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Richard Grinell, Coventry, England
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THE 1954 CHRISTMAS DAY YELLOW CAB MURDER

2/7/2020

 
On December 25th 1954 at approximately 8:40 pm, 39-year-old taxicab driver Conrad John Favreau of 1312 Hazel Street, Inglewood, picked up a fare at 7th Street and Union Avenue, Los Angeles for the short trip to Bonnie Brae. Five minutes later at 8:45 pm he was discovered lying in the street alongside his taxicab, shot once in the back of the head with a 25-caliber pistol. Blood spatter was evident on the right rear of the Yellow Cab near to the taillight, shown here in a crime scene photograph. It appeared that he had been subject to a violent assault just prior to the murder, with a tooth discovered on the front seat of the taxicab. Homicide Officer Joe La-Monica stated that his pockets had been gone through, but his watch remained on his wrist. Near to the body investigators found a single 25-caliber cartridge casing. 

An earwithness, Fred Perez of 557 N Bonnie Brae Street, described hearing "a sharp crack like a 22" rifle at about 8:45 pm and seeing the Yellow Cab parked on the street. A short time later the body of Conrad John Favreau lying face up was found by a passing motorist, David Lindsay (17) of 2941-A Los Flores Boulevard. The final entry on the trip sheet was detailed as 7th Street and Union Avenue to Bonnie Brae. An all-points bulletin was issued for "a man wearing white trousers and black shoes and possibly armed with a 25-caliber pistol".
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Not nearly as relevant to the Zodiac case as the 2017 discovery by Kristi Hawthorne, who unearthed a possible link to the Bay Area murders while searching through some old newspaper articles. Taxicab driver Ray Davis (29) on April 11th 1962 was discovered in an alley behind 1926 South Pacific Street in Oceanside, having been shot twice in his taxicab. The vehicle was later discovered parked at the 400 block of South Pacific Street. The perpetrator had killed Ray Davis, dumped his body and driven the taxicab away from the crime scene. However, the interesting part of the story is a telephone call to police two days before the murder in which the anonymous male stated “I am going to pull something here in Oceanside and you will never be able to figure it out".  On April 16th 1962, it appears the same man rang the Oceanside Police Department once again, stating “Do you remember me calling you last week and telling you that I was going to pull a real baffling crime? I killed the cab driver and I am going to get me a bus driver next". Youtube.
Robyne
2/7/2020 07:22:02 am

I personally think it'd be best not to look after any Texi Driver murder as it's 100% to be someone else than the fatso who went by "zodiac"; it's the most common prey for murderers. Sadly they're always "open" (and I know cases from my country here in the Levant) due to letting their intended-killers to sit behind them with the gun out of sight, no matter where you'd search this is how these murders take place, "zodiac" was not the guy who picked up on that method.

The only way to nail that fatso loser is by using forensic science, his boastful claims are mere BS, and sheer lies.

Richard
2/7/2020 11:28:38 am

I certainly am not suggesting a Zodiac link, moreover just highlighting another unsolved case only really covered via newspaper cuttings. Bringing it into article form can do no harm, which in reality is another sad case of a killer bearing no responsibility for the crime he committed. I have covered many female murders that are most certainly not the Zodiac Killer, but keeping them alive through coverage hopefully will help in some small way.

Shawn
2/8/2020 12:39:23 pm

Hi Richard,

I'm glad to see you back on the case with the clarity of 2020 at play.

I posted at ZKS the following regarding the Oceanside Murder...if you have not already read it.

"Ray’s body had been dumped in the alley behind 1926 South Pacific Street, the home of Oceanside’s former Mayor Joe MacDonald. Across the street was the home of Oceanside’s current Mayor Erwin Sklar."

Paul Stine was killed at Washington and Cherry in Presidio Heights. Joseph Alioto, the Mayor of San Francisco (Jan 1968 to Jan 1976) lived 1 block west on Washington at 34 Presidio Terrace.

I guess if you want to get the attention of a city. Get the attention of the Mayor if you can.

