The Night Predator: Files on the EAR/ONS

Scoping the Lair of EAR/ONS—

Finding the Nest of the Night Predator

As more information becomes public in the case of EAR/ONS (East Area Rapist/Original Night Stalker), known here frequently as the Night Predator, the complexity of the case becomes increasingly exasperating. This is especially true for those of us who have hunted him for a long time (me at least for 7 years now) and experienced the revising evolution of information.

     No case in the history of True Crime has vexed investigators as much as this case. No Cold Case has shown the dedication of law enforcement jurisdictions involved in a better way since its revival, as they will not let go of the case. Yet as 40 years ago, so today: the villain has so far not been identified. He eluded over 10 independent jurisdictions 40 years ago when hot. Now that the case is cold (though the hottest thing in Cold Case), he continues to do so. He eludes the science of forensics. He has eluded dragnets through school and prison records and even genealogical records. Between 6 and 7 thousand persons of interest were on the master list. Between 6 and 7 hundred (last count I heard) have been DNA tested. No match.

     One of the significant areas in which information has been revised is in sketches of persons of interest. This article does not deal with this specifically, but perhaps it is best to touch upon it for a moment in order to underscore the relevance of the approach below. Upwards of 20 sketches had been in circulation since the beginning of the 21st century. Two years ago this broad collage of menacing young men of the 1970s was revised downward in number to 3. The 3 on the left (below) are those that were promoted during the June 2016 national press conference held by the Sacramento Co. District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the FBI. These 3 men are largely different looking one from the other.

       The recent Sacramento County Sheriff’s info dump (February 27, 2018) has broadened the possibilities on what EAR looked like. This info dump concerned cat burglary sprees in the area where EAR had begun and concentrated (Rancho Cordova and Carmichael/Citrus Heights). However, these were committed over late 1972 and through the summer of 1973, about 3 years before EAR’s crime spree (1976) began. With this release we have been shown another sketch. In addition, this new Identikit (far right) was compared to another sketch thought to represent the Ripon Court Shooter, a lurking perp who in 1977 shot a young man, Rod Miller, and from the circumstances was thought to have possibly been EAR. This new Identikit sketch is largely different from the first 2 of those which were promoted as the best ones during the national news conference of 2016. From the comparison above, however, it is clear that the two on the right do resemble the center sketch, which appears to be a later sketch based on the 2 Identikit composites on the right.

     This new Identikit is from an incident on Sarda Way (RC), which happened in 1973. It is not known definitely to have been EAR. Nor is the Ripon Court Shooter proven to be EAR. So which group of sketches are accurately defining EAR? Process of elimination will hopefully tell us. The point here, of course, is that any investigator must work through a broad swath of persons of interest who match a wide range of features.

     Without being able to rely too heavily on a facial description, we have to narrow the dragnet somehow in order to identify him. The only contemporary clues we can rely on are those they reflect EAR’s own mental workings— and he devoted more time to his prowling and striking than anything. The result is his success— 50 victims of rape and mayhem and at least 10 of murder.  And to some extent the inability to identify and capture him may be dependent on never having identified his lair.

   For sometime now I have believed that EAR was not based in the East Area of Sacramento but that, like with his later and easily identified pattern, he visited it from some distance. The Haskell Avenue Incident only reconfirmed that for me. The purpose of this article is to highlight his strike chronology in the East Area in order to give some direction to the point of his origins— in other words his festering lair. The overall pattern of over 2 years of striking in the Sacramento East Area does reveal a pattern.      

     The attack locations of all those in the East Area and the only attack in the South are marked (Number 32, the last officially accepted strike in the Sacramento area is too far to the west in Little Pocket to appear on the map). Watt Avenue is marked in blue. As the reader can appreciate, it is a long back road into the area where EAR struck. To the left is La Riviera area (11, 18, 27, 24); to the right is Rancho Cordova (along Highway 50); and continuing on Watt northward is the East Area of Carmichael after crossing over the American River.

