The following is a work in progress to amalgamate virtually every single newspaper article about Lake Herman Road into more readable form under one post. This page will be updated regularly until complete. Below is the first newspaper article exactly as it was printed. Once this project is complete, the other three confirmed Zodiac crimes featured in the newspapers will all be given their separate section and linked via the homepage. This may take a while, as you can imagine.
VALLEJO TEENAGERS ARE SHOT TO DEATH NEAR LAKE HERMAN
Sgt Leslie Lunblad Two young Vallejoans, a boy 17 and a girl 16 years of age were found shot to death late last night on a lonely stretch of Lake Herman Road about half a mile beyond the lake itself and near the entrance to the Benicia water supply pumping station. They were identified by Solano County Coroner Dan Horan as David Faraday of 1930 Sereno Drive and as Bettilou Jensen of 123 Ridgewood Ct. Both had been shot in the head with a .22 caliber weapon. Miss Jensen apparently died immediately after the shooting David was pronounced dead on arrival in a A-1 ambulance at 12.05 am.
The gruesome double murder was discovered at about 11.24 pm when Mrs Stella Borges driving from her ranch home to pick up her youngsters at a Benicia theater, saw the two prostrate forms in the headlights of her automobile. She sped on toward town but before reaching her destination flagged down a Benicia police patrol car occupied by Captain Dan Pitta and another Benicia officer. They hurried to the scene, called an ambulance and notified the sheriff's office of the tragedy. Sheriff's investigator Leslie B Lunblad, who was heading up the investigation, was still in the Lake Herman Road area early today and could not be reached for details. But Horan said the killer apparently first fired at the two while they were in Faraday's car. One bullet hole was found in the back window of the vehicle and four empty shell casings were found on the ground nearby.
Deputy Sheriff Russell T Butterbach and his partner, Deputy Wayne Waterman came into Vallejo around midnight in the vain hope of getting a statement from David. Butterbach told the Times-Herald that the girl's body was found about 10 feet behind the car while the boy was lying outside the right side of the vehicle. "I just couldn't say how or what happened" Butterbach said "We haven't got that far in the investigation." Asked if there was any evidence of another car being in the vicinity, Horan replied in the negative. He said the ground in the area was practically frozen and that there was no possibility of tire tracks.
At Sheriff's headquarters in Vallejo Sgt Terry Cunningham said he was unable to provide any additional details. He indicated that there were no immediate suspects in the shootings and that this probably would remain true until further progress was made by investigators at the scene. Captain Pitta, who was continuing other police duties in Benicia could not be reached by telephone early today.
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/
The gruesome double murder was discovered at about 11.24 pm when Mrs Stella Borges driving from her ranch home to pick up her youngsters at a Benicia theater, saw the two prostrate forms in the headlights of her automobile. She sped on toward town but before reaching her destination flagged down a Benicia police patrol car occupied by Captain Dan Pitta and another Benicia officer. They hurried to the scene, called an ambulance and notified the sheriff's office of the tragedy. Sheriff's investigator Leslie B Lunblad, who was heading up the investigation, was still in the Lake Herman Road area early today and could not be reached for details. But Horan said the killer apparently first fired at the two while they were in Faraday's car. One bullet hole was found in the back window of the vehicle and four empty shell casings were found on the ground nearby.
Deputy Sheriff Russell T Butterbach and his partner, Deputy Wayne Waterman came into Vallejo around midnight in the vain hope of getting a statement from David. Butterbach told the Times-Herald that the girl's body was found about 10 feet behind the car while the boy was lying outside the right side of the vehicle. "I just couldn't say how or what happened" Butterbach said "We haven't got that far in the investigation." Asked if there was any evidence of another car being in the vicinity, Horan replied in the negative. He said the ground in the area was practically frozen and that there was no possibility of tire tracks.
At Sheriff's headquarters in Vallejo Sgt Terry Cunningham said he was unable to provide any additional details. He indicated that there were no immediate suspects in the shootings and that this probably would remain true until further progress was made by investigators at the scene. Captain Pitta, who was continuing other police duties in Benicia could not be reached by telephone early today.
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/
INVESTIGATORS LACKING CLUES IN TWO SLAYINGS by Francis G Flaherty
Sheriff's investigators were able to turn up only a few clues Saturday that might lead them to the killer of David Faraday,17, and Betty Lou Jensen, 16, whose bodies were found late Friday night near the Faraday station wagon on Lake Herman Rd, five miles northwest of here. The Faraday youth was shot once, behind the left ear, while the Jensen girl, who apparently attempted to flee from her killer, was shot five times in the right upper back. The gruesome double slaying was discovered at 11.24 pm by Mrs Manuel Borges, who resides on a ranch near the stretch of road where the shootings took place.
Sherriff's Sgt Leslie L Lunblad said Saturday night that nearly 24 hours of constant investigation had produced no real tangible leads as to the identity of the killer."We gathered all the physical evidence that was available at the scene, cartridge cases and other items." Lunblad said "and these will be tested in the laboratory."
