First of all, I'm so happy I found this site and to see recent posts as I keep coming up short handed when searching his tragic end. This is a case that has bothered me for practically my entire life. I went to school with Russell from '75 to '77 but knew him long before school started from our neighbor. We lived within the same mile and I saw him all the time. We weren't close so to speak but as we were both the "short kids" in school we often ended up together. He was a sweet a kid, he a smart *advertiser censored* (in the best way) but he never lacked that good energy. All my adolescent memories aside, here's why I'm posting here and looking to get my information to where it needs to be as it always seemed an injustice no one ever listened to what I had to say about his last sighting:
So far, the reports I've read say that he was last seen July 17th around 5pm near Huntington beach and main st. I believe - However the last time I visually saw Russell was indeed on the 17th of July but much later than previously reported. Here is exactly what I remember after all this time (hoping and praying this helps is SOME way as its weighed heavy on my mind) July 17th 1977, a few days after my birthday, My 2 sisters and I left the house around noon headed to Huntington Beach for the day, we had snuck out of the house because my sister was pregnant at that time and wasn't allowed out to avoid embarrassment of my mother/family since she was a young mother and our mom was strict. We spent the whole day there but I never visually saw Russy at the beach that day. My sisters and I lost track of time and realized it was much later than we thought, our mother was going to get home from work and notice that the 3 of us were gone, so we hustled on home as fast as we could. We were driving home in my sisters old beat-up car, I was in the backseat it was around (ATLEAST) 7:45pm to 8:45pm I KNOW it was late because it was getting very dark. Unsure of the exact time but it was summer in L.A. so I believe it to be between those times if not later.
We were making a right hand turn on the corner of Beach & Valley (I'm pretty sure those are the streets I just haven't been to L.A. in a long time since I moved right after this happened) I know there is a popular carwash on that corner and an ice skating rink I used to take lessons at which I'm pretty sure that's all long gone by now. Anyways, As my sister made the right hand turn heading home, I saw Russell. Clear as day... He was hitchhiking with his right thumb up and his boogie board up leaned against his left leg to his knee. Now I've discovered that he had his skateboard with him that I originally thought was his boogieboard at the time. He was wearing one of those white and blue striped shirts that had a pocket on it with the 2 footprints that were trendy at the time , but I don't think he was wearing the cords like they said in the paper. I distinctly recall he was wearing his pukka shell necklace that he always wore as well. Anyways, I said to my sisters as we turned the corned "there's my friend Russell ! lets stop and give him a ride" but at that point we were already around that corner and too far, not to mention incredibly late and most definitely is BIG trouble with our mom. It was a race against time for us but little did I know that one choice to not go back would end up bothering me my whole life. I wish so badly I would've stopped and given him that ride. Last I saw of him were headlights illuminating his outline and seeing him put his thumb down. I remember thinking "Oh, someone must've stopped for him" .
additionally; I have no idea if anyone else told the police or the news this but Russell BRAGGED about someone approaching him and another boy, a man saying he was going to pay him big this summer for "surfing pictures" for a surfing magazine. He told me the guy was rich and was going to pay him major money of pictures of him surfing, I remember kind of laughed it off since Russell was a short kid and not exactly the magazine surfer type, he responded by saying "You'll see! I'm gonna make alotta money this summer, you're gonna see, you're gonna see! its gonna be big!" - He was excited about it. He said the male photographer approached him at "the beach" which I assume is the beach we all went to, Huntington beach.
No one ever questioned me at the time and the whole situation seemed to get swept under the rug so fast, no one wanted to talk or hear about it. I've tried countless times to tell the police, investigators and who ever else will listen what I saw and heard with very little luck. To make it worse is I moved away right after all this happened. But I am 100% certain of the date and I've narrowed down the time. I know it was the 17th of July because it was right after my birthday, my sister was pregnant and close to giving birth to her first child and I also noted it our year book. I tried again recently to talk to Glendora police but the guy on the other end just gave me lip service and never called me back.
I just need to get this off my chest so someone, somewhere will know when he was really last seen and where. Its small things like that that help with the time frame and helps to exclude others that they are trying to pin it on. I have so many fond memories of Russell, he really was a good kid and a good friend. I've made sure to keep his name present in my family all these years since. I don't want him to be forgotten.
If anyone can help me get this info to where it needs to be let me know I need all the help I can get. Thank you!
