CA CA - Rev. Leslie Crane, 39, Laytonville, 18 Nov 2005

[spyrocked]

OK. Pretty crazy update here. While making the movie I interviewed an ex Mendocino Sheriff officer named Trent James so I could ask a former cop about the culture in that area. Trent has nothing to do with the murder investigation, and was actually in high school when Les was killed, so he should have no bearing on the Sheriff solving the murder, but he does. You see, Trent has been on a mission of exposing dirty cops in Mendocino County for the last couple of years after leaving the force, and he ran for Sheriff against Matt Kendall in the last election, so they have some bad blood.

When I spoke to Sheriff Matt Kendall he let me know that Trent being in the film would somehow hinder Les's murder investigation, which is something that ex-sheriff Tom Allman agreed with when I spoke to him as well. When asked how he could hinder it, they have no real explanation. But let me be clear, I had asked several times to interview the Sheriff and or detectives, and every time they said no anyway, so I think Trent was just an excuse not to do their job.

When I started this investigation, the remaining living witness Sean Dirlam, made a comment that Jen Drewry "threw him under the bus", but backtracked when I asked him about it during the first couple months of the investigation. It was not until the first day of filming, and hundreds of hours chasing all kinds of leads, that Sean finally said that he felt like Jen set him up. Sean claimed to not have figured it out until after his divorce several years prior, but he let me go on several wild goose chases that he knew were going to lead no where.

After going to California to follow the leads he had regarding Jennifer, I was given the names of two people that were involved, and from there I showed Sean pictures of them, and some of their family members, and Sean identified a person and said he will testify in court that he was involved in the murder. A person close to the named suspect alleged that the same suspect admitted to the murder, but they are scared to come forward because they don't trust the Sheriff's office.

I had to nearly force the Sheriff to look into this lead. I gave them the information that the Suspect was involved in January of 2023, yet they didn't interview him till November after a scathing email I sent to them asking why they were not doing their jobs.

The police said that since I did not provide Sean with a six pack line up of potential suspects, that I somehow tainted to identification made by Sean. Now remember, I had shown Sean dozens of images during the goose chase of possible suspects and he never once bit, but as soon as he saw the one we have identified he knew it was him. Here is the conundrum, Sean is claiming he did not know the person prior to the robbery, and the police say that Sean would have needed to know him prior to be able to truly identify him. The police spoke with Sean again, and Sean said they were more interested in who I was and why I was making this movie than solving the murder. He was told months ago they'd contact him with a six pack line up, but they never contacted him again. Sean also told me that when they asked about me, the guy who has been trying to solve the murder, Sean told them I was a snake.

Sean is not happy with me since I do not believe that he didn't know the suspect and his crew prior to the murder, and I let him know that. Les is the one who said "they came to see the Count today", with the Count being Sean Dirlam, so everything points towards him knowing who killed Les.

I gave Sean a polygraph and he passed on the question of the named suspect being involved, but failed on the question of not knowing him prior to the killing, and on if he was involved with a drug deal with the suspect prior to the killing. I know most of the interested parties, including the police, are following this thread, and that this post might make some feel uncomfortable, but this is the truth of what has happened and where the case stands. Known killers are walking free and nothing is being done about it.

 

[Letdownville]

OK. Pretty crazy update here. While making the movie I interviewed an ex Mendocino Sheriff officer named Trent James so I could ask a former cop about the culture in that area. Trent has nothing to do with the murder investigation, and was actually in high school when Les was killed, so he should have no bearing on the Sheriff solving the murder, but he does. You see, Trent has been on a mission of exposing dirty cops in Mendocino County for the last couple of years after leaving the force, and he ran for Sheriff against Matt Kendall in the last election, so they have some bad blood.

When I spoke to Sheriff Matt Kendall he let me know that Trent being in the film would somehow hinder Les's murder investigation, which is something that ex-sheriff Tom Allman agreed with when I spoke to him as well. When asked how he could hinder it, they have no real explanation. But let me be clear, I had asked several times to interview the Sheriff and or detectives, and every time they said no anyway, so I think Trent was just an excuse not to do their job.

When I started this investigation, the remaining living witness Sean Dirlam, made a comment that Jen Drewry "threw him under the bus", but backtracked when I asked him about it during the first couple months of the investigation. It was not until the first day of filming, and hundreds of hours chasing all kinds of leads, that Sean finally said that he felt like Jen set him up. Sean claimed to not have figured it out until after his divorce several years prior, but he let me go on several wild goose chases that he knew were going to lead no where.

