Post by Admin Horan on May 8, 2015 11:11:45 GMT -6
Detective Les Lundblad of the Solano County Sheriff's Office sometimes seemed more interested in entertaining reporters than solving the double murder of David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen.
Vallejo Times-Herald, December 21, 1969
"Two young Vallejoans, a boy 17 and a girl 16, were found shot to death late last night on a lonely stretch of Lake Herman Road, about a half mile beyond the lake itself and near the entrance to the Benicia water supply pumping station…Sheriff's investigator Leslie B. Lundblad…could not be reached for details. But [Solano County Coroner Deputy Sheriff Daniel Horan] said the killer apparently fired first at the two while they were in Faraday's car…"(Vallejo Times-Herald, December 21, 1969)
Vallejo Times-Herald, December 22, 1968
In the first six days of reporting on the tragedy, Lundblad touted no less than five sensational—and incorrect—theories. First among these was the claim that the site of the murder was "a favorite parking spot for young people" (Vallejo Times-Herald, December 22, 1968).
What Horan, Lundblad, and subsequent investigators neglected to mention was that the "parking spot" where the murder occurred also happened to be a frequent meeting place for drug traffickers and their retail dealers.
Vallejo Times-Herald, December 22, 1968
"Sheriff's Sgt. Leslie L. Lundblad said Saturday night that…the killings could have been done without a motive, perhaps by a demented person" (Flaherty, Vallejo Times-Herald, December 22, 1968).
Lundblad's habit of shooting off quotes first, then reviewing the facts, would seriously hamper the investigation by confusing potential witnesses and other investigators. Less than forty-eight hours after the murders, Lundblad is already publicly speculating on the existence of one of those "demented" thrill killers he and is audience had been reading so much about.
The joint Sunday edition of the San Francisco Chronicle/Examiner introduced the story to their entire Northern California audience. This story is also notable for leading the way in not only sensationalizing the case, but also in downright fictionalizing it—particularly the supposed discovery of footprints:
San Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle, December 22, 1968
…The youth had been shot in the head by a small-caliber rifle…The girl had been shot in the back from a range of no more than 10 feet. Four small-caliber bullet casings were found near the auto…Footprints indicated the youth had gotten out of the auto and walked to the passenger side when he was felled by the bullet penetrating his head just behind the left ear…The young girl had not been molested and robbery was not a motive, investigators said. (McEvoy. San Franciso Sunday Examiner and Chronicle, December 22, 1968)
To reporters, Lundblad threw up his hands, ascribing the grisly double homicide to an invisible, "deranged individual," who apparently killed simply for the thrill of killing. By the 23rd of December, Lundblad was already pushing the "maniac" theory to the public.
Vallejo Times-Herald December 23, 1968
HUNT MANIAC IN MURDERS OF TEENAGERS
…Impetus went to the maniac theory Sunday when a youth telephoned Sgt. Leslie Lundblad to inform the officer of a bizarre experience he had about 9:30 p.m. Friday in the same area where the killings occurred …"When I saw its backup lights come on," he continued, "I gunned our car out of there. The other driver followed me—As far as I was concerned, that was the end of it until I read Saturday what had happened in the same spot where we were, and then I started thinking all the more about it." (Vallejo Times-Herald December 23, 1968)
In other words, sensational media coverage of the "case" was already coloring the memories of potential witnesses who were reading twice-daily updates on the grisly tale. And because of the sinister implications of the boy's story for the person who foolishly stopped to offer him and his date assistance that night, this witness never risked his freedom or safety to come forward and speak to police.
Media coverage focused a bright spotlight on the aging Lundblad's last homicide case. He reported he was hot on the trail of a suspect, who would turn out to be a sixteen-year old classmate of Betty Lou's, Richard "Ricky" _______. Ricky had pestered Darlene and threatened David in a jealous argument. Soon, however, Lundblad had to report the disappointing news that Ricky had a good alibi for the murder. The following passage would later provide "material" for two Zodiac letters:
"…Lundblad explained the killer needed no artificial lighting for accuracy in shooting the girl, since she was running on a plateau, and her body was silhouetted against the sky…[Lundblad] said the murder weapon almost undoubtedly was an automatic firing type (illegal to possess) and was a small caliber gun… (Vallejo Times-Herald, December 23, 1968)
Relentless publicity concerning the lack of progress in the investigation led to appeals for direct involvement on the part of readers:
Vallejo News-Chronicle, December 26, 1968
"…you may be able to help authorities capture the killer who shot to death two teenagers with a .22 caliber automatic rifle. Sheriff's Det. Sgt. Leslie L. Lundblad asked all such persons to contact him immediately" (Vallejo News-Chronicle, December 26, 1968).
Vallejo Times-Herald, December 27, 1968
Vallejo and Hogan High School students are setting up a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the slayer of the teenaged couple (Vallejo Times-Herald, December 27, 1968).
