09.27.69 - Lake Berryessa Attack - Timeline

09.27.69 (Saturday)

• 1:00 p.m. - Bryan Hartnell, Cecelia Shepard and Judy ______ get into Bryan's Karmen Ghia and leave the campus of Pacific Union College in Angwin, CA and drive into the town of St. Helena, CA. They go to a rummage sale, where Bryan purchases a television set. In order to transport the TV back to his room at the college, Bryan leaves Cecelia and Judy in St. Helena, as he doesn't have enough room in the car for the television and the three of them. Upon his return to St. Helena at 2 p.m., Bryan picks up Cecelia. Judy believes that Bryan and Cecelia are heading into San Francisco as they leave her in St. Helena. Judy is unaware of any plans Bryan and Cecelia have to go to Lake Berryessa.

• 3:30 p.m. - Three female Pacific Union College students, sunbathing on the beach at Lake Berryessa, approximately two miles north of the A&W Root Beer stand on Knoxville Road, observe a male subject, approximately forty years old, 6 feet tall, weighing approximately 200-210 lbs., muscular build, "rather nice looking", dressed in dark pants and a dark pullover shirt, driving a late model, silver blue Chevrolet 2-door sedan, with California plates, who watches them for approximately forty-five minutes as they sunbathe.

• The three PUC students and the unknown male subject who watched them sunbathe are witnessed by numerous other people who were in the area at the time.

• 6:30 p.m. - Bryan Calvin Hartnell and Cecelia Ann Shepard are attacked and stabbed multiple times by an unknown man wearing a hood which has the image of a crossed circle on it, while they are on the shoreline of Lake Berryessa, one half mile north of the Lake Berryessa Headquarters in Napa County.

• Exact time unknown, but can be assumed to be shortly after 6:30 p.m. - an unknown person leaves a handwritten note on the door of victim Bryan Hartnell's Volkswagen Karmen Ghia, which reads:

"Vallejo

12-20-68

7-4-69

Sept 27-69-6:30

by knife"

(Directly above these words was the crossed circle symbol.)

• 6:55 p.m. - Park Sergeant William White is on routine patrols around the Lake Berryessa area when he receives a call from Park Headquarters to proceed to the Rancho Monticello Resort to respond to a person reporting a stabbing. Upon arrival at the resort, White is contacted by Archie and Elizabeth White (no relation to Sergeant White) and Ronald Fong. Mr. Fong states that he saw a male and female on the beach area south of the resort, "hollering that they had been stabbed". The abovementioned proceeded, by speedboat (owned by Archie White) to the beach area referred to by Mr. Fong. Upon arrival, the group witnessed a young female, with numerous stab wounds, appearing to be in great pain, lying on the ground. White states that, at the time they discovered the female victim, Ranger Dennis Land arrived at the scene in his pickup truck, carrying a male victim who also appeared to have multiple stab wounds. White states that he immediately radioed a request to Park Headquarters to call the Sheriff's Department to dispatch an ambulance and a Deputy. White states that he attempted to interview the stabbing victims while awaiting the ambulance. White states that, according to the male victim, a male subject approached them, wearing a hood, dressed in dark clothing and carrying what appeared to be an automatic pistol, stating that he wanted their money and car keys. White states that the male victim told him that the subject advised him he was an ex-con out of Colorado and was en route to Mexico. Suspect stated he had to tie them up, and after they were tied the responsible stated, "I'm going to have to stab you." Sergeant White states that the male victim responded by saying, "Stab me first, I can't stand to see her stabbed first." According to the male, the responsible stabbed him numerous times in the back and then stabbed the female. The female victim advised Sergeant White that she could not see the responsible's face as a hood was covering all of his head and that he wore clip-on sunglasses to cover his eyes. Sergeant White states that he could not get any more information from either of the victims at that time. He also states that he noticed a lot of blood near the girl's groin area.

• 07:10 pm - The Lake Berryessa attack is reported to the Napa County Sheriff's Department (case no: 105907). 

• 7:40 p.m. - An unknown man contacts the Napa County Sheriff's office using a payphone. The call is received by officer David Slaight. During the call, the caller makes the following statement:

"I wish to report a murder – no, a double murder. They are two miles north of Park Headquarters. They were in a white Volkswagen Karmen Ghia."