After going to California to follow the leads he had regarding Jennifer, I was given the names of two people that were involved, and from there I showed Sean pictures of them, and some of their family members, and Sean identified a person and said he will testify in court that he was involved in the murder. A person close to the named suspect alleged that the same suspect admitted to the murder, but they are scared to come forward because they don't trust the Sheriff's office.

I had to nearly force the Sheriff to look into this lead. I gave them the information that the Suspect was involved in January of 2023, yet they didn't interview him till November after a scathing email I sent to them asking why they were not doing their jobs.

The police said that since I did not provide Sean with a six pack line up of potential suspects, that I somehow tainted to identification made by Sean. Now remember, I had shown Sean dozens of images during the goose chase of possible suspects and he never once bit, but as soon as he saw the one we have identified he knew it was him. Here is the conundrum, Sean is claiming he did not know the person prior to the robbery, and the police say that Sean would have needed to know him prior to be able to truly identify him. The police spoke with Sean again, and Sean said they were more interested in who I was and why I was making this movie than solving the murder. He was told months ago they'd contact him with a six pack line up, but they never contacted him again. Sean also told me that when they asked about me, the guy who has been trying to solve the murder, Sean told them I was a snake.

Sean is not happy with me since I do not believe that he didn't know the suspect and his crew prior to the murder, and I let him know that. Les is the one who said "they came to see the Count today", with the Count being Sean Dirlam, so everything points towards him knowing who killed Les.

I gave Sean a polygraph and he passed on the question of the named suspect being involved, but failed on the question of not knowing him prior to the killing, and on if he was involved with a drug deal with the suspect prior to the killing. I know most of the interested parties, including the police, are following this thread, and that this post might make some feel uncomfortable, but this is the truth of what has happened and where the case stands. Known killers are walking free and nothing is being done about it

Sounds like it’s time to contact the FBI - it’s the right move when the local investigating agency routinely drops the ball in a case such as this.

 

[Lilibet]

Sounds like it’s time to contact the FBI - it’s the right move when the local investigating agency routinely drops the ball in a case such as this.

Welcome to Websleuths @Letdownville (nice play on words!). I think the reason Emerald Triangle cases stall is that there is a code of silence and it’s hard to get anyone to talk. We’ve seen the FBI called in on many cases here on Websleuths, so I’m not sure why they weren’t called in years ago in this case. Les was a thorn in their side, so they didn’t have much motivation to investigate thoroughly or let the FBI in IMO. I hope that will change with this documentary.

 

[spyrocked]

Here is a high times article about the movie trailer.

New Documentary Details Murder of Cannabis Advocate Les Crane

Crane, once a prominent figure in the cannabis community, was murdered in 2005, but the case remains unsolved.

hightimes.com

 

[spyrocked]

The entire High Times site is now down.

Here is the trailer to the documentary.

 

[Lilibet]

The entire High Times site is now down.

Any idea why?

 

[spyrocked]

Letter she to AG Bonta.

Re: Request for State-Level Investigation into the November 18, 2005
Murder of Les Crane and Law Enforcement Inaction in Mendocino County
Dear Attorney General Bonta,
I write to formally request your office's immediate intervention in the long-unsolved homicide of
cannabis activist Les Crane, which occurred on November 18, 2005, in Laytonville, Mendocino
County. Despite compelling new evidence—including eyewitness testimony, a professionally
administered polygraph, and multiple corroborating statements—the Mendocino County Sheriff’s
Office has refused to act on credible leads and has instead allowed political bias to obstruct
justice.
As a documentary filmmaker and close friend of Mr. Crane, I spent the past several years
conducting a comprehensive independent investigation into his murder. In September 2022, I
located a key eyewitness, Sean Dirlam, who was present at the scene on the night of the
homicide. After months of investigating and interviewing Mr. Dirlam, he identified Cody
Sanderson as one of the several perpetrators. To validate the reliability of this testimony, Mr.
Dirlam submitted to a polygraph administered by Michael G. Turk, a retired Major from the
Marion County Sheriff’s Department in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a Certified Forensic Law
Enforcement Polygraph Examiner. Mr. Turk found no deception in Mr. Dirlam’s answers and
submitted a written report confirming that Mr. Dirlam truthfully implicated Cody Sanderson in the
robbery and murder of Les Crane.
Additionally, I have received a statement from a second witness who reports that Cody
Sanderson admitted to the killing. However, this witness refuses to speak with Mendocino
County authorities out of fear for their safety, citing a lack of trust in the Sheriff’s Office and
concern that Sanderson will learn of their cooperation. I am withholding this witness's identity for
their protection at this time.

