“For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (RSV)
On the night of December 14, 2016, I’m sitting at my desk looking out of the window at the Christmas lights, through the snail vines on the driveway trellis, when suddenly three gunshots pierce the air.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
I quickly crouch underneath my desk, it sounds that close, as I look up at the clock on top of the curio cabinet. It’s 9:24 pm. An eerie silence follows. People start gathering outside at the corner bar while a man is sobbing loudly in the middle of the road confirming what we all fear. ‘He killed her! He killed my brother! Oh my god!’ I was outside in the yard standing underneath the trees in the dark, with tears running down my face. In a matter of minutes, fifteen cop cars, including a coroner with silent flashing lights, pull up one right after the other, the white double wide mobile and the sobbing man now hidden from view. After everybody went back inside the bar and all the police cars leave, the coroner is still there when the sun comes up. I couldn’t finish editing, ‘The House of 3 Murders’ knowing, three people just died two acres away in a double homicide/suicide. People were evil then, as they are evil now, was my disgusted reasoning, as I tossed and turned all night. For days, I couldn’t get the sound of the gunshots or the man’s sobs out of my mind and when the snail vines freeze on the trellis in winter I can see the boarded-up, abandoned, white double wide mobile clearly and still ask God why.
I went to visit a friend, who’s lived in Needles all of her life and told her what I’d seen and heard in the Valley the other night. We talked about how terrible the tragedy was and how we couldn’t understand something like this could happen in a small desert community, but, even Needles, (pop.5,007), has its’ own dark tales to tell.
She asked if I heard of Jimmy Joe Cox and I told her no. She continued, “The town was divided over whether he killed his girlfriend or not. It was a topic nobody cared to talk about. He came from a fine family and didn’t have a criminal record. It was scary, knowing someone that lived here for years, could be a murderer. Whenever I saw him in his yellow dune buggy, I turned the corner and whenever I saw him at the grocery store, I went down a different aisle. He was just that creepy to me…”
In The San Bernardino Sun, printed on May 13, 2010: ‘Needles, CA: Man, 71, Arrested in Death of Girlfriend in 1982’
‘Jimmy Joe Cox was arrested on Wednesday at the Needles Sheriffs’ station and is expected to be charged with murder today. He has always been a suspect in the Dec. 23, 1982 disappearance of his live-in girlfriend, Carole Spearman, 26. Witnesses saw the couple arguing at the Sundowner Tavern that night and the victim’s severed hand was found the next day wrapped in a plastic bag along the Colorado River near the Topock bridge. A week later, Cox contacted Sheriffs’ investigators expressing concern that it could belong to Spearman since he hadn’t seen her in a week . He then, filed a missing persons’ report. It was another year before Spearman’s head was found near the Topock Marina. Her body has never been found. A motive hadn’t been released, but records show Cox was abusive to his girlfriend. He was arrested months before her disappearance for burning her with a road flare.
Spearman’s family who lives in New York, said they had ‘no idea Cox was abusing her but they were grateful someone had been arrested. ” It’s 28 years waiting for the news that someone is going to be held responsible,” said Spearman’s younger sister, Catherine Axberg. She was 11, when her sister went missing, but she remembers the letters that Spearman always signed, ‘I love you immensely and profusely,’ and the handmade doll furniture that Spearman mailed to her.
Axberg describes her sister as ‘a voracious reader, an honest and thoughtful woman, who never forgot a birthday’ and a talented crafts woman who also made jewelry. Sheriffs’ investigators took over the case in 1989 from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Department. The county’s cold case team headed by Detective, Ken Ford reopened Spearman’s case and began re-interviewing witnesses.’