Officer Slaight requests that the caller provide his location. The caller ends the conversation by replying:

"I'm the one who did it."

• 8:20 p.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan are contacted at their homes regarding the attack and are "advised that a double stabbing had occurred in the Lake Berryessa area and the victims were en route to the Queen of the Valley Hospital via Piner's Ambulance. Lonergran and Narlow were requested to proceed to Queen of the Valley Hospital and take over the case for investigative purposes."

• 8:33 p.m. - Detective Sergeant Narlow arrives at Queen of the Valley Hospital.

• 8:35 - Detective Sergeant Narlow is informed by Station One that a "possible responsible" used the pay phone at the Napa Car Wash, located at the corner of Main and Clinton Streets to make the call reporting the Lake Berryessa attack to the Napa Police Department. Detective Sergeant Narlow dispatches Detective Sergeant Harold Snook to proceed to the pay phone to process the scene for physical evidence.

• 8:44 p.m. - Detective Sergeant Lonergan arrives at Queen of the Valley Hospital.

• 8:50 p.m. - Piner's Ambulance arrives at Queen of the Valley Hospital with both Cecelia Shepard and Brian Hartnell. Both are immediately rushed into the Emergency Room, followed by both Detective Sergeants Narlow and Lonergan.

• 8:55 p.m. - Detective Sergeants Narlow and Lonergan are asked to leave the Emergency Room as both victims appear to be in critical condition.

• Exact Time Unknown - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan are advised by an unidentified nurse that Bryan Hartnell advised hospital officials to contact Judy ______ at Pacific Union College in Angwin; that Judy was Cecelia's best friend. Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan contact Jim Byrd, Chief Security Officer at Pacific Union College, by phone and request that he attempt to locate Judy. Mr. Byrd advises them of the fact that she left the campus earlier in the afternoon, driving a yellow Datsun. 

• 9:35 p.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan issue an All Points Bulletin throughout the city and county of Napa, California, for this vehicle (Judy's yellow Datsun).

• 9:37 p.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan receive permission to interview Bryan Hartnell who is being taken to the X-Ray room. During this interview, conducted by Detective Sergeant Lonergan (Detective Sergeant Narlow has been called away to answer a phone call), Bryan Hartnell states that:

"the assailant was wearing a black ceremonial type hood, square on top, and appeared to be heavy-set, between 200 and 250 pounds. He also stated his assailant had approached both him and MISS SHEPARD with a gun but had stabbed them with a long knife. HARTNELL further stated the gun was in a black holster and the knife was in a sheath. He stated that the attacker was wearing dark clothing, dark jacket and dark pants. HARTNELL further stated that the gun was an automatic pistol and the knife had a black handle and appeared to be homemade."

• 10:15 p.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan leave Queen of the Valley Hospital after advising Deputy Sheriffs Allen Brambrink and William Munk to take charge of Hartnell and Shepard's clothing along with any other evidence when it is released from the hospital. They are also advised to remain at the hospital as a security detail until further notice.

• Upon arrival at the Napa Valley Sheriff's Office, they learn that Napa Valley Police have located Judy _____ in downtown Napa and are bringing her in to the Sheriff's Office. Upon her arrival she is interviewed by Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan. Judy ______ indicates that she was with Bryan and Cecilia in the early afternoon and that they had left Pacific Union College at approximately 1 p.m. to go to a rummage sale in St. Helena, where Bryan purchased a television set. In order to transport the TV back to his room at the college, Bryan left Cecelia and Judy in St. Helena, as he didn't have enough room in the car for the television and the three of them. Upon his return to St. Helena at 2 p.m., Bryan picked up Cecelia. Judy states that as far as she knew, Bryan and Cecelia were heading into San Francisco when they left her in St. Helena. Judy states that she is unaware of any plans Bryan and Cecelia had to go to Lake Berryessa and that the last time she saw them was at 2 p.m.

