County of Los Angeles Sheriff's Department

SHORTY SHEA INVESTIGATION

12-19-70

069-2954402010-016

MURDER 187 PC

Active: Grand Jury Indictment;
Suspect Arraigned

SHEA, Donald Jerome

#1 GROGAN, Steve
#2 DAVIS, Bruce
#3 MANSON, Charles

On 12-14, 15, and 16, 1970, a hearing was held before the Los Angeles County Grand Jury. Deputy District Attorney Burton Katz presented the facts. Forty-eight exhibits were introduced. The following witnesses testified:

ELIZABETH SHEA
SANDRA HARMON
MAGDALENE SHEA
JIM BABCOCK
LANCE VICTOR
BAB BICKSTON
JERRY BINDER
RAY PARROT
MARION BINDER
JOHN ENFIELD
ARCH AHLL
WILLIAM HUMPHREYS
DON QUANT
RUBY PEARL
JOHN SCHWARTZ
LEE SWANOOKE
STEPHANIE SCRAM
KAREN NELSON

DIANA LAKE
JUAN FLYNN
GEORGE SPAHN
FRANK RITZ
ALLEN SPRINGER
PAUL WATKINS
BROOKS POSTON
PAUL CROCKETT
RICHARD BARBER, JR.
DEPUTY PETER SCHMOUSIS
MR. A. INGHRAM
MR. S. LOUNER
DELMA BAKER
DEPUTY BARRY FISHER
PAUL EWART
DEPUTY SHEEHAN
SGT. PAUL WHITELEY

After deliberations, indictments were handed down on suspects Manson, Davis, and Grogan. Suspects Manson and Davis were arraigned on 12-17-70 at 1100 hours in Department 100 before Judge George Dell. Suspect Manson's request to appear in Pro Per was denied. Suspect Davis's request to appear in Pro Per was continued to 12-17-70 when arguments will be heard regarding the joining of the Shea and Hinman murder cases.

On 12-18-70, the undersigned proceeded to the Inyo County Jail, Independence, California, and interviewed suspect Grogan at 0750 hours. Suspect was told the purpose of the interview and Constitutional Rights were read per SH-AD 477 by Sgt. Whiteley. Suspect waived his rights and stated he knew Shorty Shea but not well; that Shea occasioned the Spahn's Ranch in the summer of 1969, drifting in and out of the ranch. Suspect Grogan stated the last few time he talked with SHEA, SHEA stated he was going to go to San Francisco and work in a talcum or salt mine.

Suspect asked how many witnesses testified before the Grand Jury and was told approximately 43. Suspect replied, "I don't know how this could happen without you finding a body." Suspect was told that Catherine Share had admitted that under the orders of Charles Manson, she had driven victims Shea's car to the Gresham Street location and abandoned it. Suspect stated, "Gypsy told me she talked with you about the car." Also that Deputy Guenther told her she would go to the gas chamber. Suspect was asked if he had ever seen Shorty's .45 revolvers which were described to him. Suspect replied he saw Danny De Carlo with a couple of .45's and that from the description they sound like the same one.

Suspect was told that numerous witnesses testified that they were told by Suspect Grogan that he had cut off Shorty's head and suspect answered, "People will say anything and you haven't found where his body is." Suspect was asked if he, in fact, had killed victim Shea. Suspect denied ever seeing Shea's brown attache case or knowing anything about an altercation between Manson and Shea.

Suspect was told that the Grand Jury after hearing testimony of 43 witnesses was convinced enough to issue indictments. Suspect stated with a large smile, "Without a body they must want everyone."

Interview was concluded at 8:15 A.M., and the suspect was transported to the Los Angeles County Jail and booked. Arraignment was set for 12-21-70 at 11:00 A.M.

PAUL J. WHITELEY, Sgt. #469
CHARLES C. GUENTHER, Deputy #943
HOMICIDE BUREAU, DETECTIVE DIVISION

Approved: OLIVER TAYLOR, Lieutenant

Britton - Steno

COPY TO: Stat