Carole Spearman
Online that evening, I asked FB’s Memories of Needles Past and Present Page, if anyone knew Jimmy Joe Cox personally. A minute later, a message pings on my phone. It’s a Needles-born, past resident, that was a dispatcher at the Police Department in the early 80’s. Like everyone else, he went to ‘The House of 3 Murders’ to drink a few beers with his friends on a Friday night. He said Jimmy Joe Cox was there one night with some of his friends and lit candles on a large piece of concrete where the foundation of the house used to be and performed satanic rituals, surrounded by tall salt cedar trees and didn’t seem to care if anyone watched, he was surprised. Out of curiosity, I google: ‘satanic rituals’: ‘ Satanists/Occultists place a great deal of importance on ‘Numbers,’ it read. ‘Before they do anything, they ask themselves two questions. 1) Is the plan of this action in accordance with the astrological lineup of the sun, moons and planets? 2) Is the timing of this in accordance of the numbers it will produce? I also google, “What do Satanists think about murder?”
‘The ethical practices, according to the writings of Anton S. La Vey, provide the direction for Satanists in the Satanic Bible. One of the 9 practices, is number 5, which represents: Vengeance, instead of ‘turning the other cheek.’ Number 6, represents: All the so-called sins, as they please, for physical, mental or emotional gratification. Number 7, represents: ‘Man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse, than those that walk on all fours, who, because of his divine and intellectual development has become the most vicious animal of all.’
Satanists are a diverse group. A few of them are so inspired by the concept of an all-consuming evil, they actually commit murder. Richard Ramirez, the so-called, ‘Night Stalker,’ who terrorized California in the mid-80’s, scrawled Satanic symbols, numbers and yelled satanic slogans, while committing his murders. During court appearances, David Berkowitz, aka, ‘Son of Sam’, claimed a demon commanded him to kill people. Germans, Manuela and Daniel Rudy, an American teen, Ricky Kasso and a heavy metal group called, ‘Hatred’, all committed gruesome murders while involving the name of ‘Satan’. The popularity of Satanism in music and movies along with the isolated, but widely publicized Satanic murders created an infamous era, ‘The Satanic Panic’.
Printed on December 23, 1983, The Arizona Republic claimed, ‘A possible satanic ‘cult’ involvement had been an integral part of the investigation’ —but didn’t go into detail. In the 70’s-80’s, there were three young Needles girls missing and murdered, as other victims were found dismembered in trash bins, raped, strangled and buried in Arizona as well as along the California, Oregon coast.
In 1974, Debbie Starkey was in her early 20’s and lived in Needles for a few years before her death. One night she and a friend went to a party in the desert between Needles and Kingman. Debbie was 3 months pregnant when she was found faced down in the sand, raped and strangled with her bra straps. Her remains were found buried near the Franconia siding on the ATSF. Her cousin commented on a thread, “Debbie was mentally challenged, she thought like a 10 year old, so sweet and innocent, which made it even harder for our family to accept her tragic death…”
In May 1976, Robin Jennings, 22, finished her waitress duties at Sambo’s on West Broadway for the night, when she disappeared. ‘She was intelligent, friendly and trusting’, her close friends remember her fondly. Her remains were found several years later south of Needles. “And no one could convince me, she committed suicide by jumping off the Needles Bureau Bridge at midnight, either,” confided a close friend online.
In 1978, William Floyd Zamastil 57, was convicted of rape and murder of a Wisconsin woman after she was abducted on her way to pick up her husband and her body was found at an old U.S. Army or Air Force base in Tucson, Arizona. He also bragged about the Bradshaw murders he committed in Canoga Park, outside of Barstow, California. The siblings, Malcom 17, Jacqueline 18, had hitched a ride with Zamastil from Vegas and were both raped and bludgeoned to death with a socket wrench in a remote area. Authorities suspected Zamastil of at least five other homicides, including Nikki Bunch, which he later denied.
In 1974, Zamastil lived in Needles and was working as a mechanic at Phillips 66 Gas Station on the corner of Cibola and Broadway, when Nikki Bunch went to get a loaf of bread at the old Buy Rite Market nearby and never returned. Although Zamastil was immediately a suspect, relatives and close friends claimed it had to be someone Nikki knew. Jimmy Joe Cox was a close neighbor and also, became a suspect.