• 11:54 p.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan arrive at the scene of the Lake Berryessa crime, where they observe a 1956 Karmen Ghia with a black vinyl top and Oregon license plate 4 U 2040. They also review footprints and tire tracks which are believed to have been left by the responsible. They await the arrival of Sergeant Tom Butler who has been called to photograph the crime scene, as well as Sergeant Hal Snook, criminalist for collection and preservation of physical evidence.

• Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan are advised of and proceed to a locked gate approximately one-half mile south of the victim's vehicle, which allows for beach access. Upon their arrival, they discover footprints on the footpath which appear to be similar to the footprints found at the scene of the victim's vehicle. Due to the late hour and lack of sufficient lighting, the decision is made to secure the area and return at first light to search the area. Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan and Park Ranger Dennis Land proceed to Berryessa Park Headquarters. It is at this point in time that Detective Sergeant Narlow takes into his possession certain items belonging to the victims that were taken into evidence by Ranger Dennis Land, consisting of a blanket, a pair of men's shoes a wallet belonging to Bryan Hartnell, eyeglasses and playing cards. Among these items "believed to belong to the victims" are numerous strands of white plastic line cut into various assorted lengths, some of which appear to be bloodstained. These items are turned over to Detective Sergeant Hal Snook for preservation. 

• Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan return to where Bryan's car was parked and proceeded to assist Detective Sergeant Hal Snook in making plaster casts.

• 2:45 a.m. (approximately) - Detective Sergeant Richard Lonergan drives the white Karmen Ghia to the maintenance shop at the Lake Berryessa Park Headquarters, where it is parked and the shop is secured for the night by Park Ranger Dennis Land and Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan. Detective Sergeant Lonergan had previously recovered the car keys from Bryan's property at Queen of the Valley Hospital. 

• Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan return to the crime scene, where the Karmen Ghia had been parked and wait for the arrival of Deputy Sheriffs Allen Brambrink and Mel Fechter, assigned to crime scene security.

• 3:00 a.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan assume crime scene duties and security is assigned to Deputy Allen Brambrink. Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergran return to their homes.

09.28.69 (Sunday)

• 7:00 am. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan return to the Lake Berryessa crime scene with Detective Sergeant Hal Snook, Captain Donald Townsend and Sergeant James Munk, at which point they begin tracking the footprints from the location of the vehicle to the scene of the crime by the beach area.
• 8:00 a.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan receive information via Park Headquarters that a Dr. Clifton Rayfield and his son would like to talk to them at the Spanish Flat Coffee Shop regarding a possible suspect. 

• 9:12 a.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan meet with Dr. Clifton and his son David Lee Rayfield at the Spanish Flat Coffee Shop. Dr. Clifton states that at approximately 6:30 pm the previous evening he and his son had parked their car north of Park Headquarters, in the general vicinity of the crime scene. They indicate that they walked towards the beach and that David noticed a white male adult walking in the area, approximately 100 yards away from them. They describe the man as 5'10", with a heavy build, wearing dark trousers and a dark, long-sleeved shirt with red in it. David notes that the subject was seen to be just walking alongside the hill area, halfway between the lake and the road. David states that "when the subject observed him, he turned around and walked up the hill in a southerly direction." They go on to state they did not see another vehicle in the vicinity of their vehicle. They also indicate they saw a man with two young boys, who were shooting B-B guns, but did not know if this man saw the subject. Detective Sergeants Narlow and Lonergan believe that it is unlikely the subject could have traversed the area to the scene of the crime, without a vehicle, noting there are four coves of water between the scene of the crime and the area where the doctor witnessed the subject.

• 10:00 a.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan return to the scene of the crime.

• 1:20 p.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan interview Ranger Sergeant William White at Lake Berryessa Park Headquarters, regarding his activities before and during his involvement with locating the victims of the attack the previous night. 

• 2:00 p.m. - Detective Sergeant Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan interview Mr. Archie E. White, owner of the Boat Repair Shop at the Rancho Monticello Resort, along with his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth White. They state they were contacted and advised by Richard Fong about the male and female victims found on the beach south of the resort, that they were covered in blood and that they had shouted out to him about being stabbed and robbed. Mrs. White immediately called Park Headquarters. Sergeant White arrived at the resort a  short time later and they all proceeded to the scene in one of Mr. White's ski boats.

