

  Linville, Rande, 107, 108

  early life, 98–99

  fight with Smallwood’s abusive boyfriend, 108

  initial meeting with Chuck Kueck, 96–97

  as musician, 178

  Little Chief Greenleaf, 143, 144

  Lizard People, 142, 143–145

  Lizards, Kueck and, 57, 58

  Llano (California), 24–25

  billboard advertising, 30

  Declaration of Principles, 39

  demise of, 42–43

  home design for, 37, 40–41

  recruiting ads, 38–39

  utopian community of, 34–43

  Llano Colonist (newspaper), 38

  Log from the Sea of Cortez (Steinbeck), 92

  Logistics, 274–275

  The Lonesome Gods (L’Amour), 126–127

  Long Beach (California), Kueck in, 59

  Los Angeles

  lawlessness of early, 12–20

  tunnels beneath, 142–145

  Los Angeles aqueduct, as escape route, 148–149

  Los Angeles County

  creation of, 11–12

  violence in, 11–20

  Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Academy, 82, 128

  Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, creation and early history of, 14–20

  Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Museum, 281–282

  Los Angeles Police Department, 78, 122, 124, 132, 251, 252, 264

  Los Angeles Times Magazine, 121

  Los Angeles Times (newspaper), 35

  Madonna of the Trail, 100–101

  Magana, Manuel, 139

  Manhunt

  conflagration, 267–268

  day 1, 46–54

  day 2, 65–70, 116–118

  day 3, 146–156, 173–174

  day 4, 192–200

  day 5, 220–223

  day 6, 241–246

  day 7, 249–271

  for Juan Flores, 16–19

  reputed sightings of Kueck, 150, 153, 173–174, 199–200

  techniques used in Kueck, 147–148

  las Manillas, 17

  Martha Stewart homes, 33

  Martin, Steve, 96

  Mar Vista tract, 43–44

  Marx Brothers, 216

  Massa, Rick, 265

  Masterson, Bat, 14

  Mavrolas, Connie, 134–135

  alliance with Sorensen and Wodetzki, 131, 138–139, 140–141, 274

  involvement in defense of Hispanic population, 135–136

  police protection for, 235–236

  Mesquite, 270

  Miner’s Law, 12–13

  Mira Loma (California), 129

  Mirror gazing, 93

  Modells Drugs in Current Use and New Drugs, 91

  Modernique Homes, 43–44

  Mojave Desert

  hermits in, 23–24

  High Desert Corridor, 275–276

  nocturnal visibility of, 241–242

  overview of, 8–10

  precautions for living in, 25

  squatters in, 22–24

  tunnels beneath, 51, 145, 241, 242, 245

  See also Antelope Valley

  Mojave Desert ground squirrels, 89–90

  Mojave greens, 169, 245

  Moody, Raymond, 92, 93, 244

  Mount Carmel Retreat Center, 66–68, 251

  as operation center for manhunt, 68–70

  Mr. X, 21–22, 25, 26, 276

  Mulholland, William, 150

  Murder rate, 19th-century Los Angeles County, 12

  Muroc Dry Lake, 184

  Murrietta, Joaquin, 16–17

  Mustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West (Stillman), 279

  Native Americans

  of Antelope Valley, 242–243

  in early Los Angeles County history, 13, 15

  New Llano (Louisiana), 42

  No Doubt, 97

  Northern Mojave people, 242

  Obama, Barack, 35

  Oberman, Barb, 62–64

  Oberweber, Dave, 204–205, 206, 209, 213–214, 219

  October Sky (film), 187

  Oswald’s Revenge, 97, 98

  “Ozymandias” (Huxley), 41

  Palace Theatre, 215–216

  Palmdale, 31

  Pathfinders: Overcoming the Crises of Adult Life and Finding Your Own Path to Well-Being (Sheehy), 92

  Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets, 205–206, 219

  Peacekeeper, 49, 50

  Peretti, Frank, 138

  Perris (California), 33

  Phoenix House, 104

  Pissing in the Gene Pool (Rollins), 97–98

  Pitchness Detention Center, 129

  Planetary and Lunar Nodes (Rudhyar), 92

  Plato, 93

  Precautions, for desert living, 25

  Propster, Steve, 77–78, 79

  Psychomanteum, 93

  Purcell, Joe, 47, 67, 117, 153, 193

  Purpus, Mike, 74

  Radio Fundamentals TM 11–455, 91

  Ranch Dressing Rod, 102

  Rattlesnakes, Kueck and, 23, 27, 194, 230, 254, 283

  Read, Nat B., 12

  Real estate development, in Antelope Valley, 9–10, 31–34

  Recruiting ads, for Llano, 38–39

  Rector, Rick, 222–223, 253, 267

  Reisner, Marc, 36

  Republic (Plato), 93

  Resident deputy, 10

  Reunions: Visionary Encounters with Departed Loved Ones (Moody), 92, 93

  Rik (police dog), 50–51, 253, 266–267, 270

  Riverside (California), Chuck Kueck in, 95–98, 105–110, 209–210

  Riverside County, pollution of, 103

  Rockets, Kueck and, 183–188

  Rodney King riots, 122, 267

  Rogers, Will, 216

  Rolling Stone (magazine), 277

  Rollins, Henry, 97–98, 159

  Rosamond Dry Lake, 184

  Ruiz, Victor, 47–48

  Saddam Hussein and the Crisis in the Gulf (Miller & Mylroie), 91

  Sand County Almanac (Leopold), 92

  San Fernando Band of Mission Indians, 31

  Saudis (Mackey), 91

  Schindler, Rudolf, 37

  Schlegel, Mark, 200, 253

  Seattle

  grunge scene, 203–204

  Jello in, 204–211

  Second Ring of Power (Castaneda), 92–93

  The Second Ring of Power (Castaneda), 243–244

  Section 8 housing issue, 140

  Sepulveda, Jose, 17, 18

  Serrano, 242

  Seven American Utopias (Hayden), 40

  Shockley, Bernard, 128–129, 266

  Short, Martin, 96
<
br />   Shoshone, 242

  Shufelt, G. Warren, 142–143, 144

  Sid and Nancy (film), 110

  Simons, Elaine, 205–206, 219

  Sister Mary Michael, 66, 68–69

  Skinheads, Chuck Kueck and, 104–105, 109

  Smallwood, Amanda, 99, 101, 108, 178, 190

  Smallwood, Chris, 161, 190

  early friendship with Chuck Kueck, 95–98

  early life, 99–100

  fight with mother’s abusive boyfriend, 108

  last contact with Jello, 214

  as musician, 106–107, 178

  Smallwood, Donny, 99

  Smallwood, Virginia, 99–100, 215

  advice for Don, 178, 189–190

  Chuck Kueck and, 102

  as “community mom,” 101–102

  domestic abuse of, 100, 101, 107–108

  Smith, C. T., 174, 222

  death of, 273

  Kueck’s last stand at home of, 250, 251

  Kueck’s visits to, 53–54, 193, 263

  Smith, Jedidiah, 45

  Smith, Peg-Leg, 13

  Snake Fountain, 283

  Snakes, 169, 245. See also Rattlesnakes

  Socialist Party, 34–35

  Socialist utopian community. See Llano (California)

  Somewhere in Time (film), 81

  Sonora Town, 13

  Sorensen, Christine, 83, 167, 168, 170, 172, 236, 238–239, 280, 284

  Sorensen, Dixie, 82

  Sorensen, Matthew, 172, 238

  Sorensen, Rosetta, 72

  Sorensen, Stephen (Steve)

