Market data provided by Factset. Police believed that he first disabled Bates' car, meaning he would have had to have watched her entering the building or been known to her personally; otherwise, he cannot have known which vehicle was hers. Bates, an 18-year-old . In 1967, Riverside Police Department received a hand written letter in the mail. The Zodiac credited police with discovering his links to his "Riverside activity," adding, "they are only finding the easy ones; there is a hell of a lot more down there." [17][30] At the time of discovery, both windows of Bates' Beetle were rolled down and the keys of her vehicle were still in the ignition, thus meaning she had likely been forced from her vehicle to the scene of her murder while she stood aside or sat inside her vehicle. Detectives also attempt to identify, locate and interview witnesses, whether known or unknown at the time of the initial investigation. Bates, an 18-year-old college freshman, was stabbed and slashed to death on the grounds of Riverside City College. The murder of Cheri Jo Bates is an unsolved murder that occurred in Riverside, California, on October 30, 1966. However, investigators remain confident he is the killer and concerned that their DNA isn't actually from the man who killed Bates. The Bates family relocated to California in 1957, where her father found employment as a machinist at the Corona Naval Ordnance Laboratory.. Cheri Jo was a graduate of Ramona High School, had been a former varsity cheerleader, and an honor . On July 23, 2000, shortly after 5 P.M., 35-year-old Laura Elena Morales husband and children returned home from an afternoon away and found her deceased from obvious signs of trauma to her body. Resend Activation Email. Detectives are hoping someone will recognize these basic details and come forward with additional information that can lead to their identities, as well as to identify those responsible their deaths. Anyone linked to the college would have been forced to lay low given the scratches and bruising they are likely to have suffered during the murder through Bates' strong defense. [61], Officially, Bates' murder remains an unsolved case, and the theory she was a victim of the Zodiac Killer (which has been strongly disputed by the RPD) has never been proven. Baby Jane Doe #2 Include gps location with grave photos where possible. [1] Furthermore, she had not been subjected to any form of sexual assault or robbery within this attack. Her throat was also slit, which was identified as the fatal wound as it cut her jugular vein. At about 5 p.m. on October 30, Bates decided to go to the Riverside City College library to study, and she left a note to her father that read, "Dad Went to RCC Library," (per Medium). Based on the evidence, this person of interest has remained the primary suspect over the years and continues to be the focus of the investigation. However, there is no further information to provide regarding her at this time. Anyone with information about this investigation should contact the Homicide Cold Case Unit at [emailprotected] RPD Case# P3-99-244-127 She has yet to be identified. Cheri Jo Bates's pet, dead or alive? Investigators confirmed, the person was not involved in the murder of Cheri Jo Bates or involved in the murders associated with the "Zodiac Killer. Additional information was developed regarding a separate set of letters sent to Northern California police agencies. Anyone with information specifically about the Cheri Jo Bates murder can contact investigators at the following dedicated email: [emailprotected] The author apologized for sending the letters and said it was a sick joke. However, there is no further information to provide regarding her at this time. We have set your language to The author admitted that he was not the Zodiac killer or the killer of Cheri Jo Bates and was just looking for attention. Despite the pieces of evidence left at the scene and on Bates' body, investigators weren't able to arrest anyone in relation to the murder. Highland had attended Riverside City College himself and then transferred to San Francisco State College to play football. She was the younger of two children born to Joseph and Irene (ne Karolevitz) Bates. Try again later. His cause of death was cancer. This is a carousel with slides. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. [1] The ignition wiring of the vehicle had been deliberately pulled loose, but the ignition key was in place and both the driver's side and passenger windows were rolled partly down. A system error has occurred. [19], Ten feet from Bates' body, investigators discovered a cheap, paint-spattered Timex brand wristwatch with a seven-inch circumference along with a footprint of a shoe produced by Leavenworth prisoners sold solely in military outlets. It seems likely that Bates knew her killer with enough familiarity that she willingly exited her vehicle to walk off with him, and equally that whatever the killer had planned, he had plotted for some time. In 1966,18-year-old Cheri Josephine Bates, known as Cheri Jo to her family and friends, was a freshman student at the Riverside Community College in California. On October 31, 1966, 0632 hours, a civilian reported that he found a body in the alleyway of Terracina near Fairfax on the RCC college campus. Of course funerals are often public, but with private, family only, burials. An extensive investigation was conducted but no arrest was made. Those with information on the Bates murder can contact investigators at this dedicated email address: cjb@riversideca.gov. View the profiles of people named Cheri Jo Bates. ", After the Bates murder, Riverside police received a handwritten letter that led investigators to believe the killing may be linked to the Zodiac Killer. Bates' father received three short handwritten letters as well. Cheri Jo Bates's brother, Michael Bates, died on January 11, 1978 as he was 57 years old. Whether his initial intention was sexual assault or always murder, we can't be sure, but Bates' undisturbed clothes suggest it may have always been his intention to kill. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Instead, it appears to be a suicidal poem by a troubled woman, with the references to blood being about cutting her wrists. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Riverside Police Department investigators will continue to cooperate with the handling agencies as needed. Just wait till next time.". We also saw the funeral photo on this site showing the casket leaving the funeral home (or chapel where the service was held). It is believed, acquaintances of the suspect have additional information which could potentially lead to the successful prosecution of the suspect. "[Previous detectives] zeroed in on one suspect that they did the direct comparison (DNA test) and it didn't match, but it's entirely possible it could still be him," Riverside police lead investigator Det. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. On November 4, 1966, Bates was laid to rest at the Crestlawn Memorial Park in Riverside. From this, plus the conclusion of the coroner, investigators determined Bates had most likely been murdered at approximately 10:15p.m.