Tate Suspect List

 

Suspects Eliminated By Fingerprints

Today fingerprints are fed into a computer and finding a match or not isn't a laborious or time-consuming process like it was in 1969 when the Tate and LaBianca murders were investigated.

So, just how did they narrow down fingerprints to streamline the process in the TLB cases?

The Henry Classification System was used categorize the different types of fingerprint characteristics that are made by friction ridges and furrows.

There are three main types of fingerprints, loops, whorls and arches. Within those three groups loops, which recurve back onto themselves to form the loops, are divided into radial loops that point towards the radial bone (thumb) or the ulna bone (pinky finger).

Whorls form circular or spiral patterns and are divided into four groups. Plain whorls are concentric circles, central pocket loops are loops with a whorl at the end, double loops that create an S-like pattern and accidental loops are irregularly shaped.

Arches make a wave like pattern that are either plain or tented. Tented arches rise to a sharper point than plain arches.

The palms of the hand also have distinct ridges and furrows. Another type of print is the chop. The chop is the side of the hand from the tip of the pinky finger to the wrist. The best example of where you might find the chop is if you were to place the sides of your hand on a window to block out glare while peeping.

No two people have the same fingerprints, even identical twins and no one person has the same fingerprint on more than one finger or thumb.

Here are the lists of the suspects eliminated by fingerprints courtesy of Cielo Drive. The second page is a list of law enforcement personnel who were at the crime scene.

The Melba Kronkright Letter

 

Cielo Drive has been gathering more and more documents for his Patreon website. Some of the things he has been able to obtain are very enlightening. Below is a letter that Melba Kronkright wrote to someone in law enforcement or the district attorney's office regarding her dealings with Charles Manson and members of the Family. One thing is certain, Mrs. Kronkright was terrified that she would be killed by Manson or his followers.

Mrs. Kronkright jumps around a bit when retelling her dealings with Manson and the Family. While it is clear that she knew them over a period of a couple of years, it’s difficult to pin down the exact timeline of each incident that she recalls.

I am not sure who Diane Adams was but think it might have been Dianne Lake. If anyone has an idea please post what you know in the comments.

This time Cielo Drive typed out the contents of Melba's letter!

 

December 15, 1969

 

Dear Sirs:

 

I keep getting phone calls that are unanswered after I speak hellow into the receiver.

 

I have also written a letter to the attorney Mr. Paul Caruso.

 

I am a widow and live alone at the above address and about two years ago I found a group of young unemployed people through a Mr. Sweeney. A service station owner here in Malibu. The group were the Charles Manson people. I needed their services to clean the stables and help on my property and home of four and one half acres in Malibu. I am in fear for my life and will give all of the reasons I can think of.

 

About two years ago as I have said Charles Manson directed various ones in his group to work at least once a week on my property. They were paid at first then I explained that a good sum of money was owed to me and that until that time I didn’t have money to continue their service of once a week. They continued to come here for at least six months from time to time and say they just wanted to help and didn’t expect me to pay them. One of the girls had had a baby and they had all been arrested for camping out on private property in Ventura county. The baby was just five days old. Mary Brunner the mother was charged with child neglect and kept in jail. Others came here knowing that I was a social worker and told me that Mary had promised to take the baby and go back to Eu Clair Wis. to Mr. & Mrs. George Brunner her parents. She was released in my custody. Mary used my address as her new address but stayed only one night. She did not go home as promised.

 

Early part of last August I received a phone call from Mary saying that she was in Sybil Brand jail and it would take sixty four dollars to bail her out with a property owners signature. I told her that my daughter is a police sargent and that if I put my name on any thing it could be traced and I would then be thought of as helping them do what got them in jail and I could be in trouble. My daughter is Mrs. Roy Hovas, Sherl Rae Hovas or Sargent Hovas. Then Charles Manson came here in the middle of the night and said that he needed money to get Mary out of jail. I told him that I didn’t have any money but if I did that I would only get myself in trouble in helping them that my daughter was a police sargent etc. He left, but I’m sure that this was the same night the couple that owned the grocery store was killed.

 

I feel had I received the money that they had been expecting me to and not given them what they asked for that they would have killed me. He had asked had I received my money as yet.

 

When Mary was in jail I called her mother to come out and get custody of the child (Michael). I again called Marys’ mother and told her after the Tate murder case was disclosed that not to ever tell Mary that I was the one that told her that Mary was in jail and to come here to get the baby.

 

At the time Charles Manson was coming here and directing his group to work he would talk to me in the kitchen about his views on the Negro situation. I told him how as a social worker I was in the mist of the Negro situation in the Gettos. He tried to discourage my efforts. Therefore, this if nothing else would have been a reason to direct the blame on the negros to have killed me. He also told me that there were many people as his followers all over the United States that at his word could start a war.

 

In my letter to Mr. Paul Caruso I gave names of most of the group that I had met at one time or another. I also told Mr. Caruso that if he defended these people to let them out on society that my death was next.

 

I just reread my letter to you and you can tell I am more than a little upset. I have pictures of Charles Manson and a picture taken by Mary Brunners mother of Mary and the baby since Mary was released if she would return to her parents. The letter from Mrs. Brunner speaks of it’s self in gratitude.

 

I don’t feel that we have seen the last of this mess. As long as the many young women that Manson fathered their children are out and about - with loyalty and love for him - there is going to be effort put forth to help him. Such as Lynn Frome, Sandy Pugh, Ella Cinders, Mary Brunner, Diane Adams and many, many more that I met but can’t recall their names.

 

I talked to Diane Adams father at the time she escaped from Silmar (indistinguishable). I told him to get Charles Manson. I said that Manson was the one that told me that he helped her escape and got her over to Arizona. Mr. Adams seemed relieved that he didn’t have to worry about her coming into his home and bringing such people and taking his car in the middle of the night etc.

