Scott Weinberger

Faced with very little evidence and no leads, but a growing sense of urgency, police investigating Leslie's murder turned to the public for help, asking anyone who saw anything unusual to contact police immediately.

Faced with very little evidence and no leads, but a growing sense of urgency, police investigating Leslie's murder turned to the public for help, asking anyone who saw anything unusual to contact police immediately.

And as a reminder, this was 1973. There are no security cameras capturing every square inch of the city. There are no cell phone records to trace or social media accounts that could provide clues to people who might have followed Leslie or wanted to do her harm.

And as a reminder, this was 1973. There are no security cameras capturing every square inch of the city. There are no cell phone records to trace or social media accounts that could provide clues to people who might have followed Leslie or wanted to do her harm.

Without an eyewitness or fingerprints at the scene or other incriminating evidence, police don't have a ton to work with to solve a murder just like this.

Without an eyewitness or fingerprints at the scene or other incriminating evidence, police don't have a ton to work with to solve a murder just like this.

Later that night, when it came time to leave, Janet decided to hitchhike home. Now, today, hitchhiking may seem like an obvious bad choice, thanks in part to the publicity surrounding these very string of murders we've been talking about. But in the early 1970s, especially in that area of Northern California, hitchhiking was not uncommon.

Later that night, when it came time to leave, Janet decided to hitchhike home. Now, today, hitchhiking may seem like an obvious bad choice, thanks in part to the publicity surrounding these very string of murders we've been talking about. But in the early 1970s, especially in that area of Northern California, hitchhiking was not uncommon.

But for Janet Taylor, what felt like a routine ride soon turned tragic.

But for Janet Taylor, what felt like a routine ride soon turned tragic.

If we recall, Leslie's rain boots were removed and discarded some distance from her body. Finding this same detail at both scenes was striking and could be looked at as a kind of killer's signature. And, you know, honestly, I thought about, you know, what could that really mean and what would investigators take from that?

If we recall, Leslie's rain boots were removed and discarded some distance from her body. Finding this same detail at both scenes was striking and could be looked at as a kind of killer's signature. And, you know, honestly, I thought about, you know, what could that really mean and what would investigators take from that?

You know, it's the beginning stages of undressing, and that's when the struggle begins, perhaps, or something more significant. And just, as I said, thinking about it, maybe it was preventing the victim from getting away. Being able to traverse through a wooded area, potentially rocky or muddy, without their shoes could slow them down.

You know, it's the beginning stages of undressing, and that's when the struggle begins, perhaps, or something more significant. And just, as I said, thinking about it, maybe it was preventing the victim from getting away. Being able to traverse through a wooded area, potentially rocky or muddy, without their shoes could slow them down.

And that could have been, you know, don't want to really read the mind of a killer, but that could have been on the mind of the killer.

And that could have been, you know, don't want to really read the mind of a killer, but that could have been on the mind of the killer.

I often talk about the term connective tissue. What could connect these two cases? And when the news broke of Janet Taylor's killing, law enforcement across two counties did believe the crimes could be related.

I often talk about the term connective tissue. What could connect these two cases? And when the news broke of Janet Taylor's killing, law enforcement across two counties did believe the crimes could be related.

At some point in the night, Arliss was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death.

At some point in the night, Arliss was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death.