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Unsolved Mysteries in the Valley
By Cindy Ferraino

The intrigue of unsolved mysteries can captivate anyone's attention. Unexplained appearance and disappearances, traces of evidence offering a slight glimpse of the who, what, where and why, leads running cold too quickly, and calculating scenes to gruesome for a weak stomach or the faint of heart-all things that create the perfect plot for unsolved mysteries.

Television shows like Unsolved Mysteries, Law and Order Series, CSI, Cold Case and Dateline have brought the drama surrounding mysterious cases into our lives and soon we become hooked on trying to find out more about these cold files. These unsolved quandaries have remained buried inside the dusty file cabinets of local, state, and national government law enforcement agencies.

Like most towns and cities throughout the United States, there are always a slew of unsolved mysteries that keep current and former officers wondering when they will be able to "close" down the file.

When it comes to the communities of the San Fernando and Conejo Valleys, there is no exception to this fact. Traveling through the scenic picturesque streets and roadways of the valley, you can forget about the secrets that lurk behind the homes and hills.

Ghost tours throughout the valley boast about seeing paranormal activity stirred up in the houses and buildings. Because of the popularity of the television show "Ghost Hunters", many people join forces with certified ghost hunters to find out if paranormal activity lies in their houses. Because of the Hollywood connection, many authors have written books about the ghosts and hauntings from Glendale, Burbank and all over the valley.

For many American children especially those lucky to live in California (for a glimpse to see the stars in action), the Brady Bunch show filled our family rooms and dens with the ideal sitcom lifestyle. As this writer recalls (yes, I can admit that I watched the Bradys too), one episode in particular had a few of the Brady's playing practical jokes on each other about life living beyond the posh pad of the Brady clan. As a kid growing up during that time warp, you almost believed it for a second or maybe a minute (depending on what your attention span was) that the Brady's could be on to something. So, you can chalk it up to the art of the television episode climax about the possibility of visitors landing on this planet or is there someone truly watching us? Like any grandparent cautions you, you always have someone watching over you. I guess that is true but what about UFO's? There are many reports of UFO sightings-except for that of the free spirit in Colorado who decided to create a media stir for his latest invention. In addition to reporting suspicious life forms other than the neighbor's cat lurking through your trash cans to law enforcement agencies, many people have turned to the internet to share their concerns with the rest of the world. Ufoinfo.com has listings about unusual activity reported all over the world. The San Fernando Valley and Conejo Valley have faithful visitors who have documented what they have seen. The site also links you to more information about UFO's.

Although he never publicly admitted it, former President and actor Ronald Reagan had an encounter with a UFO sighting in 1985. Said Reagan in 1985, "If suddenly there were a threat to this world from some other species from another planet, we'd forget all the little local differences that we have between our two countries, and we would find out once and for all that we really are all human beings on the Earth together." Other stars have been reported to also mention possible UFO sightings too.

Something else could have landed at LAX in the 1950's and beyond. The first UFO sighting was recorded on July 15, 1952. Since that time, other sightings have been reported from 1966, 1973, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2002 and 2003.

Alien implants found in a surgeon's office in Ventura on August 19, 2005. Dr. Roger Leir removed the implants from the bodies of three alien abductees. Since that time, he has performed over a dozen surgeries to remove alien implants. Leir is published a book entitled "The Aliens and The Scalpel". In prior interviews, Dr Leir has reported "If these scientifically derived results are not disproven by subsequent analysis, then we can safely conclude that some individuals with abduction histories have artificially manufactured objects in their bodies of a demonstrably extraterrestrial origin."

Beginning with the robberies made by a band of bandits led by Tiburcio Vasquez in 1800's, these crimes creeped throughout the plush start of the San Fernando Valley. It has been reported that Vasquez buried three bags of pure gold in the hills of Santa Susana Mountains. For 23 years, Vazquez and his band of thieves terrorized Southern California without being caught until someone got a little wise. A visit to the San Fernando Rey Mission home of Don Andres Pico by State Senate member Charles Maclay resulted in the nabbing of a known bandit who fell under the radar. Maclay realized the person in the dark room was Vasquez. He alerted Pico about the stranger in the night.

Once settlers began gravitating towards San Fernando, the big boom of the 1900's brought growth and prestige to the Valley. Movies began to hit the big screen and beautiful homes dotted the landscape including those surrounding Toluca Lake. Toluca Lake became the hometown for one famous female aviator by the name of Amelia Earhart. Earhart love for flying garnished her with head strong wisdom to become an accomplished aviator and author. Earhart was the first woman to fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean and to receive the "Distinguished Flying Cross". This medal is presented to honorable members of the United States Air Forces. She served on the aviation faculty at Purdue University. She was instrumental in forming the Ninety-Nines (which is the International Organization of Women Pilots).

The Kansas born native Amelia Earhart landed out in California with her husband George Putnam. Putnam was working with Paramount Pictures. What serves now as one of the most unsolved mysteries in history is how San Fernando Valley resident Amelia Earhart disappeared without a trace. On July 2, 1937 Earhart and her flight companion Southern California resident Fred Noonan left the town called Lae out of New Guinea and was headed back home to the United States. Earhart and Noonan never made it back to the United States and their mysterious disappearance still leaves questions unanswered. The official date of the search and recovery of Earhart's aircraft ended on July 19, 1937. Theories of pilot errors, fuel depletion, conflict in Saipan, the so-called FDR involvement and the biggest one of all-Earhart survived and living under a different name in New Jersey. With so many wild tales that surfaced about what really happened to Amelia Earhart, it will always remain an unsolved mystery of a famous San Fernando Valley resident.