Nikki Bunch Memorial Field
The sweet 16 year old girl was a member of the NHS class of 1976 and loved by all her classmates. Her body was found two years later in 1976 at Gravel Girty Wash. With the help of friends from the Needles community the Nikki Bunch Memorial Field was erected in 1980 .
Another message pings. “He’s a piece of shit. Why would you keep his name alive?’ It was a cousin of the 12 year old boy, Patrick Mello, that went missing on July 28, 1995 and is still a cold case. ‘That SOB killed him. I know he did. We tried to get him to admit to it but he sat in a blank fucking stare. He took that shit to the grave.”
Jimmy Joe Cox was Patrick Mello’s stepdad and was known to be abusive towards the boy. He’d been married into her family for years, she claimed. What kind of person was he? She messaged back: ‘Ok, so he had bars on the kids windows only. The doors were locked from the outside at 6 pm every night. We were not allowed out of the room. He locked the fridge and the cupboards so we couldn’t eat, he had a toilet in his bathroom made out of drugs—there’s so much I don’t want to put it all in text.’ Someone commented on a thread in Memories of Needles Past & Present Page: ‘He had some pretty evil friends. He sold his girlfriends like property and he even had orgies in his backyard. I think people were just afraid to say anything for fear of their own lives. Needles just didn’t feel like Needles anymore. It was a real scary time.’
Three people had been brutally shot to death at the ‘House of Three Murders’ on the old River Road in 1949. The number ‘3’ is the first sacred number, the first ‘perfect’ number that represents the pagan trinity. Satanists/Occultists will multiply and add three to other sacred numbers to create new numbers. However, they also group three’s in two’s and three’s for the purpose of ‘intensification’.
It suddenly became clear why Jimmy Joe Cox was spotted at ‘The House of 3 Murders’ performing satanic rituals. He claimed his innocence to his family and friends for years, disregarding the facts: he was an abuser, had a violent temper and a known Satanist. In the end, he was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, where he died of cancer, on July 7, 2015, admitting to 9 murders, including Nikki Bunch and Robin Jennings. Cox’s Public Defender, Edward Wilson, stated at the time of Cox’s sentencing, he didn’t believe there was sufficient evidence to convict without reasonable doubt, especially since much of the evidence was circumstantial, relying mostly on testimony. The case was on appeal.
“We’re always out there hunting and searching and we want to bring people to justice, no matter how long it takes,” said Sgt. Frank Montanez, of the Mohave County Sheriff’s Department. “Cox killed somebody so young and stepped right back into society doing his thing. This is justice delayed.” added, Detective Ryan Ford.
Special thanks to Needles Regional Museum, Needles Library and Needles residents for your contributions.🌹
“Well, I never been to England, but I kinda like the Beatles. Well, I headed for Las Vegas—only made it out to Needles.” Three Dog Night (1971)
“For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (RSV)
On the night of December 14, 2016, I’m sitting at my desk looking out of the window at the Christmas lights, through the snail vines on the driveway trellis, when suddenly three gunshots pierce the air.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
I quickly crouch underneath my desk– it sounds that close–as I look up at the clock on top of the curio cabinet. It’s 9:24 pm. An eerie silence follows. People start gathering outside at the corner bar while a man is sobbing loudly in the middle of the road confirming what we all fear. ‘He killed her! He killed my brother! Oh my god!’ I was outside in the yard standing underneath the trees in the dark, with tears running down my face. In a matter of minutes, fifteen cop cars, including a coroner with silent flashing lights, pull up one right after the other, the white double wide mobile and the sobbing man now hidden from view. After everybody went back inside the bar and all the police cars leave, the coroner is still there when the sun comes up. I couldn’t finish editing, ‘The House of 3 Murders’ knowing, three people just died two acres away in a double homicide/suicide. People were evil then, as they are evil now, was my disgusted reasoning, as I tossed and turned all night. For days, I couldn’t get the sound of the gunshots or the man’s sobs out of my mind and when the snail vines freeze on the trellis in winter I can see the boarded-up, abandoned, white double wide mobile clearly and still ask God why.
