The children of Betty Van Patter, the former bookkeeper for the Black Panther Party who disappeared 33 years ago tonight, on December 13, 1974, from a bar in Berkeley, continue to wait for justice to be done. Weeks later, after a somber holiday season, in January 1975, Betty's three kids got the news they most feared -- their mother's battered body had washed up in Foster City from its journey floating through frigid San Francisco Bay.
An autopsy confirmed that she had been killed and then dumped in the Bay, perhaps in the East Bay wetlands.
Although nobody has ever been charged with her murder, there is substantial circumstantial evidence implicating the Panthers. The long-time D.A. in Alameda County, Tom Orloff, where a case would have to be brought, was burned early in his career when he tried to prosecute Panther leader Huey Newton, and juries refused to cooperate.
It's understandable but regrettable that he apparently feels no responsibility, now he nears retirement age, to reopen this coldest of cold cases, this most politically incorrect of cases. But if he should, there are many people in the community who could provide new evidence as to who ordered this killing and why, and who carried it out.
The individuals involved are still alive, and active publicly. One (the executioner) recently published a book, acclaimed in some circles. I cannot help but wonder whether these two intelligent, gifted African Americans really want to go to their graves with Betty's unnecessary murder on their consciences. I'm quite sure they both realize now it was a terrible mistake.
The statute never runs out on murder. And, though I'm not certain whether there is an afterlife, I'm quite certain these two people's souls, once called from this life, will never rest in peace until and unless they come forward, admit their awful mistake, and seek the mercy of the court.
Meanwhile, those of us who know the truth will continue to watch and wait and pressure for a legal case to be brought. It's theoretically possible that we may yet be able to obtain some DNA evidence that could identify the killer that way.
The guilty parties must know that this is a logical next step for Betty's family to take. Therefore, they cannot rest with any security that they have gotten away with murder. I fully believe the souls of the murdered haunt their killers not only to the end of their days here on earth, but beyond, for all of eternity.
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Note: I've linked the title of this blog to the excellent article written by Kristin Bender in the Oakland Tribune last January. Please read her story and consider contacting Orloff about this case. Thank you.
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2 comments:
I read about this case a little but did not see any clear proof the people who are suspected are guilty. Is Orloff wrong to not bring a case where guilt is not nearly certain? I don't think so.
It is true that the evidence is circumstantial and not yet direct, but the people responsible continue to make themselves public figures, yet the likely killer himself has never (so far we know) been interrogated by law enforcement about this case.
Several former insiders have considered cooperating with authorities, but they need to be coerced into doing so. A strong DA who really wanted to go after this cold case could shake the rafters, attract publicity, and create some fear among the guilty.
Properly done, this process would include surveillance that would indicate who calls whom in response. You see? It can and is done with old murder cases all the time all over the country.
But without the political will to endure the inevitable heat (he'd be condemned for conducting a "racist witch hunt" against the BPP), as well as the investigative skill to develop evidential proof from an incident so long ago, Orloff just sits back and does nothing.
I'm sure if somebody with direct knowledge came forward, he would listen. I consider him a person of good will, actually, and have enjoyed meeting him over the years. I just wish he had a stronger backbone for this kind of case.
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