Opinion ID: 1385351
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The first warrant.

Text: On May 20, 1971, the body of Kenneth Whitacre was discovered buried on the Kagehiro Ranch, a ranch neighboring the J.L. Sullivan Ranch. The victim had been stabbed in the chest and had a severe hacking wound in the back of his head. Evidence suggested he had been killed recently and buried on May 19, 1971, some time between 10 a.m. and about 6 p.m. On the morning of May 25, 1971, a body was found buried on the Sullivan Ranch, apparently the victim of similar violence. Between 4:30 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. on May 25, 1971, seven additional victims were unearthed from graves on the Sullivan Ranch. All the victims had similar stabbing and hacking wounds. At 2:38 a.m. on May 26, 1971, a warrant issued authorizing the search of various buildings and vehicles for Knives, axes, machetes, shovels or any other cutting or stabbing instruments or weapons; bloodstained clothes, vehicles, or weapons of any sort; the personal effects of any of the victims; and any other evidence including but not limited to payroll and employment records associating Juan V. Corona, or any other person with the death of the victims. Among the places authorized to be searched was a building described in the warrant, and in the affidavit for the warrant, as a single family residence dwelling located fartherest [ sic ] to the north in the complex of buildings known as the J.L. Sullivan Ranch, loading station and labor camp otherwise known as 4817 Live Oak Highway, Sutter County, California together with the premises surrounding said residence and any and all out buildings and appurtenances thereof. Although not so described in the affidavit or the warrant, the single family residence dwelling was in fact a mess hall for farm workers, and was also used by Corona as an office for occasional sleeping purposes. Search of that building yielded an awl or ice pick, a double-bladed axe, two hunting knives, a 9 [millimeter] automatic pistol and ammunition, a pair of tin snips, business receipts, Sullivan Ranch payroll check stubs, and credit cards in Corona's name. The trial court ordered this evidence suppressed on the ground that the affidavit for the warrant did not establish probable cause for the search of the mess hall. [5]