Cheri Jo Bates
Encyclopedia
Cheri Josephine Bates was a freshman
student at Riverside Community College
who was murdered on the campus of the
educational institution, on the day before Halloween
, October 30, 1966. She was a graduate of Ramona High School, formerly a varsity cheerleader,
and an honor student there.
Bates' slaying has been linked to the Zodiac killer
murders, which occurred in northern California
in the late 1960s
. Steve Hodel, in his book Most Evil, claims that his father, George Hodel, killed Bates.
She had been stabbed numerous times in the lungs, arms, throat, and face. Her corpse was lying sprawled face down on a dirt driveway, adjacent to
a frame bungalow storage facility at the periphery of the campus quad. Bates was clothed in a print blouse and salmon colored capri pants
. The
clothes appeared undisturbed but were soaked in blood. Bates' yellow compact car was parked one hundred yards away. Its ignition wiring had been
pulled loose but the ignition key was in place. Three library books on the subject of United States government were lying on the auto's front
seat. Police theorized Bates' murderer disabled her car and then waited for her to come back from the college library on the Sunday night. He surprised her as she attempted to start her car.
Naval Ordnance Laboratory, filed a missing person
report. He did so after one of Bates' girlfriends told him that Bates said she was going to the library that evening. Bates resided with her father at 4195 Via San Jose. Her mother lived in Riverside also, but was separated from the father. Bates had a brother who was serving in the United States Navy
.
, a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle
, followed the Zodiac case from the outset. In 1970 he found communications more than a year old from the Riverside police, which indicated a resemblance to the Zodiac's handwriting style. By then Zodiac claimed fourteen victims although only five were attributed to him. It was hypothesized that the Zodiac killer may have been from Riverside and later moved to
the San Francisco area. One of the clues was a set of lower case initials, r h, below a macabre poem which was scratched into a desk at Riverside Community College. This was found six months after Bates' murder. The handwriting carved into the desk matched that written on three letters sent to the San Francisco Chronicle. It is especially like the handwriting on the envelopes. Riverside police noted a likeness between Bates' slaying and that of a young couple murdered at Lake Berryessa
.
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
student at Riverside Community College
Riverside Community College
Riverside City College, or RCC, is a community college located in Riverside, California, United States. The college is part of the Riverside Community College District, as well as the larger California Community Colleges System.-History:...
who was murdered on the campus of the
educational institution, on the day before Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
, October 30, 1966. She was a graduate of Ramona High School, formerly a varsity cheerleader,
and an honor student there.
Bates' slaying has been linked to the Zodiac killer
Zodiac Killer
The Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who operated in Northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The killer's identity remains unknown. The Zodiac murdered victims in Benicia, Vallejo, Lake Berryessa and San Francisco between December 1968 and October 1969. Four men and three women...
murders, which occurred in northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
in the late 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. Steve Hodel, in his book Most Evil, claims that his father, George Hodel, killed Bates.
Crime Scene
An autopsy on Bates' body revealed that she had given quite a struggle to escape from her killer. A janitor found her body at approximately 6 a.m.She had been stabbed numerous times in the lungs, arms, throat, and face. Her corpse was lying sprawled face down on a dirt driveway, adjacent to
a frame bungalow storage facility at the periphery of the campus quad. Bates was clothed in a print blouse and salmon colored capri pants
Capri pants
Capri pants are mid-calf pants worn in warm weather. Variants end below the knee and calf...
. The
clothes appeared undisturbed but were soaked in blood. Bates' yellow compact car was parked one hundred yards away. Its ignition wiring had been
pulled loose but the ignition key was in place. Three library books on the subject of United States government were lying on the auto's front
seat. Police theorized Bates' murderer disabled her car and then waited for her to come back from the college library on the Sunday night. He surprised her as she attempted to start her car.
Murder aftermath
Bates' father, a machinist employed at the Corona, CaliforniaCorona, California
Corona is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 152,374, up from 124,966 at the 2000 census...
Naval Ordnance Laboratory, filed a missing person
Missing person
A missing person is a person who has disappeared for usually unknown reasons.Missing persons' photographs may be posted on bulletin boards, milk cartons, postcards, and websites, along with a phone number to be contacted if a sighting has been made....
report. He did so after one of Bates' girlfriends told him that Bates said she was going to the library that evening. Bates resided with her father at 4195 Via San Jose. Her mother lived in Riverside also, but was separated from the father. Bates had a brother who was serving in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Links to Zodiac Killer
Paul AveryPaul Avery
Paul Avery was an American police reporter, best known for his stories on the infamous serial killer known as the Zodiac, and later for his work on the Patricia Hearst kidnapping.-Career:...
, a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
, followed the Zodiac case from the outset. In 1970 he found communications more than a year old from the Riverside police, which indicated a resemblance to the Zodiac's handwriting style. By then Zodiac claimed fourteen victims although only five were attributed to him. It was hypothesized that the Zodiac killer may have been from Riverside and later moved to
the San Francisco area. One of the clues was a set of lower case initials, r h, below a macabre poem which was scratched into a desk at Riverside Community College. This was found six months after Bates' murder. The handwriting carved into the desk matched that written on three letters sent to the San Francisco Chronicle. It is especially like the handwriting on the envelopes. Riverside police noted a likeness between Bates' slaying and that of a young couple murdered at Lake Berryessa
Lake Berryessa
Lake Berryessa is the largest lake in Napa County, California. This reservoir is formed by the Monticello Dam, which provides water and hydroelectricity to the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area....
.