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RICHARD GRINELL, COVENTRY, ENGLAND
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CHERI JO BATES-THE AUTOPSY FINDINGS

8/30/2016

 
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The Cheri Jo Bates murder on October 30th 1966 has been linked to the Zodiac crimes, but unlike the Zodiac murders this crime has gaping holes in the timeline that have yet to be fully explained. Cheri Jo Bates simply went off the radar for at least 12 hours, from around 6:15 pm on Sunday evening to the following morning, when her lifeless body was discovered by Riverside City College groundskeeper Cleophus Martin at 6:30 am.

The time of the murder has been estimated between 9:15 pm and 10:45 pm, based on eyewitness reports and autopsy findings. One woman from a nearby residence stated that about 10:30 pm "I heard a muted scream, and then a loud sound like an old car being started up - this was about two minutes after I heard the first scream". Other eyewitnesses would corroborate the time between 10:15 pm and 10:45 pm, suggesting that the idea people failed to adjust for daylight savings, sending the clocks back the previous midnight, highly unlikely. Placing the murder at 9:15 pm sounds more plausible based upon the fact the library closed at 9:00 pm, however, considering Cheri Jo Bates arrived at the library shortly after 6:00 pm, this places her in the library for nearly three hours, yet only one person definitively stated that he saw her in the library during the entire evening.

Cheri Jo Bates' liver temperature was recorded as 26C and 28C at 9:31 am on October 31st 1966 at autopsy. Algor Mortis is the rate at which a body cools after death - very little during the first hour, but calculated thereafter at 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit per hour, dependent on ambient temperature, body size, clothing etc. The temperature in Riverside that day hit a maximum 97 degrees Fahrenheit, falling to 52 degrees Fahrenheit at its lowest, giving us an idea of ambient temperature during this period. There was also little to no wind at this time, therefore not adversely affecting the rate of body cooling. Taking normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit and Cheri Jo Bates median liver temperature of 80.6 Fahrenheit at 9:31 am, we can calculate the approximate time of her murder, 

The body of Cheri Jo Bates had cooled by 18 degrees at autopsy, but not counting the first hour, this would take 12 hours (18÷1.5). Therefore if we add back the first hour, it gives us a time period of 13 hours. This would mean Cheri Jo Bates was murdered at 8:31 pm or slightly earlier, because body cooling actually slows down in rate as it approaches the ambient temperature. If we take the high end measurement of her liver temperature of 82.4 Fahrenheit at autopsy, it places the murder at 9:31 pm, or again, slightly earlier, bearing in mind the existence of a "temperature plateau", which is a highly variable length of time in which the body does not cool.

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​Taking the bottom measurement liver temperature of 78.8 Fahrenheit, we have a drop of nearly 20 degrees (20÷1.5 =13.33), that equates to just over 14 hours since the time of death, including the first hour. Giving us a murder at 7:31 pm.
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Joseph Bates arrived back at the 4195 Via San Jose residence around 5:00 pm, finding the note left by Cheri Jo Bates "Dad-Went to RCC Library". Cheri was spotted at the RCC Library around 6:15 pm.

This is crucial, because the pathologist F. Rene Modglin stated "the gastric contents suggest she had eaten a supper type meal probably not more than 2 to 4 hours before death". In addition, the stomach contents contained "at least 100ml of thick fluid, with particulate food particles in which are easily recognized reasonably large pieces of beef, along with vegetable particulates and/or celery and onion, and what appears to be milk or cottage cheese". Cheri Jo Bates consumed this meal prior to 5:00 pm, before Joseph Bates arrived home.

Food takes approximately 2-5 hours to leave the stomach, depending on its constitution. The pathologist stated she had eaten not more than 2-4 hours before her death. This means that if Cheri Jo Bates ate this meal at approximately 4:30 pm, then she would have been killed at 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, tying in with the findings of body temperature above - and the indication of an earlier murder. This would match the 'Confession' letter on November 29th 1966, if Cheri Jo Bates arrived at the library at 6:15 pm, checked out her books immediately and was followed to her vehicle, before being killed around 6:30 pm. The author stated "Miss Bates was stupid. She went to the slaughter like a lamb. She did not put up a struggle. But I did. It was a ball. I first cut the middle wire from the distributor. Then I waited for her in the library and followed her out after about two minutes. The battery must have been about dead by then. I then offered to help. She was then very willing to talk to me. I told her that my car was down the street and that I would give her a lift home. When we were away from the library walking, I said it was about time she asked me, "about time for what ? ". I said it was about time for her to die".

