In Memory of Susan Denise Atkins-Whitehouse
LAPD Formal Statement
In December 1969,
the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department
provided a formal statement in a press conference.
The police chief is about to be seated at a table
that is covered with microphones.
In this film clip we do not see the reporters.
The camera recording this event
only focuses on the police chief
after he is introduced.
The film is unedited and cut often.
We hear the reporters questions
which are mostly indiscernible, and cut in places.
Before the police chief is seated,
an unidentified man addresses the crowd...
In December 1969,
the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department
provided a formal statement in a press conference.
The police chief is about to be seated at a table
that is covered with microphones.
In this film clip we do not see the reporters.
The camera recording this event
only focuses on the police chief
after he is introduced.
The film is unedited and cut often.
We hear the reporters questions
which are mostly indiscernible, and cut in places.
Before the police chief is seated,
an unidentified man addresses the crowd...
Unidentified Man: "Everybody tuned in, everybody focused?
Anybody that's not ready?"
While still standing, the police chief says...
Police Chief: "Everyone has cameras and recorders set"
The film is cut, and the police chief
is now seated at the table which is on a stage.
Behind him is a curtain and the American flag.
The police chief addresses the group...
Police Chief: "I am (name) Chief of Police of the city of Los Angeles..."
(film is cut)
Police Chief: "...information from the 2 separate investigations of the Tate
and LaBianca cases led detectives to the conclusion that the crimes
in both cases were committed by the same group of people..."
(film is cut)
Police Chief: "...today warrants have been issued for the arrest of..."
"...it is anticipated that an additional 4 or 5 persons will be named in
indictments which will be sought from the Los Angeles County grand jury..."
"...restrictions prohibit the revelation of further information at
this time. In addition to the above restrictions the security of the
investigation requires that no additional information be published at
this time. The Los Angeles Police Department wishes to express its
appreciation for the excellent cooperation rendered by other
law enforcement agencies during the development of information
regarding both of the above cases.
In particular to (name), head of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's
Department, for the cooperation of his men and to (name),
District Attorney of Los Angeles County who has been most helpful
in assigning Deputy District Attorney (name), (name), and (name)
as special deputies on the case. These attorneys assisted our
investigators during the preliminary investigation and making certain
that all legal requirements were complied with and will carry the case
through its conclusion.
Throughout the course of this four months investigation the
Los Angeles Police Department has received excellent cooperation
from the news media. The news media has been tenacious in their attempt
to keep the public informed but they have also tempered this with
a great deal of responsibility and the welfare of the community
and allowing the department to proceed to this point without any undue
advance disclosure of some of our investigative efforts that they might
have been partially aware of.
Anybody that's not ready?"
While still standing, the police chief says...
Police Chief: "Everyone has cameras and recorders set"
The film is cut, and the police chief
is now seated at the table which is on a stage.
Behind him is a curtain and the American flag.
The police chief addresses the group...
Police Chief: "I am (name) Chief of Police of the city of Los Angeles..."
(film is cut)
Police Chief: "...information from the 2 separate investigations of the Tate
and LaBianca cases led detectives to the conclusion that the crimes
in both cases were committed by the same group of people..."
(film is cut)
Police Chief: "...today warrants have been issued for the arrest of..."
"...it is anticipated that an additional 4 or 5 persons will be named in
indictments which will be sought from the Los Angeles County grand jury..."
"...restrictions prohibit the revelation of further information at
this time. In addition to the above restrictions the security of the
investigation requires that no additional information be published at
this time. The Los Angeles Police Department wishes to express its
appreciation for the excellent cooperation rendered by other
law enforcement agencies during the development of information
regarding both of the above cases.
In particular to (name), head of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's
Department, for the cooperation of his men and to (name),
District Attorney of Los Angeles County who has been most helpful
in assigning Deputy District Attorney (name), (name), and (name)
as special deputies on the case. These attorneys assisted our
investigators during the preliminary investigation and making certain
that all legal requirements were complied with and will carry the case
through its conclusion.
Throughout the course of this four months investigation the
Los Angeles Police Department has received excellent cooperation
from the news media. The news media has been tenacious in their attempt
to keep the public informed but they have also tempered this with
a great deal of responsibility and the welfare of the community
and allowing the department to proceed to this point without any undue
advance disclosure of some of our investigative efforts that they might
have been partially aware of.