Upon arrival, they observe a young female wearing a sweater dress and lying on the beach, covered with blood. They state that she was on her elbows and knees, rocking back and forth as if in great pain. Mrs. White states that she attempted to comfort the female victim, trying to calm her down until the ambulance arrived. Mrs. White states that the girl advised him, "He was a man with a hood... His face was covered...He was wearing black pants...It hurts...It hurts." Mrs. White goes on to state that, after the female victim regained composure, she gave additional information, relaying that the man had asked for money but did not take any. She said she had not been raped. She said the man had been wearing glasses, with dark clip-on sunglasses over the hood. She stated the man had a black pistol. Mrs. White states that she overheard the male victim state that the responsible was wearing gloves. Mr. and Mrs. White state that this is all the information they were given by the victim and that they spent the balance of the time with the victims attempting to comfort them until arrival of the ambulance.

Detective Sergeant Ken Narlow and  R. Lonergan return to Napa County Sheriff's Office.

• 4:20 p.m. - Detective Sergeant Narlow is contacted by a Dean ______ of Pacific Union College in Angwin, stating that three female PUC students might have information about the suspect in the attack.

09.29.69 (Monday)

Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan are advised by Deputy Sheriff Ray Land that the three PUC students (whom Land had interviewed about their sunbathing incident of 09.27.69) have provided information which appeared to have some merit and will be in the office in the afternoon to provide additional information.

• 2:45 p.m. - The three female PUC students arrive at the office and are interviewed by Detective Sergeant R. Lonergan, Sergeant Snook and Captain Donald Townsend. They give a detailed description of a man who watched them as they sunbathed on the beach at Lake Berryessa. (See report description listed earlier in this page)

Another vehicle from Angwin with Arizona license plates was in the area and witness saw occupants, Miss Denise Brown and Mr. Wayne Haight. They state the three girls went to the beach and soon they noticed the male subject watching them from the edge of the trees. After about 30 minutes subject came down to the beach and passed within 20 feet of witness as he walked from South to North. Subject description - approximately 28 years old, 6' to 6' 2", 200-225 lbs., black (possibly styled) hair with a part on the left, rounded eyes, think lips, medium nose, straight eyebrows, small ears, well built, rather nice looking. Wearing a blck short-sleeved sweater shirt, bunched up in the front, and a white tee shirt hanging out in the back and dark trousers. The three girls left the area about 4:30 p.m. and the subject's vehicle was gone. The witnesses did not observe the subject leave or get back in his vehicle.

Miss Linda Lee _____, resident of Angwin, CA, employed as a secretary of the college press, interviewed by Capt. Donald Townsend, who states she saw the same late model Chevrolet, sky blue in color, with rear tail lights which appeared long rather than round. She states that they parked their vehicle at approx. 2:55 p.m. and observed the subject in his vehicle at that location. The girls proceeded to the beach and Miss Linda Lee again noticed the subject about 30 to 45 minutes after they were at the beach. She noticed him standing on the bank approx. 45 feet from her location. She described the subject as 6 ft. tall with a stocky build, about 200 lbs., black short-sleeved sweater shirt, dark blue slacks and straight hair mostly combed. She guessed his age at approx. 30 years. Subject had medium color skin and was not wearing glasses. She states she thinks she saw a white belt around his back but it possible was a tee shirt hanging out. She states that he was fairly nice looking with  round face. She states that she did not observe him leave the area in his vehicle.

• 4:00 p.m. - Detective Sergeant Ken Narlow and R. Lonergan by Captain John Page that Cecelia Shepard has just died.

• 5:00 p.m. - Napa County Sherriff Department Detective Sergeant Ken Narlow and  R. Lonergran finalize their initial report regarding the incident. 

• 7:45 p.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan contacted by Probation Officer H.B. Schotte, who states that he has knowledge of possible similar sole design to the one found at the crime scene. Mr. Schotte brings into the office a Bassel _____, from Napa, CA. Bassel is employed at Travis Air Force Base as a flight line mechanic and a retired Master Sergeant in USAF. Bassel showed Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergran his Air Force "chukker" boots. He describes the boots as Government issued to all Air Force personnel at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Primarily designed as a wing-walker shoe, according to Bassel, most Air Force personnel and many of the civilian employees at Air Force bases have this type of shoe. The sole design exactly matched the plaster cast design which Sergeant Snook had taken at the crime scene. Detective Sergeant John Robertson had attempted to find the same shoe at local shoe stores in the Napa area, with no success. Bessel is asked if he will let the Napa County Sheriff's Department keep his shoes for identification purposes. Bessel agrees. Bessel is advised that the information regarding the type o fshoeprint found at the crime scene has not been released to the public or to the press. Bessel agrees to keep this information private. 