Lunblad and Deputy Russell Butterbach spent much of the day in Vallejo interviewing the family and friends of the slain pair, to determine if these parents could shed any light on the grisly killings. "We pretty well know what time they may have reached the spot where they were killed," Lunblad said "but this has not yet been completely been pinned down." It was the first and last date Betty Lou had with David. They were to have gone to the Hogan High School Christmas music program which lasted until around 10 pm. Investigators were not overlooking the possibility the slayer could have been a rejected suitor of the Jensen girl.
"We're looking into that" Lunblad said "but at this stage we're not overlooking any possibilities whatever, slim though them might seem on the surface." He said the killings could have been done without a motive, perhaps by a demented person.
Sherriff's Sgt Leslie L Lunblad said Saturday night that nearly 24 hours of constant investigation had produced no real tangible leads as to the identity of the killer."We gathered all the physical evidence that was available at the scene, cartridge cases and other items." Lunblad said "and these will be tested in the laboratory."
Lunblad and Deputy Russell Butterbach spent much of the day in Vallejo interviewing the family and friends of the slain pair, to determine if these parents could shed any light on the grisly killings. "We pretty well know what time they may have reached the spot where they were killed," Lunblad said "but this has not yet been completely been pinned down." It was the first and last date Betty Lou had with David. They were to have gone to the Hogan High School Christmas music program which lasted until around 10 pm. Investigators were not overlooking the possibility the slayer could have been a rejected suitor of the Jensen girl.
"We're looking into that" Lunblad said "but at this stage we're not overlooking any possibilities whatever, slim though them might seem on the surface." He said the killings could have been done without a motive, perhaps by a demented person.
Lunblad said the bullets were small caliber, that it appeared the Faraday youth stopped his car when a slug was fired through a rear side window of the family station wagon he was driving. Once the vehicle stopped, the two young people were helpless at the hands of the slayer. Lunblad said he conducted a dozen interviews with intimates of the slain pair Saturday, and took statements from all of them. He said few could throw any light whatsoever on the case.
The Faraday youth, who resided at 1939 Sereno Drive, was a native of San Rafael and had been a Vallejo resident 3 1/2 years. He was a student at Vallejo High School, where he was a member of the Interact Club, and the high school wrestling team. He also was a member of First Presbyterian Church, and an Eagle Scout member of Explorer Post 209. He won the God and Country award through his scouting activities, and was lodge chief of the Order of the Arrow in Solano, Napa and Lake counties. He was a member of Knights of Dunamis, and was a member of the staff of the Silverado Area Council camp.
The Faraday youth, who resided at 1939 Sereno Drive, was a native of San Rafael and had been a Vallejo resident 3 1/2 years. He was a student at Vallejo High School, where he was a member of the Interact Club, and the high school wrestling team. He also was a member of First Presbyterian Church, and an Eagle Scout member of Explorer Post 209. He won the God and Country award through his scouting activities, and was lodge chief of the Order of the Arrow in Solano, Napa and Lake counties. He was a member of Knights of Dunamis, and was a member of the staff of the Silverado Area Council camp.
The youth is survived by his parents, Mrs Jean L Faraday, Vallejo, and Thomas Faraday, Salinas. He was the eldest of four children, with two brothers Robert and Steven, and a sister Debra, residing in Vallejo. Also surviving are his maternal grandmother Mrs Irene La Tourette, Vallejo, and his paternal grandparents Col and Mrs L M McKinley, San Francisco. A funeral service will be held at 2 pm Monday in First Presbyterian Church with rites conducted by Rev James O Hulin, assistant pastor. Inurnment will be private. Friends may call at Colonial Chapels from 10 am today until noon Monday. The Faraday family has requested that friends make contributions to a Boy Scout Camping Scholarship to be known as "The David Faraday Tribute Fund."
The Jensen girl, whose family resides at 123 Ridgewood Ct, was a native of Colorado. She was a junior and an honor student at Hogan High School. She was also grand royal guide of Prima Vera Council 32. Pythian Sunshine Girls. Surviving are her parents, Mr and Mrs Verne Jensen and a sister Melodie, Vallejo: her maternal grandparents Mr and Mrs Louis E Blenderman, Oakland, and her paternal grandmother Mrs Anna Jensen, Colorado. Christian Science services will be conducted at 11 am Monday at Colonial Chapels by Reader Hugh Martin Niemoller. Friends may call at Colonial Chapels after 9 am today.
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/
The Jensen girl, whose family resides at 123 Ridgewood Ct, was a native of Colorado. She was a junior and an honor student at Hogan High School. She was also grand royal guide of Prima Vera Council 32. Pythian Sunshine Girls. Surviving are her parents, Mr and Mrs Verne Jensen and a sister Melodie, Vallejo: her maternal grandparents Mr and Mrs Louis E Blenderman, Oakland, and her paternal grandmother Mrs Anna Jensen, Colorado. Christian Science services will be conducted at 11 am Monday at Colonial Chapels by Reader Hugh Martin Niemoller. Friends may call at Colonial Chapels after 9 am today.
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/