So this concludes the formal statement. I will answer questions.
I must admonish you that the United States Supreme Court..."
"...has made it clear that there are many restrictions on what I can say
that would have an impact on whether or not these named individuals
or future individuals who will be arrested have a fair trial..."
I must admonish you that the United States Supreme Court..."
"...has made it clear that there are many restrictions on what I can say
that would have an impact on whether or not these named individuals
or future individuals who will be arrested have a fair trial..."
A portion of the police chief's remarks were cut out,
and placed in this film clip later on.
We will advise when we reach that point.
At this point the police chief answers questions.
Most of the questions are indiscernible as most of the reporters
are not as near the microphones recording this event
as the police chief is.
Also because many reporters ask questions simultaneously.
The police chief was able to distinguish individual questions.
From here we provide the police chief's responses to questions.
Each quote from the police chief is in response
to a question from a reporter...
and placed in this film clip later on.
We will advise when we reach that point.
At this point the police chief answers questions.
Most of the questions are indiscernible as most of the reporters
are not as near the microphones recording this event
as the police chief is.
Also because many reporters ask questions simultaneously.
The police chief was able to distinguish individual questions.
From here we provide the police chief's responses to questions.
Each quote from the police chief is in response
to a question from a reporter...
Police Chief: "...time is that none of the suspects for which we have obtained warrants
nor any of the suspects we might subsequently bring before the grand jury
have ever personally known any of the victims in the Tate case
or the LaBianca case..."
A reporter's next question is clear...
Reporter: "Chief what triggered the, your knowledge of that, of the,
what brought you to them?"
Police Chief: "I would say that the tenacious investigation carried on by the
robbery homicide detectives under (name) and (name) developed a
suspicion and caused them to do a vigorous amount of work
in this Spahn Ranch area and the people connected with
Spahn Ranch that led us to where we are today"
Police Chief: "(film cut)....County grand jury criminal complaints committee is
going to be brought up to date on this case and we're seeking
before the ninth day of December to bring additional potential
suspects in before the grand jury for the culmination of the case"
The next question from a reporter is clear...
Reporter: "Is there anyone in Inyo County in custody now that you
expect to bring into the case?"
Police Chief: "Uh yes, the answer is yes, and that's as far as I can
answer that question"
nor any of the suspects we might subsequently bring before the grand jury
have ever personally known any of the victims in the Tate case
or the LaBianca case..."
A reporter's next question is clear...
Reporter: "Chief what triggered the, your knowledge of that, of the,
what brought you to them?"
Police Chief: "I would say that the tenacious investigation carried on by the
robbery homicide detectives under (name) and (name) developed a
suspicion and caused them to do a vigorous amount of work
in this Spahn Ranch area and the people connected with
Spahn Ranch that led us to where we are today"
Police Chief: "(film cut)....County grand jury criminal complaints committee is
going to be brought up to date on this case and we're seeking
before the ninth day of December to bring additional potential
suspects in before the grand jury for the culmination of the case"
The next question from a reporter is clear...
Reporter: "Is there anyone in Inyo County in custody now that you
expect to bring into the case?"
Police Chief: "Uh yes, the answer is yes, and that's as far as I can
answer that question"
Police Chief: "...investigation which leads us to the very strong conclusion
that that is the case"
Reporter: "Chief have you been able to establish a motive?"
Police Chief: "Well motives are something that are difficult to perceive.
There was no economic motive apparent in the Tate case and there
was minor if any economic motivation in the LaBianca case"
Reporter: "Chief to your knowledge were any of the victims involved
in drug trafficking?"
Police Chief: "Any of the victims involved in drug trafficking, uh to our knowledge
none of the victims were engaged in the sale or uh trafficking
in drugs in that fashion"
Police Chief: "...there are, all of the suspects are Caucasian"
Again, we can hear a question being asked but it's indiscernible.
Police Chief: "...they were either positioned at the crimes or they had some part
in the preparation for the transportation to the areas of the crime"
Police Chief: "..Uh yes (film cut), no, I cannot tell you what they were
there were some weapons outstand (film cut)"
that that is the case"
Reporter: "Chief have you been able to establish a motive?"
