In the Percy case, the first cop to investigate the backyard saw footprints in the dew that went down the bluff in a southerly direction. They continued in the sand, in the same direction, until they disappeared into the water. The bayonet was found about 700 feet down the beach in the direction of the footprints, and about 40 feet out, or as they said about as far as someone could throw it. You have to keep in mind that Kenilworth, Illinois was in those days (and may still be) like the 3rd richest community in the country. The scenario of someone walking around there at 5 a.m. on a Sunday morning with a bayonet would seem to scream crazy. I grew up a mile from there. I know people who have places on that beach. They said in the mid sixties those beaches were always being crashed by area kids (big families back then.) This happened at the tail end of summer. The idea that this knife, which is in the huge category, matched wounds found on the victim, and would have been sitting out there just 40 feet out and four feet down, in the direction of those footprints, in that kind of town for very long with all of those kids using those beaches, in that kind of community, at that time of year...seems remote. No prints and blood (would have obviously been gone after three days in the lake) but it seems the cops (and Coast Guard) were searching with such determination because they were pretty sure they were going to find something relevant. I think it's pretty clear they did. Such a knife being used in the Zodiac attack is interesting as the suspect had ties to Percy's neighborhood and the Bay Area, was a suspect in several murders, was crazy and violent (see bayonet carrying offender in Kenilworth at 5 a.m. on a Sunday), obsessed with military weaponry, and for such a knife to be used to attack someone in a place like Kenilworth or Lake Berryessa (if not anywhere else outside of a battlefield or military base) would be all but unheard of.
IL IL - Valerie Percy, 21, Kenilworth, 18 September 1966 #2
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There have been many cases attributed to the unknown serial killer known as Zodiac. There have been many books and websites dedicated to the subject.
The most solid evidence would indicate that Zodiac committed a series of four attacks which resulted in five deaths and two seriously wounded victims. Writers and investigators have suggested many other murders and crimes as being associated with Zodiac, and the person (or persons) claiming to be Zodiac indicated that there were more in his many letters to police and newspapers.
But addressing just those four attacks which are most solidly accepted as the actual work of "Zodiac", it is noted that they took place between December 1968 and October 1969. Four different firearms were used during the course of each of those attacks. During the third attack, which took place at Lake Berryessa, California, one of the two victims, Bryan Hartnell, did survive.
He described the assailant as being hooded and armed with both an automatic pistol, and a foot-long bayonet-type knife which had a wooden handle with brass rivets or screws through the handle. The sheath holding the knife was described as made of wood.
After tying up the two Lake Berryessa victims, the assailant stabbed them numerous times with the described knife. No weapon was found at the crime scene at the time. Some months (or years?) later, a Lee Metford bayonet was found by an individual at Lake Berryessa, but it was not (to my knowledge) connected officially to the attack or identified by LE as the murder weapon.
Here are photos of bayonets which are similar to the Lake Berryessa weapon described by the victim:
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Lee Metford Bayonet with sheath
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Canadian P1893 Bayonet:
British 1888 trial sword bayonet (top) with two examples of the Canadian P1893 sword bayonet
----------------------------------------------
British Lee Metford Bayonet of Boer War time:
The most solid evidence would indicate that Zodiac committed a series of four attacks which resulted in five deaths and two seriously wounded victims. Writers and investigators have suggested many other murders and crimes as being associated with Zodiac, and the person (or persons) claiming to be Zodiac indicated that there were more in his many letters to police and newspapers.
But addressing just those four attacks which are most solidly accepted as the actual work of "Zodiac", it is noted that they took place between December 1968 and October 1969. Four different firearms were used during the course of each of those attacks. During the third attack, which took place at Lake Berryessa, California, one of the two victims, Bryan Hartnell, did survive.
He described the assailant as being hooded and armed with both an automatic pistol, and a foot-long bayonet-type knife which had a wooden handle with brass rivets or screws through the handle. The sheath holding the knife was described as made of wood.
