Blakeslee

On the evening of 9 November 1967, Mary Jane Blakeslee was killed in her apartment'fin Canoga Park, Los Angeles, by five gunshot wounds, four in the head and one in the back. Two children lived with her in the apartment—her daughter, Teresa Blakeslee, age 18, and her son, Michael Blakeslee, age 16. Earlier in the year Teresa had moved out of the apartment for a few months, but she had later returned home. Michael had spent a year with the California Youth Authority.

On the evening of the slaying Michael had an argument with his mother over his drinking and driving, and his mother threatened to take awa.y his car. Michael then left the apartment about 7:20 p.m., and Teresa accompanied him to the carport area behind the apartment house in order to hear his new stereo tape. When they left the apartment their mother was alone reading, and the apartment door was unlocked. After listening for a few minutes to the stereo tape Michael drove away in his car, and Teresa started back toward the apartment. The time was about 7:25.

Jule Ledbetter and his wife returned to the apartment house from dinner about 7:30 and parked their car in their assigned parking area directly below the…