CA CA - Skip, 55, & Joni Tillman, 51, La Canada, 7 Feb 2000

[SophieRose]

This is the corner of Oak Glen Rd and Fifth St. I'm surprised the bodies were located in such a populated area. The murderer must know the area well to have been so bold.

View attachment 74128

Here's a trailhead located at Oak Glen Rd and Fifth Street. One is a picture of three crosses.

http://alltrails.com/trail/us/california/zanja-peak-trail

http://nobodyhikesinla.com/2012/11/15/zanja-peak-from-oak-glen-road/

 

[bessie]

I wonder if the blood came from the neck wound.

I think that's a safe bet, and might be part of the reason LE indicated to tamijt that they believe Skip was forced to watch as Joni was killed (strangled). So cruel, and so personal. IMO, someone held a huge grudge against one or both of them. I think Fred&Edna is onto something with the suggestion of a past business associate, or a rival, perhaps. But surely LE would have investigated from that angle. Have they hit a dead end?

 

[Backwoods]

Ok me again, last question- do any sleuths know if tamjit4 can find out COD report and how they suspected this?

Pure speculation here: But -- as bessie noted earlier, and I so much agree, "shades of the Mcstay case" -- perhaps there was evidence Skip might have been bound or restrained in some way? (In the McStay case, info "leaked" soon after the family's remains were found that "at least one of the adults" was bound with electrical cord or wire. There has been speculation -- only -- that it was Joey who was bound and that that might mean he was alive and witnessing as his family was killed.)

 

[liz b.]

Did the couple own a home before they moved into the rental house that they were living in when they were abducted ? If so, why did they decide to rent ? tia to anyone who might know.

Just read StarrChance's post #33, if the couple wanted to protect assets in the event of a legal judgement perhaps they sold their home to do so, and rented a house.

 

[fred&edna]

FWIW: I've searched only briefly, but the only address I could find was 329 Lawson Place, Glendale. Maybe someone else can search property records and provide additional info. (It's been a long day, and I'm all kinds of tired)
The Lawson Place address is associated with several businesses:

Caltax
The Bubbling Lady of California (I'm curious what this was?!)
STR & Associates
RMS Investments LLC

 

[SophieRose]

FWIW: I've searched only briefly, but the only address I could find was 329 Lawson Place, Glendale. Maybe someone else can search property records and provide additional info. (It's been a long day, and I'm all kinds of tired)
The Lawson Place address is associated with several businesses:

Caltax
The Bubbling Lady of California (I'm curious what this was?!)
STR & Associates
RMS Investments LLC

I also found Joan's father Ray associated with that address. He died in 1997. Maybe he lived with them after his wife died in 1995.

House shows last sold late Sep 1999, but have no idea who the owner/sellers were.

 

[SophieRose]

http://articles.glendalenewspress.c...8_1_bodies-la-canada-flintridge-remote-area/2

The Tillmans lived in Glendale from 1986 until October, when they moved to La Canada Flintridge.

 

[StarrChance]

tamjit4
The "Karol Eller" mentioned seemed to be a close friend as she was mentioned as frantic with worry, perhaps she knows more being close to the case at the time? Just a thought if you wanted to try and find her.

http://articles.latimes.com/2000/feb/19/local/me-430

 

[fred&edna]

tamjit4
The "Karol Eller" mentioned seemed to be a close friend as she was mentioned as frantic with worry, perhaps she knows more being close to the case at the time? Just a thought if you wanted to try and find her.

http://articles.latimes.com/2000/feb/19/local/me-430

Karol Eller, I think he was a business partner (Caltax Specialists) as well as friend... and I agree, he could have additional info.

http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Simi-Valley/karol-l-eller/42592970.aspx

 

[liz b.]

FWIW: I've searched only briefly, but the only address I could find was 329 Lawson Place, Glendale. Maybe someone else can search property records and provide additional info. (It's been a long day, and I'm all kinds of tired)
The Lawson Place address is associated with several businesses:

Caltax
The Bubbling Lady of California (I'm curious what this was?!)
STR & Associates
RMS Investments LLC

Skip Tillman was the registered agent for The Bubbling Lady. I could not find out what exactly this business was, but the owner, Sal M. appeared to have been domiciled in FL. The business existed for 36 years and 7 months...FWIW

 

[liz b.]