     Both Greenback Lane in the north and Folsom Blvd (in the south) are traced in crimson. The other main connecting road to the East Area from the south is marked in red. This is Sunrise Blvd. Altogether this gives us the squared-off area where EAR concentrated. Any perp wanting to go between Rancho Cordova and Carmichael/Citrus Heights must cross the Watt Avenue bridge or the Sunrise Blvd bridge over the American River. But as we can see from the numbers, the strikes leaned heaviest toward Watt Avenue in the beginning.

     Watt Ave. and Sunrise Blvd both continue south, but back then Sunrise went to pastureland. Watt Ave. passes nearby to the massive complex that is the Sacramento Army Depot and it eventually crosses south Sacramento’s main road— Florin Road. This area is checkerboard with industries, wasteland dumps, and country homes. This is also the area of  Sacramento’s major auto wrecking yards in the south.

       In terms of my personal theory that an auto wrecker was involved in the crime spree, the reader can see the connection. From the southern wrecking yards to the East Area, Watt Avenue is an easy back road, a country drive little patrolled by sheriffs. From the furthest wrecking yard it is only about 6 miles to La Riviera Drive. In addition to Watt Avenue, Power In Road and Florin-Perkins Road head straight up from Florin Rd. to Folsom Blvd in the La Riviera area.

     Whether my own personal theory here of auto wrecking is right or not, the theory that EAR had his lair in this area must be considered in light of the pattern shown on the map above.

     I have presented a similar map before highlighting the very curious fact that EAR concentrated first around the Highway 50 area in Rancho Cordova, then Del Dayo (2, 7) and then the polar opposite of Manzanita Blvd in Del Campo Park (4,13) and La Riviera. In order words, he came up from the south and remained around the center axis (Fair Oaks Blvd/Manzanita Blvd). He tick-tocks back and forth from these areas before branching out to Sunrise and Greenback (12, 20). Only very late in his terrorizing of Sacramento does he expand northward to Foothill Farms (25, 28) north of Highway 80. Once again, for someone based in the East Area this is surprising. These Foothill Farms locations are not far. If EAR was based in the Carmichael area, it is surprising that he tick-tocks back and forth to Highway 50 and La Riviera and Rancho Cordova to the south and never to the north until 2 years later.

     And it cannot be denied that all EAR’s strikes are off main roads. In the Foothill Farms they are close to main roads— 25 is off Greenback; 28 is off Revelstock near to Hillsdale. This is starkly visible in the La Riviera section— the strikes are off the main road of La Riviera Drive and near to Watt Ave. or Folsom Blvd (he had parked near Folsom Blvd) for his attack on No. 11).  The same in Rancho Cordova. His strikes are concentrated off Paseo Drive, the main road in from both Highway 50 and Folsom Blvd. It is a favorite theory that he knew Rancho Cordova since this is where he began, but his pattern here actually shows no difference from anywhere else, including his later strikes in Contra Costa County and then in So. Cal where he struck communities along 100 miles of highway and could not possible have known all the areas in depth.

     And now we must look in detail to the Carmichael/Citrus Heights area where he concentrated and earned his name East Area Rapist. This is the area into which he probed the furthest from the highways. It is logical to deduce he knew or had known this area. However, let’s look at the area more closely now to see if this is true. 

From the map above it is easy to see the grid nature of the East Area. Main roads are traced in yellow, all leading between Manzanita Blvd and Watt Ave. In between are many other roads, just as straight, that grid the area. Let’s look closer.

Thornwood Dr., the location of the attack on No. 14, is right off Watt Avenue, easily reached by taking Roberston and then Montclaire.

Very significant above is Locust Avenue, just north of Cypress Ave. It is a straight line off Manzanita Blvd, the premier thoroughfare of the East Area’s heart in Carmichael. “H” marks Haskell Avenue, the scene of the Haskell Avenue Incident on late night May 16, 1977. “X” marks where EAR had parked. From here he pulls out and had to swerve around Deputy Weinberger in order to escape. In late January 1978, EAR would return to the area and strike two sisters on College View Way on the other end of Locust.

