serves time and is paroled, 120–22
stepmother and, 39–42
visits England, 46–51, 284
see also Stewart, Gary Loyd, and search for biological father
Best, Earl Van Sr. (called Earl), 29, 153
Best family memories of, 276–77, 278, 280
birth of, 24–25, 26
death of, 221
marriage to Ellie Auble, 38–39
marriage to Gertrude McCormac, 26–28, 31, 35
ministerial and military service of, 26, 30–34, 39, 220, 278, 298
police monitor telephone of, 84
retires, 220
tries to find abandoned baby in Baton Rouge, 109–11, 280
Van asks for money, 219–20
Van left with Gertrude after divorce, 36–38
Van’s bail posted by, 78–79
Van’s birth and Earl’s ideas about raising children, 29–30, 31, 40–41, 42
Van’s elopement with Judy Chandler and, 71–72
Van’s need for mental institution and, 120–21
Van taught codes and ciphers by, 36
Best, Edith Elsa Maria Kos
Gary Stewart’s search for biological father and, 304–5
marriage to Van, 133–34, 186–87, 210, 288, 327
pregnancies and children of, 133–34, 143, 145, 152, 174, 186–87, 298–305
Van’s death and, 305–6
Best, Eleanor “Ellie” Bycraft Auble, 110–11, 219, 279, 298
Gary Stewart’s search for biological father and, 304
marriage to Earl, 38–39, 221
Van and, 39–42, 280
Best, Estelle
Earl insists Gertrude and Van stay with, 32–33
nieces of, 27, 30, 41–42
Best, Geraldine (“Bits”). See Rosser, Geraldine (“Bits”) Best
Best, Gertrude McCormac. See Plummer, Gertrude McCormac Best
Best, Guenevere. See Obregon, Guenevere Best
Best, Hattie. See Polk, Hattie Best
Best, J. M., 276
Best, John James (J. J.), 25, 277
Best, Louise, 27, 30, 33, 40, 42
Best, Mary Annette Player, 58–61, 63, 284, 288, 327
Best, Mildred, 27–28, 41–42
Best, Oliver, 145, 149, 187, 298
Best, Pressley, 276–77
Best, Rufus, 84–86
Best, Urban, 152, 187, 298
Bixby, Bill, 44, 52–53
Black Doodler, 215–17
Bombet, Dr. Charles, 100
Bonnette, Mary, 98–102, 268
Borges, Stella, 148
Braun, Catherine, 100
Brown, Willie, 124, 125, 217, 218, 224–27
Bruce, Essie, 100, 268
Brunner, Mary
LaVey and, 142
Manson Family cult and, 163–64, 167
BTK Strangler, 261–62
Bullitt (film), 253
Butler, Harold
death of, 320
Gary Stewart’s search for biological father and, 235–43, 244–46, 248, 249, 255, 258, 260, 263, 264, 292–93, 299, 303, 305, 331–33
Rotea Gilford and, 224, 227
Caen, Herb, 64
Cahill, Thomas J., 178
Carroll, Kelly, 290–92
Chandler, Carolyn, 22, 192–93
Chandler, Judith. See Gilford, Judith Chandler Best
Chandler, Verda
children of, 22
Gary Stewart meets, 232–33
Judy lives with after giving up baby, 128–29, 191–92
Judy’s elopement and charges against Van, 66, 69–70
Judy’s pregnancy and arrest of Van, 76–77, 78
Church of Satan, 57, 129–30, 140, 152, 199–200
ciphers, sent by Zodiac killer, 158–63, 178–79, 183–84, 191, 195
Earl Van Best Jr’s name found in, 295–97, 296, 297, 324–25, 326
Cooks, Jesse Lee, 208
Coreris, Gus, 204
Courville, Lawrence, 114
Courville, Loretta Ortis, 113–14, 115
Dancik, Paul, 205
DeMartini, Theresa, 205
DiGirolamo, Marietta, 205
Dilworth, B. G., 324–25
Dirty Harry (film), 253
Doran, Hubert, 120
Elkington, Norman, 120
England, Van Best in, 46–51, 284
English-Speaking Union, 45, 46
Erakat, Saleem, 205
Exorcist, The (film), 205
Fagan, Alex Jr., 235
Faraday, David Arthur, 146–49, 181
Fast, Norman, 120
Feinstein, Dianne, 221
Ferrin, Arthur Dean, 154, 157
Ferrin, Darlene, 153–57, 184
Fliger, Edward, 69
Folger, Abigail, 164–65
Fong, Ronald, 172
Fontenot, Mary Ann, 113
Ford, Gerald R., 212–14
Fotinos, John, 204
Fouke, Donald, 176, 184, 190
Fournier, Roland, 104–7
Frykowski, Wojciech, 164–65
Garretson, William, 165
Garrett, Bob, 329–30
Gilford, Chance Michael, 6, 222–23, 231, 234, 297
Gilford, Judith Chandler Best (early life)
arrested in New Orleans, 105–6
elopes with Van Best, 66–69, 327
extradited from Louisiana to California, 109
gives birth to son in New Orleans, 88–95
gives son up for adoption, 108–9
home life of, 22–23
leaves Van Best after he abandons baby, 103–5
lives with mother after return to California, 128–29, 191–92
meets Van Best, 19–24
pregnancy and flight from authorities, 75–88
sent to and escapes from Youth Guidance Center, 70–71, 77–79
with Van Best in Mexico, 73–75
Gilford, Judith Chandler Best (later life)
adoption support group and, 319
birth of Chance Michael Gilford, 222–23
contacts and meets Gary Stewart, 1–14, 265–66
Gilford, Judith Chandler Best (later life) (cont.)