According to this the dog was well groomed however it's interesting it says he called the sheriffs department who then called the number?

There is mention (from Kaye the solicitor) of land deals and "dealing with wrong people"
Did you talk with the detective Jiles?

http://www.newsmirror.net/news/article_f2b2adce-b884-5f1e-a827-7fb88d125811.html?mode=jqm

ETA Sorry just reread posts and dog question was explained on post 8

Kaye also made the comment that " But there was something else they were doing", in reference to possible dealings with "the wrong people" It sounds more like something he knew than something he was speculating about, but jmo.

 

[liz b.]

Please forgive the OT, but I cannot help but to point out some similarities. The set up to make it appear the couple left on their own; their vehicle found away from home; buried 75-100 miles from home; multiple possibilities for a motive; dates of disappearance ten years apart almost to the day -- Feb 6 and Feb 4. And yet I don't recall reading about the Tillmans, not even when I searched for family abductions.

In the McStay case, the dogs were left behind, which was a huge clue that the family didn't leave voluntarily. In this case, Teddy was taken -- light bulb moment *duh* -- as part of the plan. Had he been found at home, everyone immediately would have known something was wrong. The killer(s) just didn't count on anyone coming along by chance to find him.

This is such an awful tragedy for the Tillman family, as with the McStays. My heart goes out to our new member, tamijt4. May this be the year you find answers.

OT,sorry : I believe that the person responsible for the brutal murders of the McStay family is sitting in jail at this time, waiting for his day in court, but jmo I hope the killer(s) of this family will also be apprehended. It sounds very personal, this killing. jmo

 

[Backwoods]

Skip Tillman was the registered agent for The Bubbling Lady. I could not find out what exactly this business was, but the owner, Sal M. appeared to have been domiciled in FL. The business existed for 36 years and 7 months...FWIW

Just someone please assure me that The Bubbling Lady had nothing to do with fountains...

 

[SophieRose]

With regard to location and vehicle, I was told by detectives on my visit "it appears that the perpetrators were intending to make it look as if they had left the country, however they neglected to remove the bag of personal identification from under the seat of their vehicle." I want to say they found the vehicle at or near an airport.

Car was parked less than three miles from the Van Nuys airport, which only has private planes, no airlines. Three miles would be a long way to walk so doesn't seem like perp/s were making it look like the couple left by plane.

 

[liz b.]

Just someone please assure me that The Bubbling Lady had nothing to do with fountains...

I think it's safe to say she was not a fountaineer. My guess would be a burlesque dancer, but jmo FWIW I don't think it was business related. Someone closer maybe. jmo moo

 

[SophieRose]

I think it's safe to say she was not a fountaineer. My guess would be a burlesque dancer, but jmo FWIW I don't think it was business related. Someone closer maybe. jmo moo

Bubbling Lady of California was incorporated in Oct 1978 by Skip Tillman. Status says FTB suspended.

https://www.ftb.ca.gov/businesses/faq/728.shtml

We suspend businesses for at least one of the following reasons:
•Failure to file one or more tax returns.
•Nonpayment of taxes and penalties, including the SOS penalty, fees, and interest.

 

[liz b.]

Bubbling Lady of California was incorporated in Oct 1978 by Skip Tillman. Status says FTB suspended.

https://www.ftb.ca.gov/businesses/faq/728.shtml

We suspend businesses for at least one of the following reasons:
•Failure to file one or more tax returns.
•Nonpayment of taxes and penalties, including the SOS penalty, fees, and interest.

It was owned by a guy domiciled in FL, and Skip Tillman was the registered agent ?

 

[SophieRose]

It was owned by a guy domiciled in FL, and Skip Tillman was the registered agent ?

Sorry yes he was the registered agent but doesn't show who owned it. Glendale address was not only the address of the agent but also the entity.

 

[bessie]

I think it's safe to say she was not a fountaineer. My guess would be a burlesque dancer, but jmo FWIW I don't think it was business related. Someone closer maybe. jmo moo

I thought it might be related to champagne bottlers/distributors.

 

[SophieRose]

I thought it might be related to champagne bottlers/distributors.

I immediately thought of champagne too. Can't find any more on it though.

Found something. Suspended in Mar 1992.

http://www.wysk.com/index/california/glendale/yb7fyel/bubbling-lady-of-california/profile