   The East Area Rapist’s bold unrelentingness to return to similar areas is underscored by two events— The above mentioned Haskell Avenue Incident and within 2 hours of that incident he struck Victim 21 in Sandbar Circle, about 5 miles south in Del Dayo, again following the main axis of Manzanita Blvd. Despite a sheriff chopper circling over the northern over the area looking for his boxy red 1967-1970 Toyota Corona or Datsun 510, EAR waited to strike an alternate victim.

     Manzanita/Fair Oaks Blvd curves down and leads to Watt Avenue (top picture) and parallels American River Drive which also runs right into Watt Avenue. Bottom picture shows Del Dayo community in detail. Jacob Street is the main road off American River right into Del Dayo where EAR strikes first in the area (Victim 2) on July 17, 1976, then later on October 18, 1976, with No. 7. Then at 1:30 a.m. on the morning of May 17, 1977, two hours after the Haskell Avenue Incident he strikes No. 21 in Sandbar Circle.

     The pattern of sticking to main roads is obvious without highlighting every strike. And it rings true for every East Area strike, including those in Citrus Heights. No 5 and 9 are right off Dewey, which is a main road between Madison and Greenback. Those in the Merlindale area are right off Sunrise. Those who know the strike locations can easily search with Google Earth and see for themselves.

   Due to the grid layout of the East Area, you might say that any strike is going to be near main crossroads. And you’d be correct! That is the point. You do not need to be based in the area to concentrate within it. In EAR’s case, however he doesn’t expand much. The area of Fair Oaks, nestled in the bend of the American River and right of Fair Oaks/Manzanita Blvd/California Street remains undisturbed. These are old and narrow streets and there is no quick way out to Manzanita. In the 2nd map offered on this page notice that everything east of California Street is blank concerning strike numbers. In fact, EAR is more dependent on Watt Ave into the area to begin with, then a few cross streets to Manzanita. He concentrates around Madison/Manzanita in the north. Haskell Avenue, once again, is just off Manzanita. He goes back and forth between Del Dayo and Del Campo Park along the main axes of Manzanita/Fair Oaks Blvd.

     The East Area Rapist used Watt Ave first, striking off the first main road when coming from the south— American River Drive. He first struck in Rancho Cordova, so we know he crossed the Watt bridge back and forth. His first kibitz is revealing: Rancho Cordova (1), Carmcihael’s Del Dayo (2), Rancho Cordova (3, two doors from the first), Carmichael’s Del Campo area (4) right between Madison and Manzanita. Everything remains around these pockets or easy cross streets. The same for the Citrus Heights attacks.

     The criminalists will call these “comfort zones.” The point being made here is that the pattern more than the locations do not suggest an in depth knowledge of Carmichael or Citrus Heights. He kept to comfort zones in every other area of California where he struck, and me most certainly didn’t know the entire Contra Costa Corridor from Concord to San Jose. Rather he always stuck close to the highway between Concord and San Jose and between Goleta and Dana Point in So. Cal. Manzanita Blvd is just this pattern in a miniature, so is Watt and Sunrise. He moves up and down them all.

     EAR was certainly based around the Sacramento area, but his pattern in the East Area does not require he lived there or even grew up there. Rather it could be that business took him between these areas and he naturally had a knowledge of the main roads and those that branched off between Manzanita and Watt.

     For my auto wrecking theory, it is interesting to note that the major auto wrecker offices were along Auburn Blvd, and the used car dealerships are along there and Fulton, with some at Madison and Auburn and then Greenback and Auburn. EAR’s early use of Watt Avenue as his access road is clear. The fact he struck south of the American River first, then kibitzed back and forth and finally added La Riviera to his comfort zones, indicates his lair was to the south, within easy reach of Watt Avenue from the south.

     Let us look at La Riviera closer.

   A special break in the page was made to fit the above map. This is La Riviera in context. There are various communities here— College Greens, College Glen— all a part of La Riviera. The numbers mark the victim locations. The icon of the car in black marks the area of the apartments on Great Falls Way where EAR had driven and then parked Victim No. 11’s car, thus indicating he himself had parked around this area first and had been stalking this far to the south. “R” marks Ripon Court, where the near fatal shooting of Rod Miller occurred on February 16, 1977, about a month after the attack on No. 11. The red dot marks the work place of Katie Maggiore, a future murder victim for which some feel (and Sac Co. Sheriffs believe) EAR was responsible.