However, this throws up an unlikely scenario, that 65 people entering and leaving the library that night between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm, would fail to spot the stricken Miss Bates lying in the driveway for at least 2 1/2 hours. Even if the murder occurred at 7:30 pm or 8:30 pm, we still have a problem - particularly in light of screams being heard at 10:30 pm at night by local residents. Additionally, we have the female eyewitness who allegedly spotted a man smoking in the alleyway at 9:30 pm, and Cheri Jo Bates' body not being viewed. But a 10:30 pm murder leaves us back where we started, four long hours to explain, and seemingly contradictory to the body temperature and stomach contents analysis.

s c link
8/30/2016 01:50:17 pm

Thank you. I tried to read a copy of the autopsy report the other day, and it was very hard to see.

Rvance
1/6/2018 11:35:49 pm

It appears to me that like most murderers, the guilty person disabled her from screaming, explaining her near beheading. He needed time to enjoy his later activities of pulling her outer garment up before left handed stabbing her. You will note the largest pool of blood near her head and little blood from the stab wounds. Why? When the heart stops pumping blood, then it stops pumping. Other evidence shows that he was stalking her, i.e., the reference to the “red dress” she previously wore. The @10 p.m. screams came from those females who happened upon the body but did not want to get involved. What I need to know is whether Cheri Jo owned and wore a red dress. If so, when was the last time she wore it just prior to her murder? And since most serial killers keep trophies, was there any jewelry or other personal items taken. If you notice the crime scene photos show her legs crossed in what is called the “death agony” position. I don’t think Cheri Jo screamed at all, why? She could not, physically. The body position and blood evidence show that she was killed at the same spot she was found. From this point, where was her car located? In summation, I just want to know what trophy he kept, and condolences to the family. I can solve this, but I need these details.

Richard
1/7/2018 12:41:33 am

Hi Rvance, the widely touted idea that Cheri Jo Bates was beheaded is a falsehood. The autopsy results show no such thing. There were deep cuts to the thyroid cartilage on either side, along with a transection of the carotid and jugular veins. veins.http://www.zodiackillerfacts.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=1018&fullsize=1
Nobody knows if Cheri Jo Bates owned or wore a red dress in the days, weeks or months prior to her murder. Only her friends and family would have been privy to this information at the time, and is unlikely ever to be unearthed, unless somebody still living from 1966 has a very good memory. We also don't know if the desktop poem was written by her killer, the Zodiac, or just an innocent student from the college. Handwriting analysis is extremely subjective. There is also no evidence or documented police material to indicate any females stumbled across her body in the alleyway.
She was likely murdered where she was found, as the alleyway floor showed signs of a scuffle, as well as a trail of blood drops heading towards Terracina Drive. There was no trophy taken in this murder, according to all available material, and it would be just speculation to believe this was the case. Robert Graysmith was incorrect when he stated her Volkswagen Beetle was discovered 75 yards west of the alleyway on Terracina Drive. It was discovered 75 yards east of the alleyway just 30 yards past the library entrance. Here are the details
http://www.zodiacciphers.com/zodiac-news/cheri-jo-bates-re-evaluating-the-crime-scene

LD
5/1/2018 09:37:42 pm

Multi-agency slaying organized by local clandestine synagogue. Bates produced enucleated eggs. African American male (Jesse Jackson) provided nuclear transfer DNA. Products were Will Smith and Sabra Elise Johnson (Abernathy DNA). Men in Black and I Robot document this death. Coroner would have to have been involved to obtain eggs. There have been others.

Matt
11/1/2019 11:14:33 am

Couple notes.

1. Sunset was at 4:58 p.m. on October 30. That, and given the abandoned houses, it is not surprising that no one saw her body.

2. The screams heard later could easily be explained by the power of suggestion and/or some other noise being misinterpreted, or pre-Halloween stuff.

3. In 1966 it would have been very easy for anyone to have not properly set there clocks back. There was no internet or other automated system to remind you. If you happened to not be watching TV or radio news or reading the newspaper, on a weekend you wouldn't necessarily have had an outside prompt (like a weekday job or school).


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