Bonnie’s Blog of Crime

I love reading about true crime. I go to Barnes and Nobles just to buy the true crime new releases. It just amazes me how normal people suddenly turn into murders.

Any updates on the Vaughn family?

Regarding the Woodmans — life in prison without possibility of parole.

Why did Stewart gain so much weight? He couldn’t have weighed over 170 the last time I saw him which was quite a long time ago. He and his family were close and he still lived at home, in LA. What happened to him?
He had everything going for him.
So sad.
I thought he loved his father and mother.

Thank you so much. It still hasn’t sunk in yet.

Stewart and I were only 21 years old. His dad, mom were so nice to me. I can’t believe I knew a family that had such a violent future ahead of them. I bet you did too.

Stewart didn’t like my baby blue GTO, thought I spent too much money.

I must have been living in a cave not to have turned on the TV to see until 2 weeks ago. It brought back a multitude of memories. Of all the people in the world to meet and get to know.

I had never met such a kind, handsome man in my entire life that worshiped his father and loved his mother.

He was so dedicated to his dad. He sure did talk on the phone a lot. He was always coming to Texas back then. Builder’s Convention, this was 68 too. He was so grown up to be so young, he gave his whole life to his family. He lived at home before they moved to the larger house they were building, this was 69. They keep giving different ages on Stewart, he couldn’t have been 20, his dad sure did put him to work young.

Stewart was not materalistic back then either. The whole family was frugile. He worked to please his dad.

I am so glad he has children that love him.

I wonder how he stayed out of the draft?I forgot to ask him. He must have been real unhappy to gain so much weight.

I guess he got in with a nightmare of a crowd. This just doesn’t seem real.

Stewart couldn’t go to college, I always wondered, but that’s the way it was.

Guess his dad changed his mind.

May God have Mercy on his soul and one day he can get out and be with his children.

He lost his moral compass, I’m so sorry.

I knew Neil and not Stewart. I was introduced to him in 1982— I was introduced to Neil by my partner in business and he lived large and talked big. He was open about hating his parents.

When the murders happened I was shocked but did not immediately think that Neil did it. I never knew Stewart.

Later when the murder for hire put Neil and Stewart in jail my partner put up money for his defense. I begged him not to put up the money for the defense but they had been close friends.

I thought that Neil had paid for the murders but stopped following the case.

My take on Neil was that he was egotistical and living large. I did not know he was living beyond his means.

Maxine was sweet funny and the kids Jenifer and Paul nice kids. It was sad to see money become the reason to kill their mother and father. But more then money Neil spoke opening about hating his mother and father.

I only spent about 7 or 8 total days with the Woodman’s in the 3 years before the murders but it was enough to know that I did not like him and tolerated his rudeness because he was my partner’s best friend

I met Stewart’s brother, wife and the first newborn baby. 1969.
Neil didn’t speak, but his wife did and was very nice.
They lived in a nice apartment. I can’t remember where. They were proud of the tiny newborn.

His father was critical, but very nice. They just had a regular ranch house, with a swimming pool. The front just had a lot of cement.

I walked down the hall, and Stewart laughing told me to come back, I think he had bunk beds or something. That’s how young he was. His mom was in the kitchen. He was funny.

Stewart was just a kid. Now I realize that. He was a baby almost.

I have not been back to California in decades.

Stewart must have married the year after I last saw him in Texas.

He sure got big. I know his dad hated that. I gained 3 pounds and he made a comment. I knew I could never gain an ounce and be around him.

I left Beverly Hills so long ago.

I am not Jewish. It’s amazing we got along. Stewart was not prejudice back then. Neither was I. He was just a cute guy that adored his parents. It was not an act either,
But was only 20 years old. Very strange.
There is no way to contact them either.
How sad, it’s just does not add up, does it?

Wow, something was wrong with all three of them.

I wonder how they kept their wives from leaving them, fear?

There is so much more to life than money.

They had to be demented to kill their mother.

this happened not very far from where I lived and it sickenened. She was a sweet child……….olice Gather Evidence In Case Of Girl Neglected To Death
Target 11 Obtains Court Documents In Case
Rick Earle

4:57 p.m. EDT August 15, 2003 – updated: 5:30 p.m. EDT August 15, 2003
PITTSBURGH — Police surveyed the house Friday where 4-year-old Kristen Tater (pictured, below) was found dead in a cooler, gathering evidence for their investigation.Kristen Tater

A state police helicopter circled the neighborhood, taking aerial photographs of the house and the shed where the girl’s body was found last week as investigators continue to piece together the events leading to the death.

Investigators continue to build their case against the parents and part of that case is detailed in court documents.

According to court documents obtained by Target 11, a heavy shoe lace — frayed at one end — was tied to the girl’s ankle.

Police say they found what appears to be the other piece of the shoe lace tied to a bed in the home, suggesting Kristen may have been restrained.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Kristen’s 6-year-old brother told police that Janet Crawford and James Tater frequently placed Kristen in the attic for long periods of time as punishment and that they withheld food from her.

On one occasion, he said Kristen was able to sneak out of the attic and eat in his bedroom.

When she was caught by their parents she was put back in the attic, he said.

And when Kristen’s 15-year-old stepsister stayed at the home in June and July, she was told not to go into the master bedroom because there was bad water in the crawl space under the house, causing an odor. She also told investigators towels had been placed at the bottom of the door to keep the odor inside.

During one visit, she said she entered the bedroom and detected a strong odor but it didn’t smell like bad water or sewage.

James Tatar and Janet Crawford are scheduled to appear in court Aug. 22.

Copyright 2003 by Wpxi.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

David Hendricks is now remarried and resides in Georgia, and still has his buisness!

R.J., I haven’t seen you since I was a kid. If you would like to send my dad a letter just email me the letter and I will get it to him. Hope things are going well for you.

David Hendricks was guilty. He never checked into the hotel in Wisconsin until the afternoon the day after the murders. There was a Hardee’s receipt dated like 7:19 AM for a cup of coffee he got there when he first got to town. It was only about a 6.5 hour drive, tops. If you do the math, he left at about 12:45 AM. He told authorities he left at about 12 AM when he arrived back home. Then when on the stand and after hearing all the arguments, he realized he needed to leave earlier because food content was still in his family’s stomachs so someone had to do the murders after he left, but still before midnight at least. So he said he left at 11 PM on the stand. He lied and is guilty. This I know.

I worked for the Woodman’s in the early 70’s. Gerry was extremely arrogant and constantly belittled his sons in front of everyone. Neil and Gerry fought daily, there was a huge power struggle between them. Stewart came and went from the office, but when there, both his father and brother put him down. Neil and Stewart argued all the time.

Neil was much more the leader than Stewart who acted more of a spoiled child than anything else. Years later when I heard about the murders, I wasn’t that surprised. Gerry was arrogant and abusive, and his sons were greedy little men who had a huge sense of entitlement.

I have to say that Vera seemed like a nice woman. I couldn’t imagine her own sons having her killed. This was all so sad.