Police Chief: "Well motives are something that are difficult to perceive.
There was no economic motive apparent in the Tate case and there
was minor if any economic motivation in the LaBianca case"
Reporter: "Chief to your knowledge were any of the victims involved
in drug trafficking?"
Police Chief: "Any of the victims involved in drug trafficking, uh to our knowledge
none of the victims were engaged in the sale or uh trafficking
in drugs in that fashion"
Police Chief: "...there are, all of the suspects are Caucasian"
Again, we can hear a question being asked but it's indiscernible.
Police Chief: "...they were either positioned at the crimes or they had some part
in the preparation for the transportation to the areas of the crime"
Police Chief: "..Uh yes (film cut), no, I cannot tell you what they were
there were some weapons outstand (film cut)"
At this point in the film clip,
we go back to the police chief's formal statement
which started at the beginning of this film clip.
The police chief is reading the statement as was earlier...
we go back to the police chief's formal statement
which started at the beginning of this film clip.
The police chief is reading the statement as was earlier...
Police Chief: "...homicide investigators have developed evidence which reveals that the
named suspects and others lived at the Spahn movie ranch 1 mile west
of Topanga Canyon Road on Santa Susanna Pass west of Chatsworth
California which is within the city of, uh which is outside the city
of Los Angeles. During the time of the commission of the murders
the suspects resided at the Spahn Ranch.
Later the group moved to the Barker Ranch which is located near the
Death Valley Monument in Inyo County..."
We go back to questions and answers
during the press conference...
Police Chief: "I think I should not disclose the location of the weapon
recovered"
Reporter: "What type was it"
Police Chief: "Nor it's type"
Reporter: "Chief did the glasses that were found, did the pair of spectacles
which were found at the scene have anything to do with this case,
with finding the killers?"
Police Chief: "We thought we knew the answer to this but at this time I have
to say we have not connected the spectacles..."
The film clip is constantly cut from this point...
named suspects and others lived at the Spahn movie ranch 1 mile west
of Topanga Canyon Road on Santa Susanna Pass west of Chatsworth
California which is within the city of, uh which is outside the city
of Los Angeles. During the time of the commission of the murders
the suspects resided at the Spahn Ranch.
Later the group moved to the Barker Ranch which is located near the
Death Valley Monument in Inyo County..."
We go back to questions and answers
during the press conference...
Police Chief: "I think I should not disclose the location of the weapon
recovered"
Reporter: "What type was it"
Police Chief: "Nor it's type"
Reporter: "Chief did the glasses that were found, did the pair of spectacles
which were found at the scene have anything to do with this case,
with finding the killers?"
Police Chief: "We thought we knew the answer to this but at this time I have
to say we have not connected the spectacles..."
The film clip is constantly cut from this point...
Police Chief: "...well I didn't say that..."
"we think it's a larger number than the number that we
have just obtained warrants for..."
Reporter: "How many have you obtained warrants for Chief now?"
Police Chief: "We obtained warrants for three..."
Reporter: "For three. Now have I got it right, that there are 2 girls that are
still at large or are they in custody somewhere"
Police Chief: "They are still at large we'll have one in custody within a very short
period of time. The other one perhaps a little bit longer"
"...we think it does however I cannot discuss the
significance of this at this time"
"Alright Pete you can pass out that opening statement"
"...in the Tate case, robbery might have been a coincidental
motive in the LaBianca case"
The film clip is cut up to the point of incoherence.
The film clip of the press conference ends.
"we think it's a larger number than the number that we
have just obtained warrants for..."
Reporter: "How many have you obtained warrants for Chief now?"
Police Chief: "We obtained warrants for three..."
Reporter: "For three. Now have I got it right, that there are 2 girls that are
still at large or are they in custody somewhere"
Police Chief: "They are still at large we'll have one in custody within a very short
period of time. The other one perhaps a little bit longer"
"...we think it does however I cannot discuss the
significance of this at this time"
"Alright Pete you can pass out that opening statement"
"...in the Tate case, robbery might have been a coincidental
motive in the LaBianca case"
The film clip is cut up to the point of incoherence.
The film clip of the press conference ends.
(The arrest warrants the police chief spoke of
did not involve Susan.
Susan was already in custody at this time)
did not involve Susan.
Susan was already in custody at this time)
