I was chatting to a friend of mine about this recently. Yes, I bore people in real life with this stuff too lol. It was just last week after reading through the 60 pages of police reports on Tom’s site. I think a few of us have done this recently. One of the things that struck me was statements from their friends. They didn’t know what the couple’s plans were for the evening. I believe others did, but in general the friends didn’t and they pretty much saw Betty Lou and David for the last time that night. No one could have imagined what was going to happen to them but sadly we now know. I was struck with a particular sense of empathy reading those statements. These were friends talking about friends as they knew them and as they were and at a time were they most likely still hadn’t come to terms with the fact that they were gone, much less how it happened.

I found myself ‘feeling’ that even from the cold pages of a police report. I nearly teared up recounting this to my friend I am not ashamed to say. Mostly we busy ourselves with the nitty gritty of this case and we don’t always get the chance or the time to consider the human aspect of these crimes. Two young lives stolen from their families and whilst they were exploring life and each other’s company. Make no mistake about it, this was EVIL. I’m not sure I could compose myself enough if I had ever met that b**tard face to face. The answer to the 340 riddle may well have been lost forever beneath my fists and through my tears for the lives he stole.

If you are reading the police reports on Tom’s site take a moment and check out the pics links at the top of the first page of the David and Betty Lou’s reports. They are of Tom and Ed? I think that’s Ed, sorry if I’m wrong. They are from 2004 at Betty Lou’s grave. They start with a withered flower in the holder and then the guys replace that with a new bouquet. In itself a very nice thing to do but the bouquet is centered around a piece of pine tree, a christmas tree, a small yet powerful reminder of the christmas they never got to have that year.

I extend my love and my prayers to the families of both David and Bettylou at this time. Despite our fumbling around in matters that don’t concern us I hope in some small measure, actually not hope, I feel that, at the very least, we keep their memories alive.

To Bettylou and David. I can’t promise that we’ll catch this guy but I hope you don’t mind us trying. At the very least it will be a talking point when we see you guys in heaven. We are the friends you never got the chance to meet…yet.

Well said Trav
I think it takes a real weak willed man to walk up to a couple of defenseless & unsuspecting Kids, and force them out at gunpoint, shooting a girl in the back as she ran for her life. I am no profiler, but that gives me the impression of somebody that seems weak or timid around people. Maybe Z was a stocky guy, but not a tough stocky guy, but rather the kind that got picked on and beat up, and you always wondered why he didn’t defend himself. Then again, maybe the kids were an easy mark,and in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe Z always had an unexplainable urge to kill somebody, and just took his chance on 12/20/68. No matter who he was, he was evil, and cowardly,and if he had kids himself,extra shame on him.

Was there ever a shrine ( flowers crosses etc. )erected at the turn around ,the spot in 68

there aught to be a small plaque there IMO

shooting a girl in the back as she ran for her life.

Says it all doesn’t it? Evil, evil b**tard. No regard for the sanctity of life. I am not discouraged though, he will face judgement. Maybe not at our hands but it will come. I will be there making weird facial gestures to you guys saying, I told you so lol. Although I will be most likely also be trying to grab you guys and asking "what’s happening, I’m scared" lol.

Was there ever a shrine ( flowers crosses etc. )erected at the turn around ,the spot in 68

there aught to be a small plaque there IMO

Yes I had that thought too. In retrospect however I think it’s appropriate that here is no shrine.Not at least until we find this guy. Flowers placed at the scene, for now I feel, should be the respective domain of family and friends. Despite our intentions we are at best interlopers and as such we should respect the victims and their families.

People would just vandalize it. If in the area, the best thing to do is put flowers at their resting site. And if not…take a moment and hug your kids or spouse or friends…tell them that you love them. Life is short my friends.