Bruton described the victim, the blonde and the dark man, and placed them at the Desert Inn roughly concurrent with Downey’s visits. Downey said he didn’t notice anybody resembling them.
Bruton wrote down “Ben Grissman” and got the name of Downey’s other buddy. He told Downey that some Sheriff’s men might want to talk to him.
Downey pledged his cooperation. Bruton sent him home in a patrol car.
A letter arrived at the El Monte Station Tuesday morning. It was scrawled on the back of a bank deposit slip and an employee’s time clock sheet.
El Monte Chief of Police 6/23/58
Dear Sir,
I would suggest, in relation to your latest rape murder (that I read about in today’s paper) you should question E. Ponce, a TV repair man, works for Dorn’s, lives in Monterey Park. This is rather near El Monte and my wife charges that he raped her in April of last year, in my home. He also threatened her at that time and the rest of the family. Our matter is in the courts at this time. He is a tall slim Mexican, very pronounced accent. Make him account for his actions and or any others of a similar nature, as he is so inclined.
Ask Ponce if he was acquainted with the nurse that was raped & murdered. Find out if she ever bought a TV or had other dealings with Dorn’s, and if Ponce had ever repaired sets or any other appliance for her. Look at Dorn’s books and hours. Make him account for his time on the night of the crime. Substantiated. Ask me to identify him, just as if I had seen her with him. Let me get a close look.
The letter was signed “Lester A. Eby, 17152 Cires Avenue, Fontana, Calif.” The Chief’s secretary called Information and got the accompanying phone number: VA2-7814. She wrote it at the bottom of the time clock sheet and called Information back.
She asked for a listing on “E. Ponce” in Monterey Park. The operator gave her the only one she had: Emil Ponce, 320 East Fernfield Drive, PA1-3047. She wrote the information down below the informant’s name and placed the letter in Captain Bruton’s box.
Ruth Schienle called Sheriff’s Homicide Tuesday morning. She left a detailed message for Ward Hallinen and Jack Lawton. The phone man wrote it down on the back of a teletype slip.
Miss Schienle rptd that Henry Kurtz, 4144 Irving PL, Culver City, NE8-5888, did not rpt for work last night and had phoned in that he would not be in tonight (6/24/58). Henry F. Kurtz / MW/ 39-42/5?-8?—220 / brown hair
The phone man placed the slip in Jack Lawton’s box.
Jim Bruton called Frank Godfrey Tuesday morning. He told him to hustle down to Brea and talk to a Mexican girl named Carmen Contreras. They got a tip that she knew a Desert Inn habitue named Tommy. The girl’s address was 248 South Poplar.
Godfrey drove to Orange County and found the address. The girl’s mother sent him over to the Beckman Instrument Company—Carmen’s place of employment.
Godfrey talked to Carmen. Carmen said she knew a man named Tommy—but she didn’t know his last name. He was a Caucasian, 30 to 40, 5?6? to 5?7?. He was dark complected and had brown eyes and dark curly hair.
Carmen thought he lived in Baldwin Park. He was married—but was trying to obtain a divorce. He drove a ’57 Mercury coupe, pink over white. He told her he used to own a ’52 Olds. He worked for a floor-installation company in Temple City. He hung out at the Ivanhoe in Temple City and the Desert Inn in El Monte. He liked to sit at the bar or table-hop. He took her to an Italian place on Valley a couple of times. She hadn’t seen Tommy in a while.
Godfrey gave her a card. He told her to call him if she dredged up Tommy’s last name. Carmen said she would.
Godfrey called Jim Bruton and ran the interview by him. Bruton said he’d check out the Ivanhoe.
An anonymous tipster called the Temple City Sheriff’s Tuesday morning. He said this “Johnny” guy might be the one who choked that nurse.
The tipster said Johnny frequented the Desert Inn. He drove a pink-and-white Olds Holiday and considered himself a “lover boy.” He was white, 30 to 35, 5/8// with a medium build. He had black hair and a dark complexion. He had an ex-girlfriend named Patricia Fields.
The desk sergeant relayed the information to Bill Vickers. Vickers found a phone listing for Patricia Fields and called her.
Miss Fields told him that Johnny had been working overseas since December. She’d been corresponding with him since that time. Vickers asked her if she could verify it. Miss Fields told him to call Peggy Narucore. Her number was GI3-2638.
Vickers called the number. Peggy Narucore confirmed Miss Fields’ story.
It was mid- afternoon.
Frank Godfrey and Bill Vickers were canvassing bars and restaurants. Ward Hallinen and Jack Lawton were reinterviewing the victim’s ex-husband and son.
Their apartment was small and hot. They sat around a small kitchen table.
Armand Ellroy mentioned the funeral next week. He’d arranged for a minister and burial at Inglewood Cemetery. Jean’s sister and her husband were flying in from Madison, Wisconsin. He’d be taking his boy back to El Monte next Monday to pick up his things.
Hallinen and Lawton asked the boy some questions.
Did your mother know a blond woman with a ponytail? Did you ever see her with a Mexican man or a dark white man? Who were her friends at work? Did she make any friends since you moved to El Monte?
The boy said his mother lied about the move to El Monte. She said she wanted him to live in a house, not an apartment. He knew she was lying.
He liked Santa Monica. El Monte scared him. He didn’t understand why they moved so far away.
He didn’t know any blond woman. He didn’t know any Mexican guy or dark white guy. He didn’t know his mother’s work friends. He already told them about Hank Hart and Peter Tubiolo. Mrs. Krycki was his mother’s friend—he knew that.
Lawton asked him if his mother drank liquor.
