Chaos : Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties (9780316529211)
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15 civic duty to go public: H. Weisel Declaration, 4.
16 stolen money from his kitchen: Boyarsky and Jones, “Former Milkman’s Complaint,” 10.
17 Weisel sued him for slander: “Couple Sue Bugliosi for $7 Million,” Los Angeles Times, A-25.
18 In depositions, Bugliosi and his wife: Denny, “Vince Bugliosi Story,” 49–50.
19 The Weisels proved otherwise: Ibid., 49–52.
20 Bugliosi had twice used an investigator: Ibid., 49. David Correa, an investigator for the District Attorney’s office, identified two requests in evidence, both by Bugliosi and both identifying Weisel as a material witness in a murder case; Denny’s manuscript contained photocopies of the requests.
21 Bugliosi settled out of court: “Release Agreement,” signed by Herbert and Rose Weisel, Vincent and Gail Bugliosi, George Denny (for Weisels), and Stephen W. Solomon (for Bugliosis), notarized March 21, 1973; Denny, “Vince Bugliosi Story,” 53.
22 He paid in cash: Denny, “Vince Bugliosi Story,” 53, 65–68; Denny included photocopies of his bank deposits for Bugliosi’s two cash payments as well as copies of the personal checks he wrote to the Weisels.
23 a confidentiality agreement: “Liquidated Damages Agreement,” signed by Weisels, Bugliosis, Denny, and Solomon, notarized March 22, 1973; Denny, “Vince Bugliosi Story,” 53.
24 turn over the deposition tapes: Affidavit of Barbara Crooker, Court Reporter, May 6, 1973; Denny, “Vince Bugliosi Story,” 53.
25 she was pregnant: Most of the information about what occurred is from Cardwell’s police report, her declaration in the civil case, and Denny’s manuscript.
26 he ordered Cardwell: Sgt. F. M. Sullivan, Santa Monica Police Department, Crime Report, Case 73 11072, Assault and Battery, Victim: Virginia Cardwell, June 25, 1973, 1–3; Cardwell Declaration, July 6, 1973; Denny, “Vince Bugliosi Story,” 70–79.
27 photographed her bruises: Photos provided by George Denny.
28 in the next day’s paper: “Bugliosi Accused of Assault,” Los Angeles Herald Examiner, June 26, 1973, 1.
29 Bugliosi returned to Cardwell’s apartment: Cardwell Declaration; Denny, “Vince Bugliosi Story,” 79–89.
30 to forge a backdated bill for legal services: “Received from Virginia Cardwell one hundred dollars ($100.00) for consultation fee regarding child support for son Christopher. Barbara Silver—personal secretary to Vincent T. Bugliosi, Stanley, Steinberg & Bugliosi”—photocopy in Denny “Vince Bugliosi Story,” 81; Cardwell Declaration.
31 He listened in on an extension: Denny, “Vince Bugliosi Story,” 82.
32 Cardwell claimed that the bruises: Lt. M. Landis, Santa Monica Police Department, Crime Report, Case 73 11072, Assault and Battery, Supplementary report, June 26, 1973, 1.
33 “This outrageous charge”: “Bugliosi Charge a Fake, Says Woman,” Los Angeles Herald Examiner, June 26, 1973, 1–2.
34 in exchange for her confidentiality: Denny, “Vince Bugliosi Story,” 86–93, 99–107; “Bugliosi Assault Said Settled Out of Court: Lawyer’s Account,” Santa Monica Evening Outlook, May 9, 1974, 7.
35 Cardwell story hit the papers in 1974: Mary Neiswender, “Charge Bugliosi Paid Hush Money,” Long Beach Press Telegram, May 7, 1974.
36 Because of his clout in the DA’s office: Denny, “Vince Bugliosi Story,” 84; “SM Woman Escapes Prosecution,” Santa Monica Evening Outlook, June 29, 1973.
