ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Researching a nonfiction book can be a difficult journey full of obstacles. Without the generous help of people who fill those potholes and bridge wide gaps, it cant be done.
To the best of my knowledge, the events described in this book are true. We have changed a few names to protect privacy.
My gratitude starts with Michaela Hamilton, executive editor at Kensington Publishing Corporation, and my literary agent, Susan Crawford, Crawford Literary Agency. They have known each other for years, and worked together to open the starting gates. Michael Shohl at Kensington helped us over some bumps in the road.
Detective Virginia Obenchain and her colleague Detective John Henry, Santa Monica Police Department, paved the next few hundred miles with their generous cooperation. Ive met many police investigators in this business, and these two rank among the very best. Captain Edward Winter, Los Angeles County Coroners Office, kept us on track with his friendly aid.
Walt Zwonitzer, private detective and good buddy, helped us cross the finish line.
Its been a remarkable trip.
Don Lasseter, 2007
I wish to thank the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office for its full cooperation in telling this story in hopes it may save some young womans life. None of this would have been possible without the leadership of District Attorney Steve Cooley, who is willing to take on the tough cases so that justice will prevail. Additional thanks to his chief deputy John K. Spillane, with personal support from Assistant DA Curt Hazell. They have made it possible for me to continue to work with the great litigation team in the Major Crimes Division.
My special admiration goes to each of the prosecutors in the cases we have examined in this book. In the Paleologus case, Dave Walgren proved to be a quick learner who demonstrated he could handle incredible pressure without losing focus. He was assisted by a very able law clerk from the USC Law School, Carol Fabrizio, who did an admirable job. In the Rademaker case, there was the extraordinary combination of the two highly seasoned prosecutors. The incredibly gifted litigator, John Monaghan, had prepared the case. When he was unable to be present during the proceedings, the head deputy Pat Dixon stepped in without missing a beat and did a magnificent job of pinch-hitting.
As to the Rathbun case, I cant praise the legendary Steve Kay enough for his legal skills and ability to cope with a series of unique problems. Mary Jean Bowman ably assisted him.
A dynamic duo headed by Dave Conn prosecuted the Bradford case. I have the greatest respect for his incredible legal mind and command of the courtroom. His partner, Pam Bozanich, demonstrated litigation talent and perseverance that helped make a big difference.
I would be remiss if I didnt acknowledge my wife, Rosemarie (Hughes) Bowers, who has been supportive during my forty-year career as a prosecutor. She has encouraged my writing efforts and as a result has had to endure the task of spending hours and hours proofreading the various drafts. Without her love and assistance, this book would never have ended up as printers ink on these pages you are reading.
We wish to thank Jeanene Boscarino for agreeing to model the clothing that Paleologus requested Kristi Johnson and the other women to wear to the photo auditions.
I have to recognize my adult daughter, Julianna Bowers, who worked diligently for the DAs Victim-Witness Assistance program. She has continued to keep me focused on finding ways to help the victims of violent crimes as well as assisting their families.
Ron Bowers
Also by Don Lasseter:
Die for Me
If I Cant Have You, No One Can
Body Double
Killer Kids
Cold Storage
Going Postal
Savage Vengeance
Property of Folsom Wolf
EPILOGUE
DANGER SIGNS: AVOIDING MORE TRAGEDY
It is easy to understand how beautiful young women, particularly those with ambitions to model, might be deceived by a clever manipulator like Victor Paleologus. His well-practiced James Bond scam offered all of the right elementsan authentic-sounding audition, high pay, specific requirements for wearing exact apparel, no hint of salacious motivesand the added promise of meeting celebrities. It could be hard to resisteven by women who had some level of experience in the industry.
However, there were warning signs.
Paleologus, Bradford, Rademaker, Rathbun, Wilder, and Alcalathey all played the deadly game. One possible factor in these horrific murders by men pretending to be photographers, or influential in the entertainment industry, could be significant age differences between the killers and their victims. Bill Bradford, at age thirty-seven, took advantage of fifteen-year-old Tracey Campbells childish immaturity and twenty-one-year-old Shari Millers easygoing nature. David Rademaker, twenty-seven, convinced Kim Pandelios, twenty, to foolishly meet him in a mountain location. The oldest of the killers, Victor Paleologus, forty, had a nineteen-year advantage over Kristi Johnson, twenty-one. And Charles Rathbun, thirty-nine, who really was a professional photographer, beguiled twenty-seven-year-old Linda Sobek. Christopher Wilder, thirty-nine, murdered at least eight women, ages seventeen to twenty-four, before kidnapping Tina Newton, a guileless sixteen-year-old. Rodney Alcala, thirty-five, targeted a prepubescent child, Robin Samsoe, age twelve.
Age may not be the most revealing factor. Immaturity or undeveloped sophistication might be more significant. Tracey Campbell was a naive kid from Montana. Tina Newton, who actually helped her kidnapper lure other women, may have been a victim of brainwashing, or the notorious Stockholm syndrome associated with Patty Hearst in the 1970s. Kim Pandelios had recently moved from Florida. Even Kristi Johnson had arrived from a protective environment in Michigan shortly before settling in Los Angeles. Most of these young women may have been too trusting and didnt see the red flags more obvious to urban dwellers. Linda Sobek, an established model, had worked for Rathbun previously, which evidently caused her to forget safety precautions she might have taken with a stranger.
Another major influence, dreams of fame and fortune in the world of glamor certainly played a key role. Several of the victims possessed few skills and little education, increasing their drive to make it big in movies or modeling. The odds of success are infinitely small, similar to millions of boys who will never reach six feet in height, yet fantasize about someday playing professional basketball.
And the good luck of being born beautiful adds fuel to this burning ambition for stardom. Most young women with pretty features eventually come to grips with reality and are able to rein in their glimmering desires without endangering themselves. Unfortunately, though, too many of them become accustomed to taking chances. Limited success spurs them on to bigger risks, which can spell disaster. Stars in the eyes can blind them to danger.
Each of the victims in these stories probably felt a certain amount of skepticism about the men who made lavish offersyet they decided the risk might be worth it. Survivors recalled asking themselves, What if it really is a valid opportunity? Should I miss a fantastic chance because of my silly suspicions? The culture of nothing ventured, nothing gained usually focuses on the gains, not the losses.
