Victims Voices

The term ‘wrong place at the wrong time’ is used in an attempt to makes sense of the senseless. We need to reframe this narrative. Victims of crime are NOT in the wrong place at the wrong time. Victims of crime are doing what they have always done – living. The offenders, and only the offenders are wrong, in place, in time, in space, and in action

Kenneth Bianchi and his older cousin Angelo Buono took four months to permanently scar the lives of many. Their actions changed habits, altered behaviours, and impacted businesses. Buono had some behaviours of interest to criminologists and psychologists, some of them can be seen in Offender Curiosities.

The Scene

Location: Hollywood, LA

The scene from Google Maps

Yolanda Washington (19)

Yolanda was a happy girl “She probably had more fun out of life than I ever will” her sister, La Vette, once said.

Yolanda loved to dance, loved to be around people, loved to squeeze every moment out of life. She was caring, she had pride, she had self-esteem, she carried herself well1. Yolanda was a mother to a baby girl, Tameika. Yolanda’s own mum, Kathy, and sister, La Vette speak highly of Yolanda. “She was a happy girl, who loved pretty clothes. She was a good sewer.” So skilled at sewing that she would fix peoples clothes for them, as a way to earn a few dollars. Yolanda could also French braid to a high standard. She always looked impeccable, held herself with pride.

The newspaper is from the front page of the LA Times on the day that Yolanda’s body was discovered. Yolanda’s death didn’t get much media attention at first (The Missing Missing). Her death sent ripples out through a family and a community.

At 16 years old Yolanda gave birth to Tameika, after this she returned to school to graduate from Dorsey Continuation College. Then enrolled in The Sawyer School Inc, in Hollywood to undertake a secretarial course. While trying to support her daughter by working at IHOP, she achieved good grades but had a high absence rate and ended up withdrawing from the course.

Yolanda’s father, Harris, while divorced from her mother, still was involved in Yolanda life, and always tried to help her.

Her childhood friend, Jeanette Sullivan, was in contact with Yolanda right up until her death.

These strong connections tell a story of a woman, who, while struggling, still touched the lives of those around her.

Yolanda Washington was a woman, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend.

Mum - Catherine/Kathy Campbell

Dad - Harris Washington

Sister - LaVette Washington

Daughter – Tameika

Father of Child – Emilio Mercando Buchanan (unrelated murdered)

Lifelong friend - Jeanette Sullivan

1. Dr Doris Lee (Founder of Children of the Night) said this of Yolanda after she met her one night on the streets.

Judith Ann Miller (15)

Judith Miller is symbolised through the Hollywood sign. Not only did she attend Hollywood Highschool, the sign oversees the whole scene.. as a marker to the story. Judy is a marker in this story. A warrior right past her death, it was Judy that provided the first clue to the killers. Investigators found white polyester fibre on her eyelid that eventually tied the killers to her. The killers went to great lengths to wash and destroy all evidence of them on their victim’s – But Judy was going to be the one to bring them down.

Judy Miller is a warrior.

Judy was a 15-year-old, former Hollywood Highschool student, who had managed to come through some quite adverse experiences. Her father was a violent alcoholic, her mother was fairly absent. Judy raised herself. Although her parents report having Judy live with them, they resided in a low-cost motel and the ‘living with’ was sporadic. They had nothing to offer in terms of information about their daughter.

Judy looked after herself, she was a daughter, and a friend to those around her.

Family:

Mum

Dad

Friends

Elissa Teresa Kastin (21)

Elissa also worked at the Healthfaire Restaurant, as a way of supporting herself while her dreams to become a professional dancer got underway.

Her determination to become a professional dancer is highlighted in her determination to take on a founding member role in the formation and development of the all-female dance troupe LA KNOCKERS. Described by creator, Jennifer Stace as “Los Angeles hottest, flashiest, all-female dance experience”. They combined a variety of dance styles with the foundation in ballet and jazz.

Elissa worked hard, trained hard, and was a solid and reliable friend and daughter.

Family:

Mum: Maria J Castro

Dad: Bernard Kastin

Friends

Workmates

Dolores (Dolly) Cepeda (12) & Sonja Johnson (14)

The stickers depict the crest from St Ignatius School in Parkland, where Dolly and Sonja attended school.

Dolores (Dolly) and Sonja were school friends. They loved to socialise and often went to the Eagle Rock Plaza to hang out and shop and just be around their friends.

Sonja was the adopted daughter of Tony and Mary Johnson. Their small family was close, and Sonja was the centre of their world. Sonja was a daughter, friend,

Dolores was affectionately known by her family as Dolly. She was sweet and kind and made friends easily.

Daughters, sisters, friends

Sonja Family:

Dad: Tony Johnson

Mum: Mary Johnson

Dolly Family:

Dad: Antonia Gil Cepeda (?)

Mum:

Siblings:

Kristina Weckler (20)

Kristina was a quiet, serious and shy young lady, who was driven and had a bright future. She was loving and made friends easily, but was reserved in nature. Dad: Charles

This sign advertising the Pasadena Art Centre of Design symbolises Kristina Weckler who was an honours student there.

Evelyn Jane King (28)

Jane was an aspiring actress and scientologist.

Mother

The whole scene is symbolic of Jane King. Jane’s murder was the catalyst for the forming of a task force. Jane was abducted from this bus stop in front of Mayfair Markets after having some acting lessons across the road at the Scientology centre.

Lauren Wagner (18)

Kimberly Diane Martin (17)

Kimberly and her sister grew up in foster homes. Her sister said Kim was the ‘protector’, always looking out for her and protecting her wherever they went. Kim had her own sense of self protection and was smart and streetwise.

Sister

This sticker symbolises Kimberly Martin, a sex worker who joined the escort agency because she feared the Hill Side Stranglers. She was the one assigned to a call out by them.

This poster advertising the popular (at the time) dance troupe the LA KNOCKERS, symbolises Elissa Kastin. Elissa was a founding member of the dance troupe that performed for 12 years in total. Elissa is standing in the middle.

Lauren had just recently graduated from Monro Highschool and was attending Business College. She was a reliable and punctual and lived with her parents.

Mother

Father – Joe Wagner

Lauren is symbolised by this year book from the school where she recently graduated.

Cindy Lee Hudspeth (21)

Cindy was an excellent dancer. She won several dance contests and planned to give dance lessons as a way of both sharing her passion and earning some money. At nights Cindy worked at Glendale Community College where she was described by co-workers as ‘shy’ and ‘innocent’.

The dance lessons brochure symbolises Cindy as she was planning to give dance lessons.

Diane A Wilder (Clarke) (27)

Diane and Karen were victims of Bianchi, after he moved to Washington to “let things cool down a bit” (Buono). They are both warriors, their victimisation led to the capture of Bianchi and began the chain of events that led to the capture of both Offenders.

Western Washington University

Diane was a transfer student majoring in Dance at Fairhaven College in WWU.

Karen L Mandic (22)