I went to visit a friend, who’s lived in Needles all of her life and told her what I’d seen and heard in the Valley the other night. We talked about how terrible the tragedy was and how we couldn’t understand something like this could happen in a small desert community, but, even Needles, (pop.5,007), has its’ own dark tales to tell.
She asked if I heard of Jimmy Joe Cox and I told her no. She continued, “The town was divided over whether he killed his girlfriend or not. It was a topic nobody cared to talk about. He came from a fine family and didn’t have a criminal record. It was scary, knowing someone that lived here for years, could be a murderer. Whenever I saw him in his yellow dune buggy, I turned the corner and whenever I saw him at the grocery store, I went down a different aisle. He was just that creepy to me…”
In The San Bernardino Sun, printed on May 13, 2010: ‘Needles, CA: Man, 71, Arrested in Death of Girlfriend in 1982’
‘Jimmy Joe Cox was arrested on Wednesday at the Needles Sheriffs’ station and is expected to be charged with murder today. He has always been a suspect in the Dec. 23, 1982 disappearance of his live-in girlfriend, Carole Spearman, 26. Witnesses saw the couple arguing at the Sundowner Tavern that night and the victim’s severed hand was found the next day wrapped in a plastic bag along the Colorado River near the Topock bridge. A week later, Cox contacted Sheriffs’ investigators expressing concern that it could belong to Spearman since he hadn’t seen her in a week . He then, filed a missing persons’ report. It was another year before Spearman’s head was found near the Topock Marina. Her body has never been found. A motive hadn’t been released, but records show Cox was abusive to his girlfriend. He was arrested months before her disappearance for burning her with a road flare.
Spearman’s family who lives in New York, said they had ‘no idea Cox was abusing her but they were grateful someone had been arrested. ” It’s 28 years waiting for the news that someone is going to be held responsible,” said Spearman’s younger sister, Catherine Axberg. She was 11, when her sister went missing, but she remembers the letters that Spearman always signed, ‘I love you immensely and profusely,’ and the handmade doll furniture that Spearman mailed to her.
Axberg describes her sister as ‘a voracious reader, an honest and thoughtful woman, who never forgot a birthday’ and a talented crafts woman who also made jewelry. Sheriffs’ investigators took over the case in 1989 from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Department. The county’s cold case team headed by Detective, Ken Ford reopened Spearman’s case and began re-interviewing witnesses.’
Carole Spearman
Online that evening, I asked FB’s Memories of Needles Past and Present Page, if anyone knew Jimmy Joe Cox personally. A minute later, a message pings on my phone. It’s a Needles-born, past resident, that was a dispatcher at the Police Department in the early 80’s. Like everyone else, he went to ‘The House of 3 Murders’ to drink a few beers with his friends on a Friday night. He said Jimmy Joe Cox was there one night with some of his friends and lit candles on a large piece of concrete where the foundation of the house used to be and performed satanic rituals, surrounded by tall salt cedar trees and didn’t seem to care if anyone watched, he was surprised. Out of curiosity, I google: ‘satanic rituals’: ‘ Satanists/Occultists place a great deal of importance on ‘Numbers,’ it read. ‘Before they do anything, they ask themselves two questions. 1) Is the plan of this action in accordance with the astrological lineup of the sun, moons and planets? 2) Is the timing of this in accordance of the numbers it will produce? I also google, “What do Satanists think about murder?”
‘The ethical practices, according to the writings of Anton S. La Vey, provide the direction for Satanists in the Satanic Bible. One of the 9 practices, is number 5, which represents: Vengeance, instead of ‘turning the other cheek.’ Number 6, represents: All the so-called sins, as they please, for physical, mental or emotional gratification. Number 7, represents: ‘Man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse, than those that walk on all fours, who, because of his divine and intellectual development has become the most vicious animal of all.’