After tying up the two Lake Berryessa victims, the assailant stabbed them numerous times with the described knife. No weapon was found at the crime scene at the time. Some months (or years?) later, a Lee Metford bayonet was found by an individual at Lake Berryessa, but it was not (to my knowledge) connected officially to the attack or identified by LE as the murder weapon.
Here are photos of bayonets which are similar to the Lake Berryessa weapon described by the victim:
--------------------------------------------
Lee Metford Bayonet with sheath
-------------------------------------
Canadian P1893 Bayonet:
British 1888 trial sword bayonet (top) with two examples of the Canadian P1893 sword bayonet
----------------------------------------------
British Lee Metford Bayonet of Boer War time:
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Correction: The attacks at Lake Berryessa took place on Saturday 27 September 1969. Cecelia died in hospital less than 48 hours later on 29 September.
Note that this was 9 days after the 3rd anniversary of the attack on Valerie Percy.
Valerie Jeanne Percy
BIRTH 10 Dec 1944
Alameda County, California, USA
DEATH 18 Sep 1966 (aged 21)
Kenilworth, Cook County, Illinois, USA
BURIAL
Oak Hill Cemetery
Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA
PLOT Magnolia, Cremation Niche 3244.
LINK:
Valerie Jeanne Percy (1944-1966) - Find A Grave...
Possible Suspect...
William Thoresen III was named as a suspect in the book Sympathy Vote. The author Glenn Wall states in his 2013 book on the Valerie Percy murder that Thoreson was first suspected by his probation officer in 1966. He writes that when police attempted to speak with William Thoresen he was uncooperative and unwilling to be interviewed...
... At the time of the murder, William Thoresen was no longer living at the family home and was, in fact, living in San Francisco (an interesting side note is that some consider Thoresen as a suspect in the Zodiac Murders). Glenn Wall claims in his book that he would frequently visit his family back in Kenilworth so it’s possible he was in the area at the time of the murder...
... A weapons haul was found by police belonging to Thoresen a few months after the murder. Among the weapons were some bayonets, similar to the one found in Lake Michigan. The link alone seems a slight stretch but when you add it to the fact that the bayonet found was never able to be officially linked with the murder anyway it makes it almost negligible...
LINK:
Valerie Percy - The Unsolved Murder Of A Politician’s Daughter | Unsolved Casebook
William Thoresen III was named as a suspect in the book Sympathy Vote. The author Glenn Wall states in his 2013 book on the Valerie Percy murder that Thoreson was first suspected by his probation officer in 1966. He writes that when police attempted to speak with William Thoresen he was uncooperative and unwilling to be interviewed...
... At the time of the murder, William Thoresen was no longer living at the family home and was, in fact, living in San Francisco (an interesting side note is that some consider Thoresen as a suspect in the Zodiac Murders). Glenn Wall claims in his book that he would frequently visit his family back in Kenilworth so it’s possible he was in the area at the time of the murder...
... A weapons haul was found by police belonging to Thoresen a few months after the murder. Among the weapons were some bayonets, similar to the one found in Lake Michigan. The link alone seems a slight stretch but when you add it to the fact that the bayonet found was never able to be officially linked with the murder anyway it makes it almost negligible...
LINK:
Valerie Percy - The Unsolved Murder Of A Politician’s Daughter | Unsolved Casebook
Darned good read. Ms Thoreson (wife ) Wrote a book after William died. Very interesting. They had a son, always hope he inherited enough for a good therapist.
If memory serves (it's been a while) title is It Gave us all something to do. I can say I have never read anything quite like it. Out of print was hard to find. One of my eBay book sellers found it for me.
Wm Thoreson was a human time bomb JMO. Have seen him mentioned and possibly tied to several incidents LE thought were linked to Zodiac.