Frank Velasquez’s death and, 250–51, 259
Gary Stewart notices Zodiac victims’ resemblance to, 293–94
Gary Stewart’s book and, 331
Gary Stewart’s search for biological father and, 234–37, 241–43, 245–47, 264, 270–74, 287, 297–99
marriage to Rotea, 208–9, 221–24
meets Rotea, 193–94, 203–4
reluctance to speak about
Gary Stewart’s father,
14–15
Rotea’s illness and death and, 223–24, 225–27
Van Best’s death and, 299
Gilford, Judy (Rotea’s daughter), 185
Gilford, Michael, 185, 202, 222
Gilford, Patricia, 185–86, 202–3, 227
Gilford, Rotea
background, 122–25
Black Doodler murders and, 215–17
children of, 185, 202, 222–23
concerns about Haight-Ashbury district, 144
illness and death, 223–27
Judy tells about Van’s birth, 231–32
marriage to Judy, 208–9, 221–24
marriage to Patricia, 185–86, 202–3
meets Judy, 193–94, 203–4
reputation of, and Gary Stewart’s search for biological father and, 248, 249, 255, 265, 293, 331–32
retires, 218
San Francisco Police Department and racism, 201, 204, 208, 219
San Francisco political positions of, 221, 223–25
Zebra murders and, 183–84, 201–2, 204, 208, 215
Gilford, Steven, 185
Gilford, Viola, 223
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, 23, 53, 287
Green, Larry, 208
Grogan, Steve, 166, 167
Hague, Richard and Quita, 204
Haight-Ash
bury district, of San Francisco, 141–44
Hallinan, Terence, 235
Harden, Donald and Bettye, 162
Harris, Anthony, 208
Hartnell, Bryan, 168–73
Heard, Earl, 322
Hellfire Club, 49, 51
Hennessey, John, 246–50, 251–64, 274–75, 288, 290–93, 330–33
Hinchingbrooke. See Montagu, Alexander Victor Edward Paulet
Hinman, Gary, 163–64, 167, 289
Holly, Jane, 206
Holt, Cydne, 259–60, 261
Hornsby, Lionel, 183
Horry County Historical Society, 275, 277, 280, 298
Hosler, Mildred, 205
Istrouma Baptist Church, 318–19, 337
Japan, Best family in, 30–32, 278–79
Jensen, Betty Lou, 145–49, 181
Johns, Kathleen, 187–90, 195
Johnson, Pamela, 320
Jonau, Charles, 104–7
Jones, Jim, 218
Kasabian, Linda, 164, 165, 167
Kean, Wilber Amiss, 102
Kenney, Ed, 120
Kilitzian, Vic, 22, 233
Kos, Edith Elsa Maria. See Best, Edith Elsa Maria Kos
Krenwinkel, Patricia, 164–67
LaBianca, Leno and Rosemary, 164, 166
Land, Dennis, 172
Laper, J., 100–101
LaVey, Anton Szandor, 63, 129, 133
Avery and, 199–200
Beausoleil and, 142–43
Satanic Bible of, 152–53
Van Best and, 54–57, 126–27, 284–85, 295
see also Church of Satan
Lee, Derrick Todd, 256
Lee, Marvin, 186
Lohmus, Tania, 283, 284, 286, 319–20
Lohmus, William
death of, 319–20
education of, 52–53
Gary Stewart’s search for biological father and, 280–87, 294, 309
Van Best and, 43–46, 54, 56, 57–58, 62–66, 79, 121,
153
Van Best and Judy Chandler’s elopement and, 67, 78, 281
Van Best’s change after return from England and, 48, 50–52
Van Best’s refusal to testify on behalf of, 88–89, 120, 126–27, 211
Los Angeles Times, 200, 290–91
Lost Weekend Tavern, San Francisco, 54, 57, 59, 284
Lovett, Jim, 190
Mageau, Michael, 154–57
Magic Circle, 57, 129
