Suspects In Murder Seek Court Redress
Thursday, January 18th, 1973
STOCKTON, Jan. 18 — Attorneys for four persons accused of the murder in November of Lauren Willett said in San Joaquin County Superior Court yesterday they will file written motions to suppress evidence they assert was obtained illegally by police against their clients.
Those motions as well as motions for dismissal of all of the charges, will be argued before Judge James Darrah at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 26.
Meanwhile, one of the defendants, Nancy Pitman, said through her attorney she hopes to get her teeth fixed by a locol dentist with financial help from her family.
A second defendant, Priscilla Cooper, previously had complained of problems with her teeth but her attorney said Xrays taken by the dentist at the County Jail indicate no particular problem.
Appearing with the girls, identified as former friends of convicted killer Charles Manson, were two male defendants in the case, Michael Monfort and James (Spider) Craig.
Craig complained he is not being allowed to make as many telephone calls from Deuel Vocational Institution as he would like but Judge Chris Papas, who sat in on the proceedings yesterday said the problem would have to be worked out with Deuel officials and the District Attorney’s Office.
Among those in the courtroom was Maria T. Alonzo, 21, of Culver City, who was arrested just prior to the discovery by police of Mrs. Willett’s body and charged with carrying a concealed knife while hitchhiking along Interstate 5 in south Stockton.
The charge later was dropped. Miss Alonzo reportedly had just visited William Goucher,
23, in the County Jail when arrested. Goucher, Monfort and Craig have been charged by Sonoma County authorities with the October murder of Mrs. Willett’s husband, James, 26.
During the proceedings she and Miss Cooper exchanged nods of recognition.
According to police, Monfort, Craig, Miss Cooper and Miss Pitman allegedly shot Mrs. Willett to death and buried her body under a home at 720 W. Flora St.
A fifth suspect, Lynette Fromme, also was arrested. Charges against her later were reduced to being an accessory and that charge eventually was dropped.
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