CA CA - Linda Lovell, 25, & Stephen Packard, 18, Westport, 10 June 1974

[burblestein]

Katgirl, have you explored Stephen's Provincetown connections? Seems to me I tracked him to Provincetown High (since closed). As I recall, the P-town Hi records were preserved. I was working that angle because I thought that he might have met Linda if/when she visited P-town. It was a very popular artsy tourist attraction.

 

[burblestein]

And in response to a prior post by Coleraine, here's a link to the Grateful Dead's 1974 tour schedule: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~./gdead/setlists/74.html

So were they Deadheads? Or not? Or unproven?

 

[burblestein]

And I also investigated the possibility of Jerry Garcia residing in Stinson Beach: https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/cities/jerry-garcias-former-residence-hits-the-market-for-3595000/

Which is almost 30 winding miles from Stinson Beach, as can be seen here: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55+...ec74239ba!2m2!1d-122.6444263!2d37.9004816!3e0

 

[ohthatkatgirl]

Katgirl, have you explored Stephen's Provincetown connections? Seems to me I tracked him to Provincetown High (since closed). As I recall, the P-town Hi records were preserved. I was working that angle because I thought that he might have met Linda if/when she visited P-town. It was a very popular artsy tourist attraction.

No, I haven't looked into it. There is also more than likely an alumni group, so perhaps another source of information (hopefully).

I would love to know how they met. It is very plausible that it was in P-town. This will be something I am keen to also dig into.

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[ohthatkatgirl]

And in response to a prior post by Coleraine, here's a link to the Grateful Dead's 1974 tour schedule: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~./gdead/setlists/74.html

So were they Deadheads? Or not? Or unproven?

So going by that the Grateful Dead did perform at Oakland on the 8th, which is only 35 miles from Stinson Beach. I think it is incredibly possible that they were Deadheads, and perhaps that mutual interest was a factor in bringing them together. Maybe they met at a concert? It is very plausible that they went to the concert and then called home from Stinson on the 10th, though they were obviously travelling quite slowly if that was the case. Maybe a day off from traveling on the 9th and then they travelled to Stinson on the 10th?

It could also be a total coincidence, and perhaps someone just mentioned Stinson Beach in passing and they decided to check it out. I don't think we will know for sure, unless someone who knew them comes to this thread. I think it is definitely worth looking into the Deadhead angle, maybe they decided to skip the expo and follow the Dead, though the problems I have with that theory is that Linda (at least) was due back in Montana by early July and the postcards Stephen was sending home every few days suddenly stopping.

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[Betty P]

I was just over at the thread for Barry Pinder, killed around the same time Stephen and Linda went missing, at MacKerricher SP near Ft. Bragg. An article at one of the links here stated that Stephen loved the outdoors and was planning to become a park ranger. On this trip, he probably researched all the national and state parks along the CA coast, with plans to visit them.

Given someone (assume it was Stephen) cashed one of his AMEX traveler's checks nearby, its possible he and Linda stayed at the camp ground, too. Perhaps they saw or heard something when Stephen was killed and were taken elsewhere and disposed of to keep them from reporting what they saw. Or perhaps the same motorcycle group that was seen with Barry the night he was killed were trolling for more victims in the area to rob and/or rape.

Another possibility occurred to me when reading one of the articles from the Ukiah newspaper about Barry Pinder.

https://newspapers.com/image/584581/

When reporting on Barry's murder, there was another news item about a 37 yo man named Van Dean Payne who was arrested for stabbing a man and kidnapping and raping his girlfriend. That crime had occurred on May 26, but Payne went on the run and was not arrested until 5 weeks later. It's possible he did the same to Stephen and Linda, only making sure to kill them so there would be no witnesses. Just a thought.

 

[Coleraine]

I haven't posted here in some time, but I do check in periodically. I was glad to see that Stephen Packard's thread had been active. This case still haunts me, and I still scan for any bit of information I can find. Tonight, I found the 1974 Princeton Day School Yearbook and I've posted the link to the pdf below.

Apparently, Stephen did not graduate in 1974; he is shown in a group picture of the 11th grade class (1975). It's on page 130/214, and I believe Stephen is shown in the second row from the bottom, to the right of the older man in the front row. His father and sister are pictured in the Girl's Basketball photo on page 156/214. So, after his cross-country adventure Stephen would have been returning for his senior year.

About a year ago, I did see Linda's cousin in another "Missing" forum asking that the site's owner highlight her story. I made contact with him and invited him to come to Websleuths, read the thread on Linda and Stephen and join the discussion. He was grateful for the referral, but apparently opted not to join. He seems quite a bit younger than Linda would have been, so perhaps he simply didn't have anything to add to the discussion. Still hoping friends or other members of the family might find these threads some day.

http://www.digifind-it.com/princetonday/data/pds-links/yearbooks/1974.pdf

 

[ohthatkatgirl]

I haven't posted here in some time, but I do check in periodically. I was glad to see that Stephen Packard's thread had been active. This case still haunts me, and I still scan for any bit of information I can find. Tonight, I found the 1974 Princeton Day School Yearbook and I've posted the link to the pdf below.

