NCJ Number
45262
Journal
SAN DIEGO COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT QUARTERLY Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1977) Pages: 9-11
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A MURDER CASE IS DESCRIBED IN WHICH GEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE APPARENT MURDER WEAPON LED TO THE DISCOVERY OF TWO POSSIBLE CRIME SCENES AND FINALLY TO A CONFESSION BY THE KILLER.
Abstract
IN JULY 1975, FIVE FIREMEN TRAVELING NEAR TACATE, MEXICO, DETECTED AN ODOR OF DECAYING FLESH. THEY INVESTIGATED AND DISCOVERED THE REMAINS OF A SMALL WOMAN IN A SHALLOW GRAVE. AUTHORITIES DISINTERRED THE BODY AND FOUND BESIDE IT A WELL-ROUNDED COBBLESTONE. AN AUTOPSY REVEALED THAT THE FATAL INJURIES WERE VERY LIKELY CAUSED BY THAT OBJECT AND THAT THE MURDERER HAD BEEN CAREFUL ENOUGH TO REMOVE THE VICTIM'S DENTURES, THUS DELAYING IDENTIFICATION OF THE BODY. IT WAS FINALLY IDENTIFIED AS A CALIFORNIA SCHOOL TEACHER. GEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE MURDER WEAPON, THE COBBLE, SHOWED THAT IT DID NOT COME FROM THE AREA OF THE GRAVE. THE VICTIM'S CALIFORNIA HOME WAS SEARCHED, AND ROCKS SIMILAR TO THE COBBLE WERE FOUND IN THE YARD. HOWEVER, THE VICTIM'S HUSBAND HAD REPORTED HIS WIFE MISSING FROM THEIR VACATION RESIDENCE IN ROSARITO BEACH, MEXICO. ROCKS WITH A COMPOSITION SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE MURDER WEAPON WERE ALSO FOUND THERE. FROM THE GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ALONE, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE WHICH LOCATION WAS THE SCENE OF THE CRIME. FINALLY THE COBBLE WAS SHOWN TO THE VICTIM'S DAUGHTER, WHO RECOGNIZED IT AS ONE SHE HAD FOUND AT ROSARITO BEACH AND BROUGHT HOME TO CALIFORNIA. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE HUSBAND HAD BEEN HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH ANOTHER WOMAN AND HAD WANTED A DIVORCE. CONFRONTED WITH THE GEOLOGICAL AND OTHER EVIDENCE, THE VICTIM'S HUSBAND MADE A CONFESSION OF VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. IN A MOMENT OF PASSION, HE HAD GRABBED THE ROCK (WHICH WAS SITTING ON TOP OF THE REFRIGERATOR) AND STRUCK HIS WIFE ON THE HEAD.