VR #149: Attempted Homicide

December 10th, 1975 | W Kaweah Ave

(see main page)

Suspect Description:

McGowen described the shooter as a white male, 25 to 35 years of age, 5'10", and 180 pounds or more. He had a round face, a cleft in his chin, a wide jaw, and his nose had a distinctive shape when the offender's profile was seen. He had a "thick neck."

His hair was short, light blonde, with no sideburns. It was longer on the top and parted on the left side. The officer described it as a "military haircut," as it was shorter than most boys and men were wearing.

He had light skin with no sign of whiskers or stubble. Under hypnosis, the officer described him as "babyfaced."

The officer described the Ransacker's shoulders as large and round, and he had a larger lower half with large legs, large hips/thighs, and a large behind (or "rump," as the report puts it). His feet were described as "stubby."

The VR was wearing tight pants that looked like blue jeans, a brown and green camouflage jacket with elastic cuffs, converse tennis shoes that were a low-top style and dark in color, and brown cotton gloves. The cap he was wearing was very thick, and it gave the impression of a ski mask rolled up.

He described the shooter as running slowly and running in a "funny manner, like his knees were together." This may be because of eleven pounds of loot that he had in his pockets, or it could be indicative of a strange gait that was sometimes described by witnesses.

He drew his gun and shot with his left hand.

The neighbor who observed the subject described him as 5'10", about 180 lbs, and being "large," having a "large frame."

A month and a half later, after the VR case had started to grow quiet, another officer created a sheet that summarized and collated a bunch of Visalia Ransacker facts. In this description, the officer is said to give the age range of "20-25," and the detail of "short, stubby fingers" was added. The officer who compiled the new list of information said that the "stubby fingers" was actually taken from the Snelling description and was misattributed. The new age range was an amalgamation of the various descriptions given by witnesses over the crime spree.