37 “paralyze Melcher with fear”: Bugliosi summation, California v. Charles Manson, Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel, case #22239, 21370.
38 “you will be free”: David Felton and David Dalton, “Charles Manson: The Incredible Story of the Most Dangerous Man Alive,” Rolling Stone, June 25, 1970, 60.
39 His letter arrived at Penguin: Vincent Bugliosi, letter to Scott Moyers, Penguin Press, July 3, 2006 (the letter had fifty-one pages of attachments).
40 Bugliosi sent another letter: Vincent Bugliosi, letter to Scott Moyers, Feb. 15, 2007.
41 And another: Vincent Bugliosi, letter to Editorial Section, Penguin Press, Nov. 18, 2008.
42 Bugliosi had detailed this allegation: Bugliosi to Moyers, July 3, 2006, 2.
43 forensic evidence of at least five bodies: Author interview with Paul Dostie.
44 authorized a dig in the desert: Louis Sahagun, “New Twist in Manson Tale,” Los Angeles Times, May 20, 2008.
45 a ranch hand told police that Manson: Juan Flynn, LAPD Interview by Philip Sartuche, Aug. 18, 1970, Mike McGann files, 3; Bugliosi and Gentry, Helter Skelter, 440.
46 “may even exceed Manson’s estimate”: Bugliosi and Gentry, Helter Skelter, 615.
47 buried or staged to look like suicides: Most infamously, a Family member named John Philip Haught (also known as “Christopher Jesus” and “Zero”) was found dead of a bullet wound to the face in a house in Venice in the presence of four Family members in November 1969. One of the group, Bruce Davis (later convicted in both the Hinman and Shea murders), told police Haught was playing a game of Russian roulette. When police checked the gun, however, all six chambers had been loaded and the barrel had been wiped clean of fingerprints. Nevertheless, the police declared the death a suicide (Bugliosi and Gentry, Helter Skelter, 619–20). In 1972, the body of nineteen-year-old Lauren Willett was found buried in the basement of a house occupied by Family members Nancy Pitman, Squeaky Fromme, and several others, in Stockton, California (the body of Willett’s husband, James, twenty-six, had been discovered decapitated and partially buried in nearby Guerneville two days earlier; both had been shot in the head). One of the women’s associates, Priscilla Cooper, told police that Lauren Willett had killed herself “playing Russian roulette.” This time the ploy didn’t work: two men (one later married to Pitman) and Pitman and Cooper went to prison for the murders (Bugliosi and Gentry, Helter Skelter, 622–23).
48 reopening an investigation: Author interview with Kathleen Sheehan (Chief of Police, Bishop, Calif.); author interview with Debra Tate; Garance Burke, “New Evidence Points to Manson Victims,” USA Today, Mar. 20, 2008.
49 two with gardening shears: They were Nancy Pitman’s son and “Country” Sue Bartell.
50 September 29, 1969: The information in this section is taken from original reports from police departments in Bishop and Culver City, California; sheriff’s departments in Inyo and Los Angeles Counties; Parks Department; California Highway Patrol; and the Inyo DA’s office; as well as news coverage; and interviews with investigators, witnesses to Tenerelli’s time in Bishop, and friends and family members of Tenerelli from the Los Angeles area.
51 He was there to drive his car: The theory espoused by investigators after Tenerelli had been identified by medical records in late October was attributed in the Inyo Register (the paper serving Bishop, where the body was found) to John Preku, the chief of Bishop police, and in the Inyo Independent (the paper serving the county, where the car was found) to the county sheriff, Merrill Curtis. Both articles appeared on October 30, 1969. The Independent’s had about twice as much information, although, a week later, on November 6, the Register ran a second story with the information that had been left out of its first story, and this time, all the information was attributed to Sheriff Curtis, with no mention of Preku. The three articles are: “Suicide Victim Is Identified, Chief Reports,” Inyo Register¸ Oct. 30, 1969, 1; “Suicide Victim Is Identified, Says Sheriff,” Inyo Independent¸ Oct. 30, 1969, 1; “Suicide Victim Is Identified, Says Sheriff,” Inyo Register, Nov. 6, 1969, 1.