     The area is sandwiched between the monster thoroughfares of Watt Ave (on the right) and on the left Howe Avenue. South of Folsom Blvd this becomes Power Inn Road, another main road all the way to the south to Florin Road. Juliard Drive, upon which EAR left Victim 11’s car, becomes Florin-Perkins on the other side of Folsom Blvd. (Folsom Blvd is the main road east and west between Sacramento and Rancho Cordova.)

     South of Folsom Blvd, these 3 roads continue on to Florin Road. Florin-Perkins passes the massive Sacramento Army Depot. It is curious to note that a van with an Army Depot sticker was seen in the vicinity of one of the Foothill Farms attacks (28), and Victim 28 said she heard a van start after her attack.

     It is a vast area. The legendary Army Depot, rural industries, wrecking yards, country houses, farm houses, warehouses, etc, crowd the area between Watt and Power Inn Road.

     It is hard to ignore the overall pattern. EAR does not reflect an in-depth knowledge of the East Area any more than anyone who comes and goes for business purposes. He doesn’t branch out into areas that are far from the main thoroughfares. Yet if he were based there he could easily incorporate parts of Citrus Heights north of Greenback Lane, even Roseville. But he never does. He remains around the central “T” of Manzanita and Madison, and then off Sunrise and Greenback.

     A lair from the south would explain why he leans heaviest toward the south— La Riviera and Rancho C— and not the north until late in his crime spree, and that’s for only 2 attacks. Even the isolated Orangevale attacks (16, 19) are easily accessed off Highway 50 as well, using the Hazel Road cutoff.

     At night south of Highway 50 Watt Avenue is a quiet, country drive little patrolled. Florin-Perkins and Power Inn went to industries shut down for the night. If EAR was an auto wrecker he would even have an excuse if he had bad plates and was stopped. The cops might even recognize him as a local auto wrecker.

   This is supposition, yes, but the Haskell Avenue Incident was followed by a circling chopper overhead. EAR still strikes that night. He didn’t seem to fear that the deputy got his license plate number when he swerved around him. As we know any car license plate ever associated EAR when traced went to dead ends or to some other car that had been wrecked and towed to a wrecker’s yard.

     In the information on the Haskell Avenue Incident the Sheriffs note that within minutes of EAR fleeing that area a foreign sounding car had pulled into Sandbar Circle. Deputy Weinberger had noted that the Haskell Avenue prowler’s car was a 1967-1970 Datsun or Toyota, and this may fit the “foreign sounding” car heard within minutes on Sandbar Circle. It could be that EAR returned to Sandbar Circle (which had suffered prowler reports earlier that night) and waited it out for a couple of hours while the chopper circled in the distance to the north. This would indicate he had no real lair in the East Area.

     Conversely it could be the foreign car was coincidence. EAR’s access to a variety of cars seems certain. He may then have preferred to get another car and was occupied doing that in the 2 hours between the Haskell Avenue Incident where his car was observed and the attack on Victim 21 in Sandbar Circle. If so, the yard from where he got his cars was within reach of the East Area but along roads where he didn’t have to worry about being spotted by the overhead chopper.

     The EAR’s lack of striking in the south area of Sacramento is quite curious. He strikes once at the end of Florin Road area by the highway. This may be the tactic of someone smart enough not to mess in his own backyard, or his area of work was in this industrial corridor between South Watt and Stockton Blvd, but he lived further east in the rural areas south of Rancho Cordova.  

     In any case, in conclusion the map of strikes must be considered indicating this possibility. The pattern indicates EAR began in the south but also heavily leaned toward the south of the East Area in his evolving crime spree. The theory he was based in Carmichael/Citrus Heights does not explain this. The theory he was based south of Folsom Blvd and closer to Watt Avenue does, however, fit with the pattern seen.