Maloney, Michael, 290–91, 293
Manson, Charles, 289
Tate-LaBianca murders and, 163–68
Marshall, Rick, 127, 152
Marshall, Terry, 223, 231
McCormac, Duncan, 26
McCormac, Gertrude. See Plummer, Gertrude McCormac Best
McMillan, Roxanne, 206
McNatt, Charles, 190
media coverage
of abandoned infant, 101–3, 267–68
of Van and Judy’s elopement and flight, 77–78, 80, 81, 107–8, 191, 199, 273–74
of Zodiac murders, 138–40, 157–58, 160, 176–81
see also specific newspapers
Melcher, Terry, 164, 289
Mexico
Gary Stewart learns of Van’s death and visits grave in, 298, 299, 303–4, 306–13
Van Best and Judy Chandler in, 73–75
Van Best’s trips to, 19, 57, 60, 62–63, 65–66, 70, 211–12, 220–21
Mikado, The (Gilbert and Sullivan), 30, 38, 45, 88, 195–96, 206, 283–84, 294
Milk, Harvey, 217, 218–19
Montagu, Alexander Victor Edward Paulet (Viscount of Hinchingbrooke), 46–51
Montagu, John (Earl of Sandwich), 46, 49
Moore, Manuel, 208
Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, 101, 267–68
Morpurgo, Henry von, 57–58
Morrill, Sherwood, 199, 254
Moscone, George, 217–19, 235
Moynihan, Neal, 205
Mustafa, Susan, 322–30
Nilsson, Birdie M., 69
Nine Satanic Statements, 152–53, 158, 163, 184
Obregon, Guenevere Best, 186–87, 298–305, 320–21
Ortis, L. J., 113
Parent, Steve, 164–65
Parker, Evelyna Ortis, 113, 115
Peckham, Robert F., 219
Peoples Temple (Jonestown), 218
Phillips, James, 153–54, 157
Pitta, Dan, 148
Player, H. S., 59, 61
Player, Mary Annette. See Best, Mary Annette Player
Plummer, Gertrude McCormac Best
affairs of, 34–35, 38, 278–79
Best family and, 27–28, 32–33
Gary Stewart’s search for biological father and, 237
marriage to and relationship with Earl Best, 26–28, 31, 35
marriage to Plummer, 43, 54
Van Best’s birth and, 28–29
Van Best’s custody after divorce from Earl, 36–38
Van Best’s death and, 311
Van Best’s marriage to Judy Chandler and charges filed about, 71
Van Best’s marriage to Player arranged by, 58–59, 61
Van Best’s music and, 53–54
Van Best’s trouble with law and, 78, 109–10
Plummer, John Harlan, 43, 54, 138, 311
Polanski, Roman, 164
Polk, Hattie Best, 276–78
Rainwater, Thomas, 207
Reuther, Edward, 102
Riverside Press-Enterprise, Zodiac’s letters to, 138–40, 140
Rose, Frances, 204–5
Rosser, Geraldine (“Bits”) Best, 27, 33, 34, 40, 42
Gary Stewart’s search for biological father and, 277, 278–79
Ryan, Leo, 218
Salas, Dr. Aurelio Núñez, 306
Salazar, Mitch, 225
Sanders, Earl
Gary Stewart’s search for biological father and, 235–36, 242–43, 244, 248, 255, 264, 292–93, 332–33
Rotea Gilford and, 185, 186, 201, 204, 208, 216, 227
San Francisco Chronicle
coverage of Van Best and Judy Chandler’s elopement and flight, 77–78, 107–8, 120, 273
coverage of Zodiac’s crimes, 158, 160, 176–81, 186
Zodiac’s letters to, 191, 194–200, 206–7, 209
Zodiac’s letter to (fake), 253–54
San Francisco Examiner
coverage of Van Best and Judy Chandler’s elopement and flight, 78, 81, 273
coverage of Zodiac’s crimes, 158, 160–62
San Francisco Examiner (cont.)