Apparently, Stephen did not graduate in 1974; he is shown in a group picture of the 11th grade class (1975). It's on page 130/214, and I believe Stephen is shown in the second row from the bottom, to the right of the older man in the front row. His father and sister are pictured in the Girl's Basketball photo on page 156/214. So, after his cross-country adventure Stephen would have been returning for his senior year.

About a year ago, I did see Linda's cousin in another "Missing" forum asking that the site's owner highlight her story. I made contact with him and invited him to come to Websleuths, read the thread on Linda and Stephen and join the discussion. He was grateful for the referral, but apparently opted not to join. He seems quite a bit younger than Linda would have been, so perhaps he simply didn't have anything to add to the discussion. Still hoping friends or other members of the family might find these threads some day.

http://www.digifind-it.com/princetonday/data/pds-links/yearbooks/1974.pdf

Stephen's picture can also be found in the 1975 Princeton Day School yearbook lacrosse team photo. I also thought the same that he was due back for school.

It's a shame Linda's cousin hasn't joined the thread, though being younger he may not know much, it would be great to have some more information and possibly answers to some of our multitude of questions.

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[ohthatkatgirl]

An interesting article on the Packard family (2015) which provides some background information, no mention of Stephen.

http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20151220/NEWS/151229969

 

[Coleraine]

Thanks for posting this article. It's one I hadn't read before, and I love Anne Packard's work and I tend to read anything I see about her. Wish I could afford one of her paintings!

Her daughter Leslie actually does mention Stephen--although not by name--in the response to the "How big is your staff?" question re: the gallery. Leslie notes that she lost her eighteen year old son a few years ago, and her mother also lost an eighteen year old son: Stephen. That family has had its share of tragedy. Leslie's son, I believe, was hit by a car as he was on his bike or walking his bike along a roadside on the Cape.

 

[ohthatkatgirl]

Thanks for posting this article. It's one I hadn't read before, and I love Anne Packard's work and I tend to read anything I see about her. Wish I could afford one of her paintings!

Her daughter Leslie actually does mention Stephen--although not by name--in the response to the "How big is your staff?" question re: the gallery. Leslie notes that she lost her eighteen year old son a few years ago, and her mother also lost an eighteen year old son: Stephen. That family has had its share of tragedy. Leslie's son, I believe, was hit by a car as he was on his bike or walking his bike along a roadside on the Cape.

I would love one (or many) of her works as well. She is such an interesting woman and so talented. I might have to look into getting a print.

Yeah, good catch. I missed that. So sad to read about Leslie's son. There is a few articles about that tragedy. Just goes to show what a resilient family they are.

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[ohthatkatgirl]

Linda's aunt passed away in 2009. Linda is mentioned in the obituary.

Linda's grandfather died in December, 1973. I wonder if he and Linda were close.

 

[ohthatkatgirl]

An article (21st June, 1974) providing information on Stinson beach and other nearby locations.

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[ohthatkatgirl]

Linda received awards at Camp Watanopa, also I found a photo of her modelling a dress she made in highschool.

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[burblestein]

With Barry Pinder https://www.websleuths.com/forums/s...ocino-County-18-June-1974&highlight=Mendocino being murdered at about the same time Linda and Stephen disappeared, the Mendo Cty Sheriff's Office must have been overwhelmed.

 

[ohthatkatgirl]

I came across this article in the Ukiah Daily Journal (Feb 18th, 1977). Unfortunately there are many similar articles across Mendocino and neighboring counties for the 1970s. If only there was some way of knowing whether Stephen and Linda made it to Westport or it was someone else cashing the travelers cheque (perhaps seeing if it was possible to cash it.) Though if it was someone else, I'm not sure why they wouldn't cash more of the travelers cheques at a later date, if Westport was a trial run, unless they only had the one cheque to cash.

 

[ohthatkatgirl]

This article was in the Ukiah Daily Journal (14th April, 1971).

And I'm including this article as the attack occurred on Highway 101 near Sausalito, which is only 15 miles away from Stinson Beach and happened on June 30th, 1974. (Daily Independent Journal)

 

[ohthatkatgirl]

William Frank Peters, named in the second article, received 90 days in jail, 5 years probation, was ordered to sell his van and not to pick up any more hitchhikers (Daily Independent Journal, Nov 21st 1974). He died in 1981, according to the Californian Death Index.

 

[Coleraine]

After reading these articles--and I thank you for finding and sharing them--I can better understand why Stephen's mother was told by the police that Stephen and Linda were presumed murdered.

 

[ohthatkatgirl]

After reading these articles--and I thank you for finding and sharing them--I can better understand why Stephen's mother was told by the police that Stephen and Linda were presumed murdered.

Unfortunately it is very easy to imagine Stephen and Linda becoming victims of unknown perpetrator or perpetrators. It may have been a robbery gone wrong (perhaps they fought back) or either of them being targeted (maybe they were walking along with enough distance between the two for people to think they were travelling separately) or as speculated previously maybe they witnessed something.

On the other hand maybe they were victims of an accident. They could have been hit by a car and someone hid them to cover it up or been washed into the sea or some other kind of accident. Unless we have more information, speculation seems to be all we have.

Perhaps we should compile a list of questions, that we wish we had answers to in case someone who knew them comes to this forum.