 

Mr. Adams called me just before the news came out the Tate case was solved. He said that his daughter was on a boat up the coast the last time her heard from her. I know of at least three girls that have babies that know that Manson is the father. Mr. Adams also told me I was lucky to not have been killed by the Manson group.

 

I hope that something in this letter will help and because I pay three hundred dollars a month taxes that I can expect some extra thought of safety.

 

Feel free to come out and talk. Please don’t get my name in the papers or get me anymore added problems.

 

Thank you sincerely,

 

Melba Kronkright

 

Cielo Drive’s Patreon website is full of valuable information. He has obtained many documents and he is always working on getting more. The Melba Kronkright letter is one of his new acquisitions. You can view the site with a $5 per month subscription and cancel at any time. It is well worth the money.

Bruce Davis Podcasts

 

Bruce Davis was scheduled for a parole suitability hearing January 18, 2024. That hearing was continued until August 8, 2024. According to news sources the reason for the continuance was because Bruce took part in two podcasts hosted by Keith Rovere of "The Lighter Side of Serial Killers".

Keith Rovere, 51, lives in New Jersey. He has worked for the same wood flooring company for the last 20+ years, he refinishes vintage furniture in his garage, he helps minister in prison and prison aftercare in Camden New Jersey with Seeds of Hope Ministries, he writes music, he writes books and he has the podcast. Busy guy!

If I were Bruce Davis, I would not decide to make my first public appearance, so to speak, on a podcast named "The Lighter Side of Serial Killers". The name seems flippant and does not convey any sympathy towards the victims. Rovere does not offer any context as to why he chose that particular name. There really is no lighter side to being a serial killer, it's a heavy subject and Bruce Davis was not a serial killer per se. Perhaps because Rovere has a background in religious teachings Bruce deemed him acceptable. There are a lot of podcasters out there with better names who Bruce could have spoken to and not raised the hackles of the parole board.

One sentence in the article I read had me scratching my head. 

"I've yet to hear the podcast," Davis told Fox News Digital in an email, before asking about it. "Does it sound as if I'm glorifying Manson or my crimes?"

California does not allow prisoner's to have email accounts or use the internet. That does not mean that prisoners can't figure out others ways to access the internet, usually by means of a smuggled cell phone. 

Either the reporter meant snail mail or they just dropped a dime on Bruce for having a smuggled cell phone.

As far as the podcast interview goes, it was interesting. I've never heard Bruce speak at length. I did notice a few instances in the first podcast of Bruce using buzzwords and phrasing that were very similar to what Manson has said in the past.  Bruce may be stuck in the sixties, which is where Manson was stuck, but I would think that after so many years in prison with a large turnover of fellow prisoners that Bruce would have learned the contemporary equivalent of those words and phrases.

The podcasts most likely haven't done Bruce any favors. It wouldn't be a surprise to learn they earned him an even longer period before he's allowed to have another hearing.

The podcasts can be heard at most of the places where you listen to them. 

Look for Season 1 Episodes 14 and 22.

Here's the link to the podcasts at Spotify

The Bastardy Suit

We have all been told about the bastardy suit and have had no reason to doubt that it existed. There are few surprises. It is interesting to note that Colonel Scott did not dispute that he was Charles Manson's father. The only thing that did surprise me was the length of time that Colonel Scott was obligated to pay the child support. Manson would have been about ten and half years old when his father was no longer under a court order to pay the support. 

Five dollars in 1937 is equal to $105.80 in 2024.

Here is the documentation for the bastardy suit filed by Charles Manson's mother against Colonel Scott.

It's difficult to read so the meat of the judgement has been typed out.

It is the third "In Re:" on the page.

Orders                        Boyd County Court

Special Term,                      19th Day of April 1937

                                                                                                     Special Term Boyd County Court                                                                                                                 Held at the Court House thereof 

                                                                                                     On the 19th Day of April, 1937

                                                                                                      Honorable P.H. Vincent, presiding.                                                                                                                                                            

In Re: Commonwealth of Kentucky,

             on relation Cathleen Manson                                                 Plaintiff

              vs. 

               Colonel Scott,                                                                       Defendant

                                                       Agreed Judgement

      This being set for hearing by agreement of the parties on this 19th day of April, 1937, and the plaintiff being represented by David Browning, Attorney at Law and Thomas Burchett, County Attorney, and the defendant being present in person and represented by Joseph H. Spears, Attorney at Law, whereupon, came both the Commonwealth and defendant by counsel and announced to the court that the parties hereto had agreed upon a judgement, to-wit: That defendant shall pay to Cathleen Manson for the use and benefit of Charles Mille Manson the sum of $25.00, within sixty-days from this date and a further sum of $5.00 per month payable on the 5th day of each and every month for a period of eight-years beginning on the 5th day of July, 1937.

It is further agreed that the execution of bond as required by the statute be waived. Therefor, it is ordered and adjudged by the court that the defendant, Colonel Scott, is the father of Charles Mille Manson, the bastard child of Cathleen Manson, formerly Cathleen Maddox, and that he shall pay to the said Cathleen Manson the sum of $25.00 on or before sixty days from the date of this judgement, and that he shall further pay to the said Cathleen Manson the sum of $5.00 per month on the 5th day of each and every month thereafter until and for a period of eight years; the said $5.00 payments shall begin on the 5th day of July, 1937, all of which payment to the said Cathleen Manson, shall be for the use and benefit of the said Charles Mille Manson; and it shall be further ordered and adjudged by the court that the said Colonel Scott shall pay the court costs of this action.

                                                                                                                                P.H. Vincent

                                                                                                                                   Judge 

This is followed by a notary statement.