These families are part Chicago crime legends. Thanks @Richard . Was reminded about the weapons "collection" . This guy had some infamous friends and associates
Yes, I read the book a couple years ago. The author has posted here, right? I have the same reservations about Thoresen. There's some doubt about whether the bayonet found in the lake was the murder weapon and they were never able to place him in the Chicago area at the time of Valerie's murder. Many other characteristics and habits of Thoresen are a good fit, though, including his burglarizing other homes in the neighborhood. He was one crazy, violent person. No boundaries.
Part of me still thinks it was a random creep who followed her home on the train and waited outside until after dark to break in. The most unusual part, though, was breaking into the home and assaulting her while the house was literally full of people.
Knowing more about the weapon would help. Was it something the killer brought with them or something found in the home? What if there was a temporary house guest that night? Just throwing out some ideas.
Sen Percy and family have kept hold of the circumstances of this terrible crime all these years. Powerful man with powerful associates. Must have been such a burden on the siblings. Sad still .. the investigation was done by small police force in very upscale area ...JMO.
There was some very unusual persons possibly in the area at that time. Valerie should have justice
There was some very unusual persons possibly in the area at that time. Valerie should have justice
Here's a link to one of Windward's posts from 2011. Pretty sure Windward wrote the book Sympathy Vote, or knows the author.
IL - IL - Valerie Percy, 21, Kenilworth, 18 September 1966
The fact the Percy family doesn't want the case to be re-investigated or DNA testing done says something, JMO.
IL - IL - Valerie Percy, 21, Kenilworth, 18 September 1966
The fact the Percy family doesn't want the case to be re-investigated or DNA testing done says something, JMO.
No probem. I was just reading an AP news story published in the Southern Illinoisan a year after the murder. It's one of those big summary articles. Some things that stand out, mostly noted by the reporter/editor:
- The dog (a Labrador) didn't bark, but when the first LEO on the scene went running to the front door, the dog came running up barking, etc. like it was going to attack. According to investigators, no one in the house knew where the dog was during the murder, he may have been out roaming around the neighborhood, in the garage, etc.
- The patio door where the glass was cut and entrance allegedly made was a seldom used door. It had a grand piano in front of it and the piano or other furniture in the area showed no scratches or anything knocked over. Whom ever came in that way (if they did) had to know the layout of the house very well without bumping into stuff.
- There was no sign of disarray in the house. The twin bed next to Valerie's in her bedroom wasn't even mussed. No drawers were pulled out, cabinets open, etc. to indicate a burglary
- The description Valerie's step mother gave of the attacker was detailed enough for LE to do a sketch, but the guy in the sketch is wearing glasses. Valerie's step mom (from what I can read) didn't mention him wearing glasses during the inquest.
- Coroner thought she died from the first blow to her head, some speculated the wound from the bottom of the handle of the dagger (I'm not sure, its an awkward way to hold a weapon, size not very big MOO)
- The Coroner states the Percy family sent him thank you notes commending how the inquest was done in good taste. News media points out there were few probing questions in the transcript. Reporter said the hearing transcripts were pretty much the same thing stated in press releases from the family and coroner. Not much information. Five witnesses were called, only one of them an LEO - the local officer Gary Wolff.
From a news article the day after the murder, Valerie's step mom is quoted as saying she couldn't tell if the killer was a man or woman, that she couldn't see them that well.
This article also mentions someone named James Mann being at the house for dinner, along with Friedman. Later mention of Calvin Fenster III being there. Was he left out in media reports at first?
19 Sep 1966, 8 - Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com
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Sympathy Vote: a Reinvestigation of the Valerie Percy Murder
by Glenn Wall
A dark morning. Waves on Lake Michigan. An elegant home on the beach, and a senatorial candidate at home with his close knit family in one of Chicago's wealthiest suburbs. This is the unlikely setting for the most notorious, and baffling cold case murder of the 1960s. Valerie Percy...pretty, smart, 21 years old and a key aide for her father, Charles Percy... beaten and stabbed to death by an intruder. The only witness - her stepmother. The killer escaped to a beach and disappeared into thin air. Glenn Wall revisits...