  advocacy on behalf of Hispanics, 129–130, 131–134, 139, 236

  alliance with Wodetzki and Mavrolas, 131, 138–139, 140–141, 274

  army career, 79–82

  author visit to home of, 163–172, 279, 280–281

  characterized as loner, 83

  as deputy in Lake Los Angeles, 10, 131–141

  early life of, 72–77

  enemies, 139, 141

  entering sheriff’s department, 82

  first assignments as deputy, 128–131

  first encounter with Donald Kueck, 111–115, 196

  funerals for, 220, 235–240

  home of, 164, 165–168, 169–172

  initial meeting with Wodetzki, 137–138

  intensity and pride of, 75–76

  law enforcement response to shooting of, 46–54

  lawsuit against locals, 141

  as lifeguard, 77–79, 82

  marriage, 83

  memorial for, 195, 196, 199

  relationship with Kueck, 172, 196–198, 199

  rescue dogs of, 167, 169

  Section 8 housing issue and, 140

  shooting of, 28–29

  theories concerning death of, 284

  visits to Mr. X, 22, 25

  visit to Donald Kueck’s property, 21, 25–29

  Southern Paiutes, 242

  Spanky’s, 94, 97, 106, 188

  Special bulletin, on Donald Kueck, 192–193

  Special Order 40, 132

  Spencer (Captain), 265

  Spider holes, 264–265

  Spock, Benjamin, 43

  Spungeon, Nancy, 210

  Squatters, 21–24

  St. Teresa, 67

  State Route 138, 274

  Stefani, Gwen, 97

  Stewart, Martha, 33

  Storm, Rory, 151, 153

  Stringfellow Acid Pits, 103

  Suicide by cop, 20, 258–259

  Sullivan, Melissa, 48–49, 54

  SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics)

  closing in on Kueck, 250–254, 264–267

  development of, 121–125

  history of, 222–223

  initial response to Sorensen shooting, 47, 48, 49–51, 53

  at Mount Carmel Retreat Center, 69

  searching area of Kueck’s last stand, 269–271

  Symbionese Liberation Army, 123–125

  Tax collection, sheriff and, 14–15

  Terrane Vista development, 33

  Theodore Payne Wildlife Sanctuary, 150

  This Present Darkness (Peretti), 138

  Thompson, Mickey, 257

  Three Amigos, 96

  Three Sisters Buttes, 66, 171–172, 278

  Kueck and, 92, 173, 271

  Sorensen and, 172

  Tongva/Gabrieleno village, 283

  Tract housing, 43–44

  Trap and trace operation, 147–148, 249–250

  Trial (Hayden), 92

  Truman, Harry, 101

  Tunnels

  beneath Los Angeles, 142–145

  beneath Mojave Desert, 51, 145, 241, 242, 245

  Cu-Chi, 145

  Kueck manhunt and, 193–194, 241, 242, 244, 245

  Tweaker Highway, 43, 164, 275

  Twin Lakes Community Church, 131, 137, 174, 235

  Vanyume, 242

  Vazquez, Tiburcio, 16–17, 117

  Vicious, Sid, 110, 210

  Vigilantes, in early Los Angeles County history, 13–14, 16, 18

  Virgin Mary, apparition of, 274

  Von Braun, Werner, 185, 187

  Voodoo Glow Skulls, 97

  Wakara, 13

  Wambaugh, Joseph, 135

  Water, sources of in desert, 151–152

  Waters, Frank, 71–72

  “Water Use in Desert Operations,” 152

  Wayne, John, 276

  Welch, Rebecca, 60, 147

  adoption of, 61

  Kueck’s calls to, 117–118, 154–155, 249–250, 254–256, 259

  pilgrimage to site of Jello’s death, 215

  receiving news of father’s death, 268

  relationship with father, 155–156

  reunion with father, 158–162

  Western Comrade (magazine), 38

  White, Dan, 80–82

  Wikipedia, 275

  Wild Game (Bergon), 23–24

  Williams, Joe, 50–51, 128, 253, 266–267, 270

  Willie Boy, 15

  Wodetzki, John, 81, 174

  alliance with Sorensen and Mavrolas, 131, 138–139, 140–141, 274

  initial meeting with Sorensen, 137–138

  move to Lake Los Angeles, 136–138

  police protection for, 236

  Sorensen funeral and, 235, 236–237

  Wodetzki, Tish, 137

  Worldwide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, 207

  Wright, Frank Lloyd, 37

  Yeager, Chuck, 136, 184–185

  Y2K party in the desert, 211–213

  Zoey (Jello’s girlfriend), 206–208

  Zornes, Wesley and Oliver, 38

 

 

 


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