markers.
When it came time to examine and move the body, the other DOJ criminalist, Marianne Stam, pointed out purplish indentations on Juneâs neck that she thought looked like fingernail marks. They couldnât tell if they came from June trying to pull the cord away from her windpipe, or from the killer manually strangling June. They would have to wait for the autopsy.
As the criminalists slowly worked their way through the house, Greco was able to examine the scene unencumbered, finally getting a closer look at the crime scene that he had been observing for hours from the hallway. He lingered in the kitchen, poked his head into Juneâs fridge and the cabinets, stood in her bedroom and examined her desk, trying to get a feel for June, and hopefully bringing himself closer to her killer.
Greco saw two themes in Juneâs lifeâhealth and church. Not only did her car bear the Christian igthus, but her home was adorned with framed Bible quotations sewn in needlepoint. On top of Juneâs desk was a Bible open to a passage from Corinthians. Some parts had been outlined with a red pencil, which was still in the crease of the book. Hereâs this religious woman studying the Bible, he thought to himself, and she was killed with savage violence. It was incomprehensible to him why someone would do something like this to her. The passage was bookmarked by a prayer list with penciled-in names. As Greco scanned the list, he was surprised to find familiar names: Ila Tingley, who was Normaâs housekeeper, and Shirley Morrales, one of the friends who found Juneâs body. It seemed an odd coincidence that the housekeeper of one murder victim would show up on the prayer list of the very next victim. Greco thought it was probably a fact of life in a small community like Canyon Lake that victims of tragic circumstances were so closely connected. Ila Tingley had been hospitalized when Norma was murdered. At this point, Greco had no suspects. He had no idea who would emerge as a possible suspect. He would definitely talk to Ila when she got out of the hospital.
Juneâs passion for robust living was evident in the contents of her kitchen cabinet and refrigerator. Both were stocked with health foods. Fat-free recipes were magnet-mounted on her refrigerator. It looked like she had just opened a box containing a new food dehydratorâsince her birthday was the day before, it was probably a gift, Greco surmised. The empty box was on top of the washer in the laundry area, right next to her purse. On Juneâs desk was Adele Davisâs best-seller, Letâs Eat Right to Keep Fit.
Juneâs desk contained the usual itemsâa large desktop calendar, books, a digital clock. On the far corner sat a large, clear glass pitcher with a handle. A framed picture of a mature man, probably Juneâs deceased husband, Duane, also perched on the desk. On the living room floor, a photo album, an obituary for Duane Roberts, and an envelope of snapshots were spread out as if June had been updating the album. Juneâs husband had been a war hero who earned the Bronze Star for bravery in World War II. There were two desk drawers open; one on the side held office supplies like a stapler and paper clips. Greco looked inside the flat center desk drawer. There lay Juneâs checkbook, untouched.
Grecoâs body jolted to attention. If it wasnât money, what was this killer looking for? The same thought had been nagging him all night. Greco fought off fatigue and tried to focus, but nothing registered.
This killer seemed very confident and careful. Looking over at the phone on the side table by the couch, Greco saw that the longer cord had been carefully unplugged from the phone, not ripped out like the one from Normaâs den. Greco rubbed his eyes, irritated from staying open all night. This killer had taken the time to remove both cords, perhaps undecided about which one to use.
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1994,
When it came time to examine and move the body, the other DOJ criminalist, Marianne Stam, pointed out purplish indentations on Juneâs neck that she thought looked like fingernail marks. They couldnât tell if they came from June trying to pull the cord away from her windpipe, or from the killer manually strangling June. They would have to wait for the autopsy.
As the criminalists slowly worked their way through the house, Greco was able to examine the scene unencumbered, finally getting a closer look at the crime scene that he had been observing for hours from the hallway. He lingered in the kitchen, poked his head into Juneâs fridge and the cabinets, stood in her bedroom and examined her desk, trying to get a feel for June, and hopefully bringing himself closer to her killer.
Greco saw two themes in Juneâs lifeâhealth and church. Not only did her car bear the Christian igthus, but her home was adorned with framed Bible quotations sewn in needlepoint. On top of Juneâs desk was a Bible open to a passage from Corinthians. Some parts had been outlined with a red pencil, which was still in the crease of the book. Hereâs this religious woman studying the Bible, he thought to himself, and she was killed with savage violence. It was incomprehensible to him why someone would do something like this to her. The passage was bookmarked by a prayer list with penciled-in names. As Greco scanned the list, he was surprised to find familiar names: Ila Tingley, who was Normaâs housekeeper, and Shirley Morrales, one of the friends who found Juneâs body. It seemed an odd coincidence that the housekeeper of one murder victim would show up on the prayer list of the very next victim. Greco thought it was probably a fact of life in a small community like Canyon Lake that victims of tragic circumstances were so closely connected. Ila Tingley had been hospitalized when Norma was murdered. At this point, Greco had no suspects. He had no idea who would emerge as a possible suspect. He would definitely talk to Ila when she got out of the hospital.
Juneâs passion for robust living was evident in the contents of her kitchen cabinet and refrigerator. Both were stocked with health foods. Fat-free recipes were magnet-mounted on her refrigerator. It looked like she had just opened a box containing a new food dehydratorâsince her birthday was the day before, it was probably a gift, Greco surmised. The empty box was on top of the washer in the laundry area, right next to her purse. On Juneâs desk was Adele Davisâs best-seller, Letâs Eat Right to Keep Fit.
Juneâs desk contained the usual itemsâa large desktop calendar, books, a digital clock. On the far corner sat a large, clear glass pitcher with a handle. A framed picture of a mature man, probably Juneâs deceased husband, Duane, also perched on the desk. On the living room floor, a photo album, an obituary for Duane Roberts, and an envelope of snapshots were spread out as if June had been updating the album. Juneâs husband had been a war hero who earned the Bronze Star for bravery in World War II. There were two desk drawers open; one on the side held office supplies like a stapler and paper clips. Greco looked inside the flat center desk drawer. There lay Juneâs checkbook, untouched.
Grecoâs body jolted to attention. If it wasnât money, what was this killer looking for? The same thought had been nagging him all night. Greco fought off fatigue and tried to focus, but nothing registered.
This killer seemed very confident and careful. Looking over at the phone on the side table by the couch, Greco saw that the longer cord had been carefully unplugged from the phone, not ripped out like the one from Normaâs den. Greco rubbed his eyes, irritated from staying open all night. This killer had taken the time to remove both cords, perhaps undecided about which one to use.
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1994,
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