Three months later, Francis Flaherty of the Vallejo Times-Herald would set the evolving metanarrative in print:
Vallejo Times-Herald, March 30, 1969
"More than three months have passed since Vallejo teenagers David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen were sadistically gunned to death on lonely Lake Herman Road…They were on their first date (the first one she ever had been permitted in her 16 years), and it ended in their deaths…The horrifying crime may well be the most celebrated murder mystery currently under investigation in California, and Lundblad has received aid and offers of it…But for all the searching and probing, he has yet to come up with one tenable suspect, and this might well be because the murders have all the aspects of being motiveless, and possibly were committed by a hopelessly deranged person…Lundblad said, "If I talk to a suspect, I'll know positively whether he was there that night." (Vallejo Times-Herald, March 30, 1969)
Vallejo Times-Herald, December 21, 1969
"Two young Vallejoans, a boy 17 and a girl 16, were found shot to death late last night on a lonely stretch of Lake Herman Road, about a half mile beyond the lake itself and near the entrance to the Benicia water supply pumping station…Sheriff's investigator Leslie B. Lundblad…could not be reached for details. But [Solano County Coroner Deputy Sheriff Daniel Horan] said the killer apparently fired first at the two while they were in Faraday's car…"(Vallejo Times-Herald, December 21, 1969)
Vallejo Times-Herald, December 22, 1968
In the first six days of reporting on the tragedy, Lundblad touted no less than five sensational—and incorrect—theories. First among these was the claim that the site of the murder was "a favorite parking spot for young people" (Vallejo Times-Herald, December 22, 1968).
What Horan, Lundblad, and subsequent investigators neglected to mention was that the "parking spot" where the murder occurred also happened to be a frequent meeting place for drug traffickers and their retail dealers.
Vallejo Times-Herald, December 22, 1968
"Sheriff's Sgt. Leslie L. Lundblad said Saturday night that…the killings could have been done without a motive, perhaps by a demented person" (Flaherty, Vallejo Times-Herald, December 22, 1968).
Lundblad's habit of shooting off quotes first, then reviewing the facts, would seriously hamper the investigation by confusing potential witnesses and other investigators. Less than forty-eight hours after the murders, Lundblad is already publicly speculating on the existence of one of those "demented" thrill killers he and is audience had been reading so much about.
The joint Sunday edition of the San Francisco Chronicle/Examiner introduced the story to their entire Northern California audience. This story is also notable for leading the way in not only sensationalizing the case, but also in downright fictionalizing it—particularly the supposed discovery of footprints:
San Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle, December 22, 1968
…The youth had been shot in the head by a small-caliber rifle…The girl had been shot in the back from a range of no more than 10 feet. Four small-caliber bullet casings were found near the auto…Footprints indicated the youth had gotten out of the auto and walked to the passenger side when he was felled by the bullet penetrating his head just behind the left ear…The young girl had not been molested and robbery was not a motive, investigators said. (McEvoy. San Franciso Sunday Examiner and Chronicle, December 22, 1968)
To reporters, Lundblad threw up his hands, ascribing the grisly double homicide to an invisible, "deranged individual," who apparently killed simply for the thrill of killing. By the 23rd of December, Lundblad was already pushing the "maniac" theory to the public.
Vallejo Times-Herald December 23, 1968
HUNT MANIAC IN MURDERS OF TEENAGERS
…Impetus went to the maniac theory Sunday when a youth telephoned Sgt. Leslie Lundblad to inform the officer of a bizarre experience he had about 9:30 p.m. Friday in the same area where the killings occurred …"When I saw its backup lights come on," he continued, "I gunned our car out of there. The other driver followed me—As far as I was concerned, that was the end of it until I read Saturday what had happened in the same spot where we were, and then I started thinking all the more about it." (Vallejo Times-Herald December 23, 1968)
In other words, sensational media coverage of the "case" was already coloring the memories of potential witnesses who were reading twice-daily updates on the grisly tale. And because of the sinister implications of the boy's story for the person who foolishly stopped to offer him and his date assistance that night, this witness never risked his freedom or safety to come forward and speak to police.
Media coverage focused a bright spotlight on the aging Lundblad's last homicide case. He reported he was hot on the trail of a suspect, who would turn out to be a sixteen-year old classmate of Betty Lou's, Richard "Ricky" _______. Ricky had pestered Darlene and threatened David in a jealous argument. Soon, however, Lundblad had to report the disappointing news that Ricky had a good alibi for the murder. The following passage would later provide "material" for two Zodiac letters:
"…Lundblad explained the killer needed no artificial lighting for accuracy in shooting the girl, since she was running on a plateau, and her body was silhouetted against the sky…[Lundblad] said the murder weapon almost undoubtedly was an automatic firing type (illegal to possess) and was a small caliber gun… (Vallejo Times-Herald, December 23, 1968)
Relentless publicity concerning the lack of progress in the investigation led to appeals for direct involvement on the part of readers:
Vallejo News-Chronicle, December 26, 1968
"…you may be able to help authorities capture the killer who shot to death two teenagers with a .22 caliber automatic rifle. Sheriff's Det. Sgt. Leslie L. Lundblad asked all such persons to contact him immediately" (Vallejo News-Chronicle, December 26, 1968).
Vallejo Times-Herald, December 27, 1968
Vallejo and Hogan High School students are setting up a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the slayer of the teenaged couple (Vallejo Times-Herald, December 27, 1968).
Three months later, Francis Flaherty of the Vallejo Times-Herald would set the evolving metanarrative in print:
Vallejo Times-Herald, March 30, 1969
"More than three months have passed since Vallejo teenagers David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen were sadistically gunned to death on lonely Lake Herman Road…They were on their first date (the first one she ever had been permitted in her 16 years), and it ended in their deaths…The horrifying crime may well be the most celebrated murder mystery currently under investigation in California, and Lundblad has received aid and offers of it…But for all the searching and probing, he has yet to come up with one tenable suspect, and this might well be because the murders have all the aspects of being motiveless, and possibly were committed by a hopelessly deranged person…Lundblad said, "If I talk to a suspect, I'll know positively whether he was there that night." (Vallejo Times-Herald, March 30, 1969)