[26] Investigations into her background could deduce no obvious motive for the killing, and revealed nothing which could classify her as an obvious or typical target for any form of revenge or random non-sexual violence. Her clothing was undisturbed but was saturated in blood. The Case Breakers also believe Poste killed Cheri Jo Bates, 18, on October 31, 1966, in Riverside which is hundreds of miles from the San Francisco area where the infamous murders occurred. The FBI said the case remains open after an independent group said it has identified the killer. Riverside Police Chief Lambert "Curly" Kinkead led the Riverside Police Department from 1965-1972. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. A warrant for his DNA was issued, and he provided a sample without resistance. Investigators believe there may have been a witness to the shooting and the suspect(s) may have confided to someone about the murders. All over her new dress, oh well, it was red anyway. In April 2016, investigators received an anonymous letter postmarked from San Bernardino, California. . Search above to list available cemeteries. A picture begins to form of the killer. As reported by Medium, authorities also had another suspect who wasn't named but was given the alias Bob Barnett. This letter initially led investigators to believe the murder of Cheri Jo Bates may be associated with the murderer known as the Zodiac Killer. The letter and the interpretation of the signature on the letter generated much attention to the investigation and fueled many theories and much speculation regarding the case. Earlier this year, Riverside Police Homicide Cold Case Investigators were contacted by a private citizen who offered $50,000 as a reward to finally solve the murder of Bates. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Scroll to Continue. The author of the anonymous letter admitted to writing the hand written letters. In 1966,18-year-old Cheri Josephine Bates, known as Cheri Jo to her family and friends, was a freshman student at the Riverside Community College in California. strikezone - it says right on the link you provided - - " Oops, my bad, didn't see that before. [5] He had then offered her assistance, claiming his own vehicle was further down the street; thus luring her away from her vehicle. Officers responded and determined the death to be a homicide. Cheri Josephine Bates was born in Omaha, Nebraska on February 4, 1948. As part of the sexual assault investigation the suspect was described as a Hispanic male, 25 years old, 509, Chubby, with Black Hair and Brown Eyes. Cheri Jo Bates, 18, was stabbed to death in Riverside, California, in 1966, two years before Zodiac Killer's first known murder . . Has the 'Zodiac Killer' just been identified? The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. However, there is no further information to provide regarding her at this time. In terms of actual evidence at the scene, investigators found significant amounts of skin and hair under Bates' fingernails which, along with deep furrows in the ground, showed she'd put up a big fight. The individual linked to the DNA evidence on the stamp admitted to writing the letter and sending it to Riverside Police Department. In the letter, Kinkead said Bates left the college library and returned to her vehicle, which had been tampered with so it would not start. She suffered 42 stab wounds on the upper part of her body, particularly the face, chest, and back. Friends said they were deeply in love. Bates and her father attended mass at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church before sharing breakfast. On Tuesday, October 13, 1987, a female baby was found in a dumpster along the 4500 block of La Sierra Avenue, between Collett Avenue and Schuyler Avenue in the La Sierra neighborhood. The police chief of a Southern California city at the time a young woman was murdered in 1966 said the killing could have been related to the Zodiac Killer murders that occurred hundreds of miles away, according to a group that recently claimed to have unmasked the notorious murderer. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. This year, I am considering a few varieties for graft, Get Free Seeds & Taste the Delicious Flavor of Estler's Mortgage Lifter with Edweather's Generous Offer, Estler's Mortgage Lifter is an heirloom tomato variety developed by William Estler in the mid-1920s. [10] Her mother also lived in Riverside, and her older brother, Michael Bates, served in the United States Navy. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. [40] This poem was discovered by a custodian six months after Bates' murder and contains graphic references to repeated assaults upon young women with a bladed weapon. Bates, 18, was found dead in an alleyway on the Riverside City College campus after her father phoned police to report her missing. Try again later. On October 31, 1966, 0632 hours, a civilian reported that he found a body in the alleyway of Terracina near Fairfax on the RCC college campus. The keys were in the ignition, with the windows down. She was last seen on August 27,1999 in Compton. Despite being said to have privately admitted the killings, Marshall is not considered a suspect by police who maintain the killing is unconnected to the Zodiac in any case. Investigators believed that Bates was in a relationship with Barnett but had broken up with him when she became engaged to another man. According to the update, the author had initiallyand anonymouslycontacted investigators in 2016, explaining the correspondence had been a distasteful hoax. [7] Despite several suspects having been investigated and eliminated from the inquiry since 1966, the current investigator assigned to the case, Detective Jim Simons, has stated one individual still remains of interest to the investigation, although because tests conducted upon the mitochondrial DNA of the hair and blood samples found at the crime scene did not match those of this suspect,[62] insufficient physical evidence exists to link this individual to the crime. This eyewitness also claimed her vehicle was closely followed by a bronze 1965 or 1966 model Oldsmobile. Even if I had his e-mail address, I would not feel good about asking him the reasons for CJ's reburial. It isn't just the letter; however, that has raised suspicions, with a concerning poem being found written on a desk that was discovered in storage. Add to your scrapbook. In addition, sensitive information was released to the media which added to the curiosity and conjecture. Early in the investigation, a potential suspect was identified in the killing of Cheri Jo Bates. She was still dressed in a long-sleeve pale yellow print blouse and faded red capri pants and her woven straw bagcontaining both her identification and 56 centslay alongside her body. When her co-worker replied she had not, Bates replied: "Now I'll have to start all over on my note cards." Riverside Police Department personnel responded to the home in the 11100 block of Doverwood Drive in the City of Riverside and a homicide investigation was immediately started. Bates had replied, "About time for what?" 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