Gypsy Hill Killings

Overview

The Gypsy Hill killings comprise a chilling series of serial homicides that unfolded in San Mateo County, California, in early 1976. The perpetrator(s) gained notoriety in the media as the "San Mateo Slasher." The investigation that followed revealed there were at least two distinct killers involved. Rodney Halbower was ultimately convicted for the murders of three victims—Veronica Cascio, Paula Baxter, and Michelle Mitchell—while Leon Seymour was found guilty of the murder of Denise Lampe. Tragically, the murders of Tatiana Blackwell and Carol Booth are believed to be linked to Halbower, yet no solid evidence has surfaced to formally connect him to these cases. Meanwhile, the murder of Idell M. Friedman remains unsolved, adding layers of complexity to a case that has long haunted the communities involved.

Quick Facts

• Alias: San Mateo Slasher
• Wanted by: FBI, local police
• Wanted since: January 8, 1976
• Victims: 5+
• Span of crimes: January – March 1976
• Country: United States
• State: California
• Location: San Mateo County
• Target: Young females
• Weapons: Knives
• Date apprehended: January 22, 2015

The Killings

The first grim discovery was made on January 8, 1976, when the body of 18-year-old Veronica Cascio was located in a creek on the grounds of the Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica. She had been brutally stabbed 30 times. Authorities initially arrested a transient, but he was released due to a lack of evidence. This marked the beginning of a dark chapter in the region's history.

Weeks later, on June 6, the search for Tatiana Blackwell, a 14-year-old who had been reported missing after leaving her home in Pacifica, culminated in the tragic discovery of her body off Sharp Park Road in the Gypsy Hills area. Like Cascio, she had also endured multiple stab wounds.

February 4, saw the disappearance of Paula Baxter, a 17-year-old who, after finishing a play rehearsal at Capuchino High School, vanished without a trace, leaving her car stranded. Her nude body was discovered just two days later, on February 6, behind the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Ludeman Lane in Millbrae. Paula had been stabbed four times, sexually assaulted, and struck on the head with a piece of concrete. Forensic evidence later linked her murder to that of Veronica Cascio, indicating a potential pattern.

The string of murders continued when Denise Lampe, a 19-year-old from Broadmoor, was found dead on April 1 in a parking lot at the Serramonte Center. She had suffered 20 stab wounds.

The grim tally of victims reached a new low when Carol Booth, aged 26, was reported missing by her husband on March 15. Her body was unearthed in a shallow grave near Colma Creek on May 6.

Victims

The five confirmed victims are:

• Veronica "Ronnie" Cascio
• Tatiana Marie "Tanya" Blackwell
• Paula Louise Baxter
• Carol Lee Booth
• Denise Lampe

Possible Victims

Michelle Mitchell

Michelle Mitchell, aged 19, was last seen alive in Reno, Nevada on February 24, 1976, when her Volkswagen Beetle broke down at the intersection of 9th Street and Evans Avenue. Witnesses reported seeing someone assist in pushing her vehicle into a nearby parking lot. Tragically, her body was discovered later that evening in a garage on East 9th Street, with her hands bound and her throat slashed.

In a bizarre twist, three years after her murder, Cathy Woods, a psychiatric patient, confessed to killing a woman named Michelle. Woods was charged and ultimately convicted of Michelle's murder. However, in 2015, DNA evidence exonerated her, revealing that she had been wrongfully imprisoned for 35 years, making her the longest-ever wrongfully imprisoned woman in U.S. history. This DNA evidence also implicated Rodney Halbower, linking him to both the Gypsy Hill killings and the murder of Michelle Mitchell.

Idell M. Friedman

Idell M. Friedman, aged 21, was found brutally stabbed in her apartment on March 17, 1976, just two days after Carol Booth was reported missing. Her body was discovered in a ransacked apartment at 116 Fairmount Street in San Francisco. A co-worker, concerned about her absence from work, made the grim discovery of Friedman’s nude body lying on the kitchen floor, having been assaulted with an 8-inch knife.

Investigation and Arrests

Investigators quickly noted disturbing similarities among the homicides: all victims were young brunettes, and most had experienced car troubles prior to their murders. Each body was found in wooded areas, adding to the chilling pattern.

The investigation faced significant hurdles, primarily due to a lack of witnesses and forensic evidence. However, in March 2014, the FBI established a task force to revisit these haunting cases after new DNA evidence emerged that cast doubt on Cathy Woods' conviction for Mitchell's murder. They discovered DNA from a cigarette butt at the Mitchell crime scene matched semen found at the crime scenes in San Mateo, suggesting the involvement of a male perpetrator and potentially exonerating Woods.

On September 8, 2014, the FBI identified Rodney Halbower as a person of interest in the Gypsy Hill murders. Subsequently, Woods was released from prison on September 11, pending a new trial set for July 13, 2015. By March 2015, prosecutors had dismissed the charges against her.

The investigation took a decisive turn on January 22, 2015, when Halbower was charged with the murders of Paula Baxter and Veronica Cascio, with DNA evidence directly linking him to both crimes. Later, on November 8, 2017, Leon Melvin Seymour was charged with the murder of Denise Lampe based on similar DNA evidence.

On September 18, 2018, Halbower was convicted for the murders of Cascio and Baxter, leading to his sentencing on October 10, 2018, to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. Although he is believed to be responsible for the deaths of Blackwell and Booth, insufficient evidence has thus far precluded any formal charges.

Conclusion

The Gypsy Hill killings remain a haunting chapter in true crime history. The chilling nature of these murders, coupled with the long search for justice, continues to captivate and horrify those who delve into the details of this case. As investigations continue, the hope remains that more closure can be found for the victims and their families.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Gypsy Hill killings
• Various articles from the San Mateo Times, Mercury News, and other local news outlets detailing the investigation and findings.