The rush of hip decades(1950's-1970's) brought a host of unsolved mysteries that have gone down in history books, retold by crime authors or even found on some neat internet websites.

In 1959, an apparent hit on known bookie in Sherman Oaks took place right in the front of the eyes of the person who may have hit the button. Jack (The Enforcer) Whelan was killed on Ventura Boulevard while Mickey Cohen was in the area of the murder. Cohen was believed to have taken the hit out on Whelan. Authorities went after Cohen but a Cohen associate folded for the murder. Cohen was identified again for new evidence but still no conviction. What remains is the mystery of this whodunit-Cohen or someone else? So many people copped for the murder and the only thing Cohen got was a trip to prison because he was paying dear old Uncle Sam his due share.

No one will ever forget August 9, 1969 except for the people who were not born but have been told about through history. On August 9, 1969, a very pregnant actress Sharon Tate was murdered in her home on the outskirts of the San Fernando Valley. Tate was married to the famous Roman Polanski and was the star of the famous movie "Valley of the Dolls". Although this crime finally was solved, the length of time before the case was closed left so many open unanswered questions that have continued long after this crime was committed.

The 1970's in the San Fernando/Conejo Valley opened up a new wave of unsolved mysteries. In 1977, the bubbly appearance of towns in Southern California turned tragic during the string of murders known as "The Hillside Stranglers". Reported as a media hype "The Hillside Stranglers" involved the killings of young woman from fall 1979-early 1978. The rash of killings caused widespread panic and fear these murdering of these girls would be unsolved. Soon, police did arrest cousins Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, Jr. but the terror they caused left a sting that caused the believe the girls killers would not be brought to justice.

In 1979, Victor "Vic" Weiss was about to make one of those deals that could have the biggest in his career. Weiss was working on bringing then University of Nevada basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian to take the helm for the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal was going down at the Beverly Comstock Hotel. After his meeting with Jack Kent Cooke (owner of the Lakers) and Jerry Buss (potential buyer for the Lakers), Weiss was on his way to his home in Encino. When Weiss did not return home, suspicions of his whereabouts came to light. On June 17, 1979, his car was found in the parking lot of a North Hollywood hotel. Inside the trunk of Weiss's Rolls Royce was the body of the owner of the Rolls-Vic Weiss.

Since that time, no one has been charged with the murder of Vic Weiss. There were leads that turned up dry, questions into Weiss's business dealings with Tarkanian, Cooke and Buss (which later turned up nothing) and ideas about Weiss's alleged gambling debts. This case has gone down in the books as one of San Fernando's Valley most interesting as well as unsolvable mystery.

Putting past the string of unsolved cases in the 1970's seemed to be on the minds of everyone but an interesting murders in 1981, 1983 and 1986 left the window of unsolved opportunities to open up right into the present.

In July 1981, the Wonderland Gang murders followed the break-in at businessman Eddie Nash's home. Some of the Wonderland Gang members were responsible for the hit on Nash's home. Well known Porn Star actor John Holmes was loosely associated Nash and was found present at Nash's house and at the home of the Wonderland Gang murders.

Nash and Holmes were questioned in the murders and released. What remains is the mystery is how come Holmes was spared in the murders.

In March 1983, 17 year old Sherman Oaks resident Bruce Lisker came home to find his 66 year old mother's lifeless body on the floor of the family home. Lisker was charged with Dorka Lisker's murder and received a life sentence. Recently, his conviction was overturned to the claim that Lisker was charged using "false evidence". Lisker has served over 26 years in prison for his mother's murder. When Lisker leaves jail, the details surrounding his mother's death would continue to be a mystery.

In 1986, Sherri Rasmussen was brutally murdered in her home in Los Angeles. Because of the nature of the crime, Rasmussen's homicide was listed as unsolved. For over 23 years, the Los Angeles Police Department tried to close the case on this unsolved crime until now. A San Fernando Valley detective's wife and fellow police officer has been identified as the killer through a DNA sample that matched bite marks on Rasmussen's body. Detective Stephanie Lazarus is charged with a murder that can finally be marked as "solved". Lazarus was also a police officer in San Fernando Valley.

Fast forward to the new millennium-2000 and beyond. The San Fernando and Conejo Valley have unsolved mysteries that may head into the next decade.

In 2000, a San Fernando Valley couple was found murdered in Yucaipa. The bodies of 55 year old Harold "Skip" Tillman and 51 year old Joni Tillman were discovered on February 9, 2000. This case still remains unsolved.

San Fernando Valley resident Theresa Ramos is haunted by the ghosts of two unsolved mysteries. In 2005, her husband Rogelio Royas was killed while he was returning home from his job. The case still remains unsolved.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck the Ramos family again in July when 28 year old Judy Ramos was killed while returning home from the store. She was killed by hit and run driver. Theresa Ramos is now searching for two unsolved mysteries. With the desire to help this desperate family in need, City Councilman Richard Alarcn is announcing a fund to help track down the driver who killed Judy Ramos.

Another unsolved mystery involving kidnapping reached all the way from Canada to the San Fernando Valley. A student in the San Fernando Valley was assigned a project involving internet research. During his search, he uncovered a unsolved kidnapping case and what was even more intriguing about his search-he was that child that was kidnapped at the age of 3 from Canada. The student alerted his teacher who then notified police. The mother, Giselle-Marie Goudreault was arrested on February 11th. She came to the San Fernando Valley area with the boy in 1995.

Whether it is crime related, a possible UFO sighting at LAX, hunting down ghosts in the hills of the valley, there will always be those unsolved mysteries that will entertain us at the movies, on the internet and even on the street we live on. For those who have suffered the losses due to the nature of any unsolved mysteries, hopefully they will soon find peace.

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