Regarding the 1954 Taxi murder. There is a remote chance this could be Zodiac since he was 40 in 1969. In addition I think the first influx of people from the east came to Los Angeles in the 1950's before places like S.F. became popular also.

Roger
2/10/2020 09:42:56 pm

"since he was 40 in 1969"

So you know this for a fact? :-O

BB
2/8/2020 03:12:03 pm

Very good find Shawn. Joseph L. Alioto, the Mayor of San Francisco straight on Washington. This was probably understood by Alioto. A man of Sicilian parents. He became a prominent antitrust lawyer then served two terms as mayor of San Francisco. But, he probably first thought he was being sent a message by some mob guy.

BB
2/8/2020 03:58:52 pm

Dan White's defense for murdering the mayor of San Francisco on November 27, 1978 is known as "the Twinkie defense" which worked to diminish his sentence to manslaughter. Even though he sneaked into the building - through a window - showing intent - White assassinated Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.

Shawn
2/8/2020 04:54:45 pm

Yea, the ole "Twinkie Defense" case is well known. I just learned about another S.F. Mayor who was shot.

The "Zebra Killers" terrorized/killed white people from 1973 to 1974.
The future mayor of S.F., Art Agnos (a social worker at the time) was shot by a Zebra killer on December 13th, 1973.

Art Agnos went on to be mayor of San Francisco from 1988 to 1992.

http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Mayor_Agnos_Shot

BB
2/8/2020 05:20:38 pm

"Vallejo in reprisal for alleged injuries to two North Richmond girls by members of a Vallejo Car Club at a Solano County picnic on July 1960"

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/32188151/oakland_tribune/

For the alleged injuries to the two North Richmond girls?
Was the Zodiac one of these North Richmond guys to go after revenge
on The Vallejo Car Club at a Solano County for the picnic injuries on July 1960.
Did that grudge extend to the murder of Darlene ten years later to July 1969?

Roger
2/10/2020 09:46:50 pm

A link to the Zodiac could end up being something as simple as this BB. The Zodiac was not a phantom as some presume. He was a real person as you suggest, who moved within his own social circles. It would not surprise me if he was involved in earlier crimes, but the connections may have never been put together by law enforcement.

Rubislaw 32 link
2/11/2020 11:00:05 pm

This is a good point about the connections not having been '' absorbed '' by LE , in the past ,Roger .

OK - we all have our own theories , but I see the biggest myth about the Zodiac was , that he moved about California . True in one sense , but where I believe LE have been short-sighted is not realising that the Zodiac kept coming to California , and leaving....then coming back , but not necessarily the same part of California .

That , in effect , California was a constant attraction to the Zodiac who , was actually from somewhere else ,originally .
.
One considers the time , culturally and artistically ( ? ) . And , particularly for a young man , with a curious disposition . Los Angeles and San Francisco became for a brief period , the '' Athens and Rome '' of its time . How could that not be attractive for many young folk , and ''sustainable '' if they , at least , could afford the upkeep of a motorcar ( ? ) .

BB
3/4/2020 02:50:44 pm

https://www.classiccarcatalogue.com/PLYMOUTH%201961.html

The four-door Taxi version of the 61 Plymouth Belvedere was Ray Davis's cab - make and model - the window center post will tell you the difference.

BB
2/16/2020 04:26:07 pm

Zodiac Killer Identified: Zodiac Killer Harden I think the Naysayers are DOOMED!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR3rEJE7SLs

A number of things are very suspicious about the Hardens.
Don Harden was The President of the Unitarian Universalist Church
The church logo is reminiscent of the Zodiac's sign.

blue belly
3/4/2020 10:59:22 am

Richard - Fresh lead

Police looking into claims by historian that Zodiac Killer may be responsible for 1962 Oceanside murder.
Kristi Hawthorne presented her case to Oceanside police saying she believes the murder of cab driver Ray Davis is a match to the Zodiac Killer’s profile.

https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/crime/police-looking-into-claims-by-historian-that-zodiac-killer-may-be-responsible-for-1962-oceanside-murder/509-06453d97-3244-478f-9160-3cd499ce2ec0


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