Opinion ID: 2639471
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Disappearance of Lynda Burrill

Text: Lynda, Shane Daniels, Sher L. (Sher), Todd Baxter, and Bob Jacobs shared a home on Benham Street in Placerville. Lynda lived at this location until she disappeared on June 29, 1984. On August 4, 1984, William Hurley and his wife were camping just off Four Corners on Ferrari Mill Road. While Walking through the woods with his dog, he and his wife found a human skull and other skeletal remains scattered over an area of about 25 square yards. Through dental records, including X-rays, it was determined that the bones were Lynda's. The pathologist was unable to determine the cause of death; she could state only that there was no observable trauma to any of the bones. A week later, Hurley and his wife returned to the area where they found the skull. They were looking for clothes. About 150 yards from where they had found the skull, the Hurleys found clothing on the ground, including a bra, panties, a lavender knit top and a yellow shirt. The four pieces of clothing were in close proximity. Sher identified those items as the clothing Lynda was wearing the night she disappeared. Lynda's mother, Sharon Burrill, also identified the clothing as belonging to Lynda. On June 29, Sher, Baxter, Jacobs, Daniels, and Lynda had dinner at their Benham Street house. Sher testified that after Daniels and Jacobs left, she and Lynda walked downtown. They met a friend, Darin McArthur, at the furniture store, and the three sat on a bench in front of the bakery. Sher saw Lynda go into The Oz. Lynda left The Oz with defendant and they headed toward the downtown parking lot. Sher knew defendant from The Oz and from around town. She testified that defendant and Lynda were talking. Sher asked Lynda where she and defendant were going, and Lynda told her she was going to the downtown parking lot and would be right back. McArthur also stated he saw Lynda pass by with defendant and that Lynda said she would be right back. Lynda never returned. Cheryl Hall, who worked for the Placerville News Company, a downtown newsstand, testified that she saw Lynda and defendant walk past her newsstand on a Friday or Saturday in late June, talking to each other. Hall recounted that Sher was across the street on a bench and Lynda crossed to talk to her while defendant waited. Hall did not see what happened thereafter. Hall stated that the following day, Sher told her that Lynda had not come home and Sher was really worried about her. On Saturday, June 30, at 10:00 a.m., defendant went to Joe and Linda Crespin's house. He spoke to Linda Crespin. She remembered the date because it was her 17th wedding anniversary. She asked defendant if he was dating anyone. He replied, Yes, I'm seeing a girl named Lynda. She was not sure if he used the word seeing or dating. Crespin remarked on the coincidence that her own name was Linda. Defendant replied, Yes, but she's not like you. He added, girls like that should be eliminated. Crespin was sure defendant used the word eliminated. Crespin stated that defendant had a scratch on his forehead and when she pointed it out, he said he got the scratch cutting wood. She later observed him put some medicine on the scratch. A few days after Lynda's disappearance, Sher was using a pay telephone in the downtown parking lot, talking to Lynda's father, Donald Burrill. Sher saw defendant park his car, exit the vehicle, and walk with Darlene out of the parking lot. As they passed her, Sher asked defendant where Lynda had gone that night. Defendant replied, Lynda who? Sher then specified to defendant Lynda's last name (Burrill). When defendant said he didn't know if he knew her, Sher described Lynda. Defendant then said he did not know Lynda and he was not in town that night. Sher told defendant she had seen him with Lynda that night. Defendant replied, Well, whatever. Upon learning that his daughter was last seen with defendant, Donald Burrill called defendant's place of employment, the El Dorado Convalescent Hospital, and spoke to defendant on July 5 by telephone. He asked defendant: What did you do with my daughter? Defendant replied, Darlene and I do not know your daughter. Burrill described Lynda to defendant as a young girl acting as a counselor, helping people downtown who were on drugs. Defendant replied, Darlene and I are not on drugs. We don't take drugs. Defendant stated that he would talk to Darlene when he got off work and he would call Burrill back. About 15 to 20 minutes later, defendant telephoned Burrill and said: Darlene and I do not know Lynda. Besides, I wasn't even in town that night. Burrill testified that he had specifically told defendant the night he was concerned about was the Friday before July 5, which was June 29. On July 20, 1984, El Dorado County Sheriffs Detective William White interviewed defendant about Lynda. At the time, all Detective White knew was that Lynda was missing under suspicious circumstances, and that defendant had been seen with her on June 29. Detective White showed him a photograph of Lynda and asked him if he knew her. Defendant said that he may have seen her, may have known her, but his girlfriend Darlene knew her better. When asked if he had been with Lynda on the night of June 29, defendant said that he could have but he didn't recall, wasn't sure. When asked if he might have accompanied Lynda to the downtown parking lot, defendant replied that he may have seen her at The Oz, or may have seen her at the Bell Tower, but he didn't recall walking with her to the parking lot. Defendant then said he might have walked her to the parking lot, but he was not sure. Darlene testified that on one occasion at the downtown parking lot, Lynda was on the phone and defendant told Darlene that he knew her parents. In addition, in early November 1984, defendant told Linda Crespin that [he] and Darlene gave Lynda a ride from one corner to the next ... close to where Lynda lives, and then [defendant] went in and told Lynda's mother that he did just that. But Lynda's mother, Sharon Burrill, testified that she did not know defendant, had never met defendant, and had never spoken to him in person or by telephone. Lynette H. testified that she was friends with Lynda, and that she knew defendant. Lynette H. stated she would often see him at the downtown parking lot, The Oz, and the Bell Tower. In the spring of 1984, she observed Lynda and defendant together five or six times. They would be walking together or talking, and they were usually alone. They frequented the area between the downtown parking lot and The Oz.