Zodiac’s letters to, 295
San Francisco General Hospital, Van Best helps Judy Chandler escape from, 79–80
San Francisco News–Call Bulletin, 80, 273
San Quentin State Prison, 122
Sartain, C. Lenton, 99–100, 101, 265
Scales, Dr. R. W. “Bo,” 322–23
Schiro, George, 322–23
Schmidt, Phillip, 301
Schroeder’s Restaurant, San Francisco, 65, 287
Scott, Donald, 207
Search Finders of California, 266
Sebring, Jay, 164–65
Shea, Donald, 167
Shepard, Cecelia, 168–73
Shields, Nelson T., 207
Ship Ahoy Saloon, New Orleans, 89–90, 104
SIGABA codes, 34
Simon, J. C., 208
Slover, Nancy, 156
Smith, Joyce Long, 41–42, 279–80
Smith, Rudy, 226
Smith, Tana, 206
Spinelli, Mark, 209
Stark, Morris, 87
Stewart, Boone, 116–17, 118
Stewart, Christy Lee, 119, 151
Stewart, Cindy Kaye, 3, 117, 118, 270
Stewart, Evelyn, 3, 118
Stewart, Gary Loyd
abandoned by Van Best in Baton Rouge, 94–98, 265–66
adopted and renamed by Stewarts, 111–12, 118–19
birth of and treatment by Van Best, 88–95
education and career
of, 13–14
found and cared for after abandonment, 98–103
given up by Judy Chandler for adoption, 108–9
knowledge of adoption and fear of abandonment, 149–52
learns about and meets Judy Chandler, 1–14, 265–66
Stewart, Gary Loyd, and search for biological father
attempts to get birth certificate, 304, 320
attempts to work with San Francisco Police Department, 246–50, 251–64, 274, 290–93, 330–33
Beausoleil and, 289–90
early search, 234–43
early suspicion that Van Best is Zodiac killer, 243–46
finds family of Earl Van Dorn Best, 275–80, 298
Guenevere Van Best–Obregon and, 298–305, 320–21
learns about abandonment by Van Best, 265–74
learns of siblings in Austria, 298–305
learns of Van Best’s death in Mexico and visits grave, 298, 299, 303–4, 306–13
Lohmus’s memories of Van Best, 280–87, 294
Van Best’s criminal records and, 260, 262–64
Van Best’s name in ciphers, 295–97, 296, 297, 324–25, 326
Van Best’s photograph and, 236–38
Van Best’s Social Security number and, 236, 239–40
wish to find birth father, 14–16, 234
Zodiac and DNA analysis, 249, 256–62, 274–75, 290–92, 322–23, 330
Zodiac and fingerprint analysis, 329–30
Zodiac and handwriting analysis, 248, 254, 256, 325, 327–29
Zodiac victims’ resemblance to Judy Chandler, 293–94
Stewart, Kristy, 321
Stewart, Loyd and Leona Ortis
adopt and rename Best baby, 111–12, 118–19, 265–66
automobile accident and Leona’s injuries, 113–18
backgrounds of, 112–13
daughter Christy born, 119
daughter Cindy adopted, 117
daughter Sheryl adopted and dies, 113–18
fifty-third wedding anniversary of, 275, 276
Gary’s contact with birth mother and, 1–7, 10, 313–14
Gary’s Father’s Day letter to Loyd, 314–17
Gary’s search for biological father and, 240, 267, 270, 289
Loyd’s death, 318–19, 321
as parents, 149–51, 264, 333
Stewart, Margie, 108–9, 116, 119
Stewart, Sheryl Lynn, 113–18
Stewart, Zach, 5, 9, 238, 243–44, 250, 280, 289, 321, 333
meets Judy Gilford, 9–13, 14, 232, 233
Stiltz, Jack E., 160
Stine, Joe, 177–78
Stine, Paul, 174–78, 184, 202, 246, 291
Story, Linda, 207
Swanson, Dr. L. N., 80
Tate, Sharon, 164–65, 167
Thurmond, Strom, 120
Times-Picayune, New Orleans, 270–71
Tonga Room, San Francisco, 62, 63
Toschi, Dave, 178, 184, 197, 202, 215, 253–54
Tucson Adoption Reunion Support Group, 319
Twain, Mark, 96
Vallejo Times-Herald, 157–58,
160
The Most Dangerous Animal of All Page 32