52 “two Turkish bath towels”: George Gordon, Coroner’s Investigation, Brune Mortuary, Case 69-94, Oct. 3, 1969, 1.
53 a “motorcyclist killed in Bishop”: Dial Torgerson and Ron Einstoss, “Possible Manson Victim: Search for Missing Stunt Man Pressed,” Los Angeles Times, Dec. 11, 1969, 28.
54 might’ve been the Family’s doing: Felton and Dalton, “Charles Manson,” 30.
55 Tenerelli’s suicide had been “purged”: Author interview with Chris Carter.
56 the original Bishop Police Department investigative report: Files of Frank Fowles (former district attorney of Inyo County), Special Collections, Library, University of Nevada, Reno.
57 Tenerelli’s name on it—misspelled: as “Tennerelli, Fillippo” on the generic 1969 registration form.
58 had no accent at all: Author interview with Bee Greer. In addition, no mention was made in the police reports of the people who had spoken with the person believed to be Tenerelli in Bishop saying he had an accent of any kind.
59 There was a lab report: A. L. Coffey, Chief, Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, Department of Justice, letter to Donald H. Talmadge, Coroner of Inyo County, Oct. 9, 1969.
60 “similar or identical”: Mary Hirsh, M.D., X Ray Report, Washington Hospital, Dept. of Radiology, to Talmadge, Inyo Coroner, Oct. 17, 1969.
61 identified the victim nearly two weeks earlier: Sgt. David Walizer, Supplementary Investigation Report, no. CR 69-472, Office of Sheriff, Inyo County, Oct. 28, 1969.
62 “not been at the location for more than two days”: Walizer, Office of Sheriff, Inyo County, Supplementary Investigation Report, no. CR-69-472, Oct. 10, 1969.
63 “coming up from the wreck”: Cox, Supplementary Investigation Report, Oct. 6, 1969.
64 “find a job”: Kriens Complaint, 1. See also author interview with B. Greer.
65 “late model” blue Volkswagen: Hailey, Memo to Area Commander, Nov. 1, 1969, 1–2; Steuber, Supplemental Arrest—Investigation Report, 1.
66 a “hippie” type: Ibid. (both).
67 “was sure” that DeCarlo: Ibid. (both).
68 “prior to or on 10-1-69”: Hailey Memo, 1.
69 DeCarlo was in Death Valley: According to trial testimony, investigation reports, and Helter Skelter and other books, Juan Flynn left Barker Ranch for the last time on September 29 or 30. The night before his departure, a “last supper” was held at which DeCarlo was present and, according to the testimony, made self-incriminating remarks concerning the murder of Donald “Shorty” Shea—but, more important, it put DeCarlo in the desert on the same day of Tenerelli’s arrival to the area (Juan Flynn testimony, California v. Manson et al., 11849, 11907, 12261, 12281; Jerry LeBlanc and Ivor Davis, 5 to Die [Los Angeles: Holloway House, 1970], 161–69. In addition, in a 1999 taped interview with Bill Nelson, Barbara Hoyt recounted her first attempt to escape from Barker Ranch with Sherry Cooper on or around October 1, 1969: “Sherry made arrangements with Danny to meet us at bottom of Golar Wash… but we couldn’t get down there that day. Danny told us later that he did make it and that they were kind of sneaking up a little bit, trying to meet us and we couldn’t get down that time…” (Nelson interview with Hoyt, audiotape). Cooper confirmed this to me, explaining that they were seven hours late, so DeCarlo left without them (author interview with Sherry Cooper).
70 to show to “Kitty”: Fowles files, Folder 10.
71 she was “involved” with Tenerelli: Ibid.
72 predilection for Volkswagen Beetles: “28 ‘Hips’ Nabbed in Death Valley, Goler Wash Raids,” Inyo Independent, Oct. 16, 1969, 1.
