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Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html<br />
I studied a stack of ID photos. Betty Jean Scales alive: a prim woman with long hair and granny glasses.<br />
I studied the crimescene shots. Betty Jean twenty-seven days dead: a bloated mannequin and insect<br />
repository.<br />
I studied the perspective shots. The pits looked like moon craters. I pictured local acidheads grooving<br />
on the landscape.<br />
I read the crime-scene and lab reports. I took notes. I found an odd notation:<br />
"Vic's sweater. Stain 0+--non-secretor."<br />
Odd:<br />
I thought the line referred to a semen stain. Some men secrete identifiable blood cells in their ejaculate;<br />
some men do not. "0+--non-secretor" was a non sequitur.<br />
I read the missing-persons report. I recognized locations.<br />
My mother shopped at Crawford's Market. We lived two blocks west of Peck Road. Arroyo High<br />
flanked Lower Azusa. Betty Jean vanished en route to Five Points.<br />
I read the sex-assault reports. I cleared the laundromat freak. He worked late nights and north El Monte<br />
exclusively.<br />
The kid vibed HOT suspect.<br />
He was convicted for one attempt rape. Four other rape/ attempt rape/abduction victims ID 'd him as<br />
their assailant. He assailed his consummated victim in dark seclusion. Betty Jean was last seen at Durfee<br />
Drugs. The kid worked at a print shop two blocks away. His last alleged assault occurred at Durfee<br />
Drugs on 4/23/73.<br />
I called Bill. He cosigned my assessment and urged me to remain circumspect. We shouldn't lock in on<br />
suspects. We should sift evidence and refrain from prejudicial conclusions.<br />
He reminded me:<br />
This was now an official Sheriff's/El Monte PD investigation. I was to look, listen, and ask questions<br />
judiciously.<br />
Bill said he had calls in to Koury and Meyers. They both retired to Missouri. We had to get their<br />
assessments. I mentioned the secretor notation. Bill said we should go by the property vault and retrieve<br />
the evidence bags. The victim's clothing had to be screened for semen stains and conflicting bloodstains.<br />
That was the standard pre-DNA procedure.<br />
I filled in the hypothetical blanks.<br />
The kid allegedly ejaculated on his 3/8 victim. He might have done the same thing with Betty. He might<br />
have wiped his penis with her sweater, panties, or bra. The coroner's semen smear turned up<br />
"inconclusive." The victim's vaginal membranes were badly decomposed. DNA procedures did not exist<br />
in 1973. DNAcertified semen stains can be compared to cell scrapings taken from present-day suspects.<br />
The crime lab could lift cells off Betty's clothing. The crime lab could run the kid's DNA. The lab could<br />
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