Satanists are a diverse group. A few of them are so inspired by the concept of an all-consuming evil, they actually commit murder. Richard Ramirez, the so-called, ‘Night Stalker,’ who terrorized California in the mid-80’s, scrawled Satanic symbols, numbers and yelled satanic slogans, while committing his murders. During court appearances, David Berkowitz, aka, ‘Son of Sam’, claimed a demon commanded him to kill people. Germans, Manuela and Daniel Rudy, an American teen, Ricky Kasso and a heavy metal group called, ‘Hatred’, all committed gruesome murders while involving the name of ‘Satan’. The popularity of Satanism in music and movies along with the isolated, but widely publicized Satanic murders created an infamous era, ‘The Satanic Panic’.
Printed on December 23, 1983, The Arizona Republic claimed, ‘A possible satanic ‘cult’ involvement had been an integral part of the investigation’ —but didn’t go into detail. In the 70’s-80’s, there were three young Needles girls missing and murdered, as other victims were found dismembered in trash bins, raped, strangled and buried in Arizona as well as along the California, Oregon coast.
In 1974, Debbie Starkey was in her early 20’s and lived in Needles for a few years before her death. One night she and a friend went to a party in the desert between Needles and Kingman. Debbie was 3 months pregnant when she was found faced down in the sand, raped and strangled with her bra straps. Her remains were found buried near the Franconia siding on the ATSF. Her cousin commented on a thread, “Debbie was mentally challenged, she thought like a 10 year old, so sweet and innocent, which made it even harder for our family to accept her tragic death…”
In May 1976, Robin Jennings, 22, finished her waitress duties at Sambo’s on West Broadway for the night, when she disappeared. ‘She was intelligent, friendly and trusting’, her close friends remember her fondly. Her remains were found several years later south of Needles. “And no one could convince me, she committed suicide by jumping off the Needles Bureau Bridge at midnight, either,” confided a close friend online.
In 1978, William Floyd Zamastil 57, was convicted of rape and murder of a Wisconsin woman after she was abducted on her way to pick up her husband and her body was found at an old U.S. Army or Air Force base in Tucson, Arizona. He also bragged about the Bradshaw murders he committed in Canoga Park, outside of Barstow, California. The siblings, Malcom 17, Jacqueline 18, had hitched a ride with Zamastil from Vegas and were both raped and bludgeoned to death with a socket wrench in a remote area. Authorities suspected Zamastil of at least five other homicides, including Nikki Bunch, which he later denied.
In 1974, Zamastil lived in Needles and was working as a mechanic at Phillips 66 Gas Station on the corner of Cibola and Broadway, when Nikki Bunch went to get a loaf of bread at the old Buy Rite Market nearby and never returned. Although Zamastil was immediately a suspect, relatives and close friends claimed it had to be someone Nikki knew. Jimmy Joe Cox was a close neighbor and also, became a suspect.
Nikki Bunch Memorial Field
The sweet 16 year old girl was a member of the NHS class of 1976 and loved by all her classmates. Her body was found two years later in 1976 at Gravel Girty Wash. With the help of friends from the Needles community the Nikki Bunch Memorial Field was erected in 1980 .
Another message pings. “He’s a piece of shit. Why would you keep his name alive?’ It was a cousin of the 12 year old boy, Patrick Mello, that went missing on July 28, 1995 and is still a cold case. ‘That SOB killed him. I know he did. We tried to get him to admit to it but he sat in a blank fucking stare. He took that shit to the grave.”
