It was reported that "detectives found 15 empty .22 brass casings toward the mouth of the creek approximately 20 feet from the ocean", fired from an "assassin about 25 yards away (75 feet), who then moved in", suggesting that these 15 casings were grouped at this location. Sheriff Webster stated "We know that the maximum number of bullets contained in a 22-caliber rifle tube-type magazine is 15 and a clip magazine is nine". Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that there was a shooter standing by the mouth of the creek in a fixed position (75 feet from where the couple eventually fell), who fired 15 quick-fire shots from a rifle with a tube magazine. These were likely the shots fired at the couple from distance, before the murderer moved in close to complete his attack. If 20 shots were fired that afternoon, it would mean 5 shots were delivered while the killer was standing over Robert and Linda. If 26 shots were fired, it would mean 11 at close range. Below I have placed this information into the topography.
POSITION OF BULLET CASINGS BASED ON SEVERAL NEWSPAPER REPORTS
From everything we have read, it has been concluded that the murderer of Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards dragged each body approximately 30 feet to a nearby shack (a total of 60 feet), which gives the impression that both Robert and Linda fell to the ground in roughly the same position before being moved. Therefore, if we go with the widespread claim that the couple simultaneously ran for their lives along this 75 feet path away from the shooter, how likely is it that both would succumb to their injuries in almost the same spot? Did one likely stop to help the other? Or is it more reasonable to conclude they were walking away from an individual and both were shot close to the position they fell (95 feet from the ocean). For example, they may have been walking 50 to 60 feet away from the killer when he opened fire, which disabled them to some extent, before they both managed (under continued gunfire) to muster another 15 to 25 feet before collapsing. Would this scenario place the couple closer together, at a location 30 feet from the shack?
The grouping of 15 casings 20 feet from the ocean appears to suggest that the killer fired 15 continuous shots from a rifle with a tube magazine, before walking toward the couple and reloading as he went. Had he been in possession of a .22 caliber handgun like Lake Herman Road, one might expect the shooter to have ejected 10 casings 20 feet from the ocean at this fixed position, reloading his weapon as he moved northwards and resuming firing as he approached the couple (or when he arrived at the stricken pair). It is unlikely he would have fired 10 shots from a handgun, stood still and reloaded, fired another 5 shots from the same position, and then moved forward. If the location of the casings is accurate, everything points to a killer who used a rifle on June 4th 1963.
This excerpt from Zodiac Killer Facts is typical of the consensus theory behind the Gaviota murders: "No one knows the precise timing and sequence of the events that followed, but, at some point, a man apparently confronted Robert and Linda. He was armed with a .22 caliber weapon, possibly a rifle. Investigators believed that the man produced pre-cut lengths of rope and ordered Linda to tie-up Robert’s hands. After that, the man may have tried to bind Linda’s hands, but, Robert somehow freed himself and fought back long enough for the couple to run away. The man apparently shot both Robert and Linda in the back and they fell to the ground together"..This sequence of events is highly unlikely because it requires us to believe that an assailant pointing a gun at Linda and ordering her to tie up Robert, got close enough to the couple for Robert to tackle the perpetrator. After the struggle with the man, rather than stay in the fight and make sure the man was disarmed before they left, it is theorised that Robert and Linda ran away into 75 feet of open space with a man positioned behind them armed with a rifle (who had already threatened them with it). This man then fired 15 shots at the fleeing couple who both managed to run 75 feet each before they fell, despite the fact it is claimed he fired 20 shots in total and struck the couple 19 or 20 times. This would mean that the killer, a very good marksman, managed to hit Robert and Linda at least 14 times as they ran a combined total of 150 feet away from his position (with Linda struck once in the right leg). Is it a realistic proposition that both would travel this distance before succumbing to their injuries? Betty Lou Jensen managed to run just 28 feet from the rear of the Rambler after being hit 5 times on December 20th 1968 with the same ammunition. There is something about the Gaviota Beach story that just doesn't ring true.
Six in depth articles examining the murders of Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards.
The Ballistics. The Shack. The Rope. The Beach. The Ammo. The Final Analysis.
The grouping of 15 casings 20 feet from the ocean appears to suggest that the killer fired 15 continuous shots from a rifle with a tube magazine, before walking toward the couple and reloading as he went. Had he been in possession of a .22 caliber handgun like Lake Herman Road, one might expect the shooter to have ejected 10 casings 20 feet from the ocean at this fixed position, reloading his weapon as he moved northwards and resuming firing as he approached the couple (or when he arrived at the stricken pair). It is unlikely he would have fired 10 shots from a handgun, stood still and reloaded, fired another 5 shots from the same position, and then moved forward. If the location of the casings is accurate, everything points to a killer who used a rifle on June 4th 1963.
This excerpt from Zodiac Killer Facts is typical of the consensus theory behind the Gaviota murders: "No one knows the precise timing and sequence of the events that followed, but, at some point, a man apparently confronted Robert and Linda. He was armed with a .22 caliber weapon, possibly a rifle. Investigators believed that the man produced pre-cut lengths of rope and ordered Linda to tie-up Robert’s hands. After that, the man may have tried to bind Linda’s hands, but, Robert somehow freed himself and fought back long enough for the couple to run away. The man apparently shot both Robert and Linda in the back and they fell to the ground together"..This sequence of events is highly unlikely because it requires us to believe that an assailant pointing a gun at Linda and ordering her to tie up Robert, got close enough to the couple for Robert to tackle the perpetrator. After the struggle with the man, rather than stay in the fight and make sure the man was disarmed before they left, it is theorised that Robert and Linda ran away into 75 feet of open space with a man positioned behind them armed with a rifle (who had already threatened them with it). This man then fired 15 shots at the fleeing couple who both managed to run 75 feet each before they fell, despite the fact it is claimed he fired 20 shots in total and struck the couple 19 or 20 times. This would mean that the killer, a very good marksman, managed to hit Robert and Linda at least 14 times as they ran a combined total of 150 feet away from his position (with Linda struck once in the right leg). Is it a realistic proposition that both would travel this distance before succumbing to their injuries? Betty Lou Jensen managed to run just 28 feet from the rear of the Rambler after being hit 5 times on December 20th 1968 with the same ammunition. There is something about the Gaviota Beach story that just doesn't ring true.
Six in depth articles examining the murders of Robert Domingos and Linda Edwards.
The Ballistics. The Shack. The Rope. The Beach. The Ammo. The Final Analysis.
RSS Feed
