Murder in California: Rage and Revenge Murders

Book excerpt: Murder in California: Rage and Revenge Murders profiles some of California’s most infamous murder cases. The edition photographically transports you to actual murder sites along with images related to the case and perpetrator(s). The images and accompanying profiles offer a descriptive account and follow-up aftermath providing an important understanding into the far-reaching effects of each crime. The captured snapshots portray visual testimonies of extinguished lives removed by acts of violence. Crime scenes often revert back into unremarkable landscape or unassuming buildings over the ensuing years and decades. Several have altered little since their moment of infamy. Many are passed daily by pedestrian and vehicular traffic unaware of a location’s unique significance. California has been the site for many notorious homicides. The following are portrayed in this edition: South of the Border Escapade Funded By A Murder Victim’s Credit Card McDonald’s San Ysidro Restaurant Massacre Site: Artie and Jim Mitchell: Contemporary Cain and Abel Playboy playmate Dorothy Stratten’s killing and perpetrator suicide Ewell Family Killings: Delayed gratification thwarts a near perfect killing John Morency: A Vindictive Collapse To An Illusionary Refinement Laci Peterson: When motive convicts beyond the body of evidence Lyle and Erik Menendez: The sins of the son’s bury their parents The Nicole Brown-Simpson and Ronald Goldman Murders: An American travesty The Marin County barbeque murders A convincing performance behind the killing of Bonnie Lee Bakley Vincent Brothers: The convicting insects on the radiator An Illusionary Friendship That Stimulated an Embezzlement Murder A Bondage Murder With An Unconsensual Victim A Gunfight That Ultimately Becomes A Supreme Court Precedent Diane Whipple: Defining accountability with vicious pet owners Eastside Salinas: An invisible war Rages streetside Slaying of Ennis Cosby on an isolated freeway off ramp Father Eric Freed’s Brutal Slaying: A Lost Coast of fractured souls The Silent and Senseless Murder of Lindsay Cutshall and Jason Allen Haing Ngor: An extended and consequential journey curtailed by a random killing Huey P. Newton: A tarnished messenger with feet of clay Johnny Stompanato: Lana Turner’s fatal attraction Barbara Graham: An unsympathetic film portrayal Marvin Gaye: A visionary dishonored within his household Ned Doheny and Hugh Plunkett: The Greystone Mansion murder-suicide The Unexplainable Orcutt freeway sniper attack Phil Hartman: The shocking murder-suicide from an unanticipated source Phil Spector: The Crumbling legacy of a musical genius Ramon Novarro: The gruesome torture of a closeted screen idol Ronni Chasen Shooting: When two divergent worlds collided Sal Mineo: A career comeback curtailed The Abrupt departure of Soul Music legend Sam Cooke in his prime Ryan Jenkins: Jealousy Consumes A Reality Television Contestant A Convicted Killer Finds Conjugal Affection But Never Release The Covina Christmas Eve massacre by a Santa impersonator Edward Allaway: The questionable case for cured insanity Mel and Elizabeth Grimes: The consequences behind a one-ton stone The Helzer Brothers: Children of Thunder slayings The disintegrating mind and schoolyard entrance massacre by Brenda Spencer Dr. Victor Ohta: The execution and incendiary of the house on the hill The vindictive rampage of Elliot Rodger The Golden Dragon massacre: The gang who didn’t shoot straight Lynwood Jim Drake: A loose wire springs a rampage Marcus Wesson: The cult and tragic murder consequence traced to family abuse Scott Dekraai: Revenge for a punitive divorce settlement Holzer Family stabbing spree: Spiraling out of control mental illness The Oikos University Massacre: Piecing together a disjointed puzzle San Diego State Engineering graduate student’s rage against his perceived academic tormentors Santana High School: Adolescence angst with a gunfire solution A Synagogue Shooting By A Self-Deluded Solider