73 “between the pages” of a Playboy magazine: Gordon, Coroner’s Investigation, 1; Brune letter, Oct. 6, 1969.
74 “made of pubic hair”: Bill Vance Notes (unsigned four-page document), LASO Files, 2.
75 arrested for stealing a gun: Redondo Beach Police Department, Courtesy Report to Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, Oct. 6, 1969, Fowles Files. According to this report, two Redondo Beach residents filed a criminal report upon returning from a hunting trip to Death Valley, claiming that their parked auto had been robbed of a shotgun in the desert on October 4. After discovering the theft, they encountered five “hippies,” one of whom—later identified at William Rex Cole (aka Bill Vance)—had the gun.
76 they’d never heard from the detectives: Among the most important witnesses who were willing to provide information but were never contacted: Bee Greer, Robert Denton, Dennis Cox, Frank Crom, and Leon Brune. They also could’ve interviewed Manson Family members, both incarcerated and not. One of them, Susan Atkins (who died a year after their “investigation” in September 2009), had told Ronnie Howard (the inmate who helped break the case) that the Family had killed more people then they’d been held accountable for, including “a guy in the desert—they can’t identify him.” According to LAPD detective Paul LePage’s notes of the jailhouse interview with Howard (discussed in chapter 8: “Interview of Rena Howard—Sybil Brand Institute,” Nov. 18, 1969, 1–4, LePage personal files), the conversation between Howard and Atkins took place on November 2, 1969, a few days after Tenerelli’s body had been identified in Bishop. Evidently the news hadn’t reached Atkins yet.
77 the six months between the reopening: The three people Jepson told me he interviewed were Billy Kriens (the Bishop police officer who conducted the two-day investigation of Tenerelli’s death), Doug Manning (the CHP officer who told me the idea that Tenerelli committed suicide was a “bunch of malarkey”), and Ray Seguine (whose only connection to the case was he briefly owned the Sportsman’s Lodge).
78 the scant record: David Jepson, fax to author, July 9, 2011.
79 Open Records Act Request: O’Neill Request, July 19, 2011.
80 no records had been found: Toni Fansler, Records Clerk, Bishop Police Department, July 29, 2011.
81 The sheriff halted his dig in Death Valley: Associated Press, “Manson Site Keeps Its Secrets,” Los Angeles Daily News, May 24, 2008; author interview with Dostie.
Epilogue
1 “exactly who did what to whom”: Hadley Freeman, “The Second Summer of Charles Manson: Why the Cult Murders Still Grip Us,” The Guardian, Aug. 16, 2016.
2 Watson absconded to his parents’ place: Tex Watson and Chaplain Ray, Will You Die for Me? (Old Tappan, N.J.: Fleming H. Revell, 1978), 148. According to trial transcripts and police reports, Watson left the Barker ranch between September 30 and October 2, the period during which Tenerelli arrived, then died, in Bishop.
3 he turned himself in for questioning: The information in this section is taken from two of my articles, both in the online journal Medium: “The Tale of the Manson Tapes,” Sept. 16, 2014; and “Charles Manson’s Right-Hand Man Is Up for Parole. Here’s What to Watch For,” Oct. 25, 1016.
4 “deep insight into environmental issues”: Ted Rowland, “At 75, Charles Manson Still Has Power to Influence Others,” CNN.com, Nov. 12, 2009.
5 a seed gun called “the Savior”: Jon Michael Jones (longtime friend of Manson), correspondence with author.
6 cell phone to Manson: Gregory Blevins, “Local Lawyer Recalls Speaking with Manson,” Visalia [Calif.] Times-Delta, Nov. 20, 2017.
7 rechristened him “Dead Rat”: Lis Wiehl with Caitlin Rother, “How Many Uncounted Victims Did the Manson Gang Kill?,” The Daily Beast, May 25, 2018.
8 as if some of it: Author interview with Hammond.