1

Despite receiving these materials, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office has taken no steps to
re-open the investigation, meaningfully interview the witnesses, or pursue Mr. Sanderson, who
has since fled California and relocated to Idaho. They have claimed that Cody Sanderson
voluntarily came in for questioning, yet he was on felony probation at the time—meaning they
did not need his permission to detain or question him. They continue to reject the validity of Mr.
Dirlam’s eyewitness account and polygraph, despite its administration by an independent, highly
credentialed homicide investigator.
Worse still, I recorded a phone call with former Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman in which
he explicitly stated that neither he nor current Sheriff Matt Kendall would assist my investigation
or cooperate with solving the murder so long as former deputy Trent James is involved in my
film. This admission—that personal politics are obstructing a homicide investigation—is
profoundly troubling and, in my view, warrants oversight by your office.

REQUEST FOR ACTION
Given the compelling evidence, the named and located suspect, and the credible witness
testimony supported by forensic polygraph analysis, I respectfully request that your office:
1. Open an independent investigation into the murder of Les Crane;
2. Interview and protect witnesses who are unwilling to speak to Mendocino County law
enforcement;
3. Evaluate whether any current or former members of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s
Office obstructed justice or failed to perform their duties;
4. Assume jurisdiction over the investigation due to the ongoing inaction by the Mendocino
County Sheriff’s Office.

 

[Lilibet]

Letter she to AG Bonta.

Re: Request for State-Level Investigation into the November 18, 2005
Murder of Les Crane and Law Enforcement Inaction in Mendocino County
Dear Attorney General Bonta,
I write to formally request your office's immediate intervention in the long-unsolved homicide of
cannabis activist Les Crane, which occurred on November 18, 2005, in Laytonville, Mendocino
County. Despite compelling new evidence—including eyewitness testimony, a professionally
administered polygraph, and multiple corroborating statements—the Mendocino County Sheriff’s
Office has refused to act on credible leads and has instead allowed political bias to obstruct
justice.
As a documentary filmmaker and close friend of Mr. Crane, I spent the past several years
conducting a comprehensive independent investigation into his murder. In September 2022, I
located a key eyewitness, Sean Dirlam, who was present at the scene on the night of the
homicide. After months of investigating and interviewing Mr. Dirlam, he identified Cody
Sanderson as one of the several perpetrators. To validate the reliability of this testimony, Mr.
Dirlam submitted to a polygraph administered by Michael G. Turk, a retired Major from the
Marion County Sheriff’s Department in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a Certified Forensic Law
Enforcement Polygraph Examiner. Mr. Turk found no deception in Mr. Dirlam’s answers and
submitted a written report confirming that Mr. Dirlam truthfully implicated Cody Sanderson in the
robbery and murder of Les Crane.
Additionally, I have received a statement from a second witness who reports that Cody
Sanderson admitted to the killing. However, this witness refuses to speak with Mendocino
County authorities out of fear for their safety, citing a lack of trust in the Sheriff’s Office and
concern that Sanderson will learn of their cooperation. I am withholding this witness's identity for
their protection at this time.

1

Despite receiving these materials, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office has taken no steps to
re-open the investigation, meaningfully interview the witnesses, or pursue Mr. Sanderson, who
has since fled California and relocated to Idaho. They have claimed that Cody Sanderson
voluntarily came in for questioning, yet he was on felony probation at the time—meaning they
did not need his permission to detain or question him. They continue to reject the validity of Mr.
Dirlam’s eyewitness account and polygraph, despite its administration by an independent, highly
credentialed homicide investigator.
Worse still, I recorded a phone call with former Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman in which
he explicitly stated that neither he nor current Sheriff Matt Kendall would assist my investigation
or cooperate with solving the murder so long as former deputy Trent James is involved in my
film. This admission—that personal politics are obstructing a homicide investigation—is
profoundly troubling and, in my view, warrants oversight by your office.

REQUEST FOR ACTION
Given the compelling evidence, the named and located suspect, and the credible witness
testimony supported by forensic polygraph analysis, I respectfully request that your office:
1. Open an independent investigation into the murder of Les Crane;
2. Interview and protect witnesses who are unwilling to speak to Mendocino County law
enforcement;
3. Evaluate whether any current or former members of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s
Office obstructed justice or failed to perform their duties;
4. Assume jurisdiction over the investigation due to the ongoing inaction by the Mendocino
County Sheriff’s Office.

Well done!