09.30.69 (Tuesday)

• 8:10 a.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan receive a phone call from Marilyn Denise _______, a student at Pacific Union College who states that on 09.27.69, at approximately 5:15 p.m., she and a male companion (John _____) were parked on Knoxville Rd. approximately one mile south of the Lake Berryessa Marina. Shortly after parking the car, they observed Bryan Hartnell and Cecilia Shepard driving south on Knoxville Rd. in Bryan's white Karmen Ghia. She states that as the car drove by them, Bryan waved out the window, saying "Hi, John!", referring to Marilyn's companion.

• 9:00 a.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan and Sergeant Thomas Butler proceed to the Morrison Funeral Home in St. Helena, where they are met by Captain Joseph Page and Harold ______, owner of the Funeral Home. They witness the autopsy of Cecilia Shepard, performed by Drs. Wilmer A. De Petris and Dr. Dwight G. Straub. Sergeant Tom Butler takes photographs of Shepard before and during the autopsy. Detective Sergeant Richard Lonergan takes notes of the various wounds suffered by Shepard. The autopsy was concludes at noon. Dr. De Petris advises that cause of death was shock and loss of blood from two main stab wounds.

• 2:30 p.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow contacts Captain ______ at Travis Air Force Base, arranging to interview Col. ____, Capt._____ and SGT. _____ on 10.01.69 at 9:00 a.m., about the shoeprints that were found at the crime scene.

10.01.69 (Wednesday)

• 9:00 a.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan go to Travis Air Force Base to meet with Col. _____ , Officer in charge of base security, meeting in his office. Also present at the meeting is Lt. Col. _____ of the Office of Special Investigation. Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan inform those present about the portion of the evidence discovered at the crime scene and ask for assistance in locating where this type of shoe has been sold or issued. Lt. Col. _____ advises that his office will assist in attempting to locate the source of the shoe. 

• Officers were directed to Base Supply, where it is determined the shoe in question is of Government issue and that it is not kept in stock at Base Supply. It is believed that the Sales Store does have such a shoe and it has been explained just how the shoe can be obtained by either a military person or a civilian employee. 

• Assigned investigators, along with a Special Agent Donald ______ of C.S.I. proceed to the Sales Store located on Travis Air Force Base. Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan successfully locate the identical shoe with identical tread to the one in the plaster cast from the Lake Berryessa crime scene (based upon an artists sketch of the plaster cast). It was determined that the closest measure to that of the artists sketch was a 10 1/2 D (civilian) or a 10 1/2 R (military). No Air Force records were available regarding the sales of this particular shoe because no records of specific sizes were made. However, purchase records indicate that over the past 13 months, approximtely 100 pairs of the 10 1/2 R (military) had been purchased and disposed of through sales. Air Force records indicate this shoe is manufactured by the International Shoe Company, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and then shipped to Air Force Depot, Ogden, Utah and from there shipped to various military installations based upon requisition orders.

• 2:00 p.m. - Detective Sergeants Ken Narlow and Richard Lonergan go to the Vallejo Police Department to meet with Sergeant Jack Mullinax and Sergeant Duane Nilsson to exchange information (including suspect) regarding Vallejo's 07.04.69 crime and out their particular incident (Lake Berryessa attack). 

• Is it learned that coded message from the suspect cyphers has been solved independently by both the FBI in Washington and by a Mr. and Mrs. Hardin of Salinas, Ca. It is also noted that these cyphers were broken independently of one another and the FBI confirmed the validity of the original decoded message. It is also learned that there is a small portion at the end of the coded message that had not been decoded for reasons unknown.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Copyright 2021 - 2022 - Scott Stick Productions - All Rights Reserved