LINK:
https://www.amazon.com/Sympathy-Vote-Reinvestigation-Valerie-Murder-ebook/dp/B00GDIX2JY
by Glenn Wall
A dark morning. Waves on Lake Michigan. An elegant home on the beach, and a senatorial candidate at home with his close knit family in one of Chicago's wealthiest suburbs. This is the unlikely setting for the most notorious, and baffling cold case murder of the 1960s. Valerie Percy...pretty, smart, 21 years old and a key aide for her father, Charles Percy... beaten and stabbed to death by an intruder. The only witness - her stepmother. The killer escaped to a beach and disappeared into thin air. Glenn Wall revisits...
LINK:
https://www.amazon.com/Sympathy-Vote-Reinvestigation-Valerie-Murder-ebook/dp/B00GDIX2JY
US M1 Bayonet Handle
Here are two views of the handle of an M1 bayonet like the one found behind the Percy house in the lake. One can see how it is shaped to fit the hand.
It could either be attached to the end of a military rifle or could be used in the hand as a combat type knife.
Notice that the pommel area at the back of the handle was designed to keep the bayonet from slipping out of the hand and it is also a rather strong piece of steel which would inflict a serious injury if some one were to be struck with it. Besides holding the bayonet in the hand as you would a dagger or knife, one could also grasp the blade - the edge of which was not normally sharpened, and swing the weapon like a hammer.
LINK:
AFH M1 Garand Bayonet -- BROWN GRIPS -- - EDGED WEAPONS
Here are two views of the handle of an M1 bayonet like the one found behind the Percy house in the lake. One can see how it is shaped to fit the hand.
It could either be attached to the end of a military rifle or could be used in the hand as a combat type knife.
Notice that the pommel area at the back of the handle was designed to keep the bayonet from slipping out of the hand and it is also a rather strong piece of steel which would inflict a serious injury if some one were to be struck with it. Besides holding the bayonet in the hand as you would a dagger or knife, one could also grasp the blade - the edge of which was not normally sharpened, and swing the weapon like a hammer.
LINK:
AFH M1 Garand Bayonet -- BROWN GRIPS -- - EDGED WEAPONS
US M1 Bayonet Handle
Here are two views of the handle of an M1 bayonet like the one found behind the Percy house in the lake. One can see how it is shaped to fit the hand.
It could either be attached to the end of a military rifle or could be used in the hand as a combat type knife.
Notice that the pommel area at the back of the handle was designed to keep the bayonet from slipping out of the hand and it is also a rather strong piece of steel which would inflict a serious injury if some one were to be struck with it. Besides holding the bayonet in the hand as you would a dagger or knife, one could also grasp the blade - the edge of which was not normally sharpened, and swing the weapon like a hammer.
LINK:
AFH M1 Garand Bayonet -- BROWN GRIPS -- - EDGED WEAPONS
Ok, that's the part that confuses me. If the dagger part was sharp enough to inflict 11 stab wounds to her chest, face, neck, etc. wouldn't the blade be too sharp to grasp and to bludgeon?
Not usually. On a military issue bayonet of this type, only the point is sharpened - specifically for stabbing and thrusting. The top of the blade is wide and not sharp at all, and the "knife edge" part of the blade is not really sharp. You could grasp it and not cut yourself.
There are conflicting accounts as to whether or not the bayonet found in the lake actually matched the wounds found on Valerie. If a comparison was actually made or suggested by the ME, then it is strange why the investigators did not conclusively state that it was the murder weapon.
While it is understandable that the bayonet found might not have blood or hair or fingerprints on it to forensically link it to the wounds, what would be the chances that Valerie would be assaulted with such a weapon, and then another identical one be tossed in the lake behind her house?
While it is understandable that the bayonet found might not have blood or hair or fingerprints on it to forensically link it to the wounds, what would be the chances that Valerie would be assaulted with such a weapon, and then another identical one be tossed in the lake behind her house?