Jimmy Joe Cox was Patrick Mello’s stepdad and was known to be abusive towards the boy. He’d been married into her family for years, she claimed. What kind of person was he? She messaged back: ‘Ok, so he had bars on the kids windows only. The doors were locked from the outside at 6 pm every night. We were not allowed out of the room. He locked the fridge and the cupboards so we couldn’t eat, he had a toilet in his bathroom made out of drugs—there’s so much I don’t want to put it all in text.’ Someone commented on a thread in Memories of Needles Past & Present Page: ‘He had some pretty evil friends. He sold his girlfriends like property and he even had orgies in his backyard. I think people were just afraid to say anything for fear of their own lives. Needles just didn’t feel like Needles anymore. It was a real scary time.’
Three people had been brutally shot to death at the ‘House of Three Murders’ on the old River Road in 1949. The number ‘3’ is the first sacred number, the first ‘perfect’ number that represents the pagan trinity. Satanists/Occultists will multiply and add three to other sacred numbers to create new numbers. However, they also group three’s in two’s and three’s for the purpose of ‘intensification’.
It suddenly became clear why Jimmy Joe Cox was spotted at ‘The House of 3 Murders’ performing satanic rituals. He claimed his innocence to his family and friends for years, disregarding the facts: he was an abuser, had a violent temper and a known Satanist. In the end, he was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, where he died of cancer, on July 7, 2015, admitting to 9 murders, including Nikki Bunch and Robin Jennings. Cox’s Public Defender, Edward Wilson, stated at the time of Cox’s sentencing, he didn’t believe there was sufficient evidence to convict without reasonable doubt, especially since much of the evidence was circumstantial, relying mostly on testimony. The case was on appeal.
“We’re always out there hunting and searching and we want to bring people to justice, no matter how long it takes,” said Sgt. Frank Montanez, of the Mohave County Sheriff’s Department. “Cox killed somebody so young and stepped right back into society doing his thing. This is justice delayed.” added, Detective Ryan Ford.
Special thanks to Needles Regional Museum, Needles Library and Needles residents for your contributions.🌹
The Old Green Haunted House
Jessie Dolan, 88, lived on the corner of Needles Highway and 517 North ‘K’ Street for the 30 of the 48 years she’s lived in Needles, California. She just recently sold what is known to the local residents as, ‘The Old Green Haunted House.’
“I used to clean for Mrs. Simons when I was 19, and one day, I asked her if she would sell me this house, but she thought I was too young. Years later, at the age of 55, married with 3 kids, she finally sold it to me and admitted she should have sold it to me when I first asked. I wished she would have too, she would have saved me a ton of money.” Jessie chuckled, as we climbed up the concrete steps of the green stuccoed two story house. We entered the back door stepping into a large, empty laundry room which Jessie quickly pointed out that her deceased husband, Glen, had built for her years ago. “My husband could build or fix anything and he loved this house as much as I did…” as she looked away in sadness, reminiscing. As I began snapping away photos on my phone, the tour of ‘The Old Green Haunted House’ surprisingly turned into somewhat of a love story. “It wasn’t love at first sight for me, but it was definitely for him. He started coming around everyday at the restaurant where I worked, here in town and after 3 days of pestering me, he asked me to marry him and I said ‘Yes’. The love grew from there. What he lacked, I had and what I lacked, he had. It all somehow, just worked for us. ”
There were windows of sunlight everywhere in the Old Green Haunted House which put me at ease as I mentioned the beautiful views from where Jessie and I stood. “At one time I could see my daughter’s trailer all the way to Verde Shores from these windows.” I asked Jessie about the dressed mannequin standing eerily alone in a corner facing a window. “Oh, that’s Sally. She loves it here. She’s not going anywhere.”
Our voices echoed throughout the U-shaped living room with a brick fireplace onto a large porch room with white panel curtains covering the view of the cars passing by.
As we headed upstairs, Jessie pointed to the hidden trapdoor in the ceiling and another door that led to the attic and the hutch cabinet in the dining room and the pantry in the kitchen her husband had also built.
She mentioned one of their sons’, with Down’s Syndrome, taking a terrible fall down the same stairs we were climbing, which had required multiple surgeries to make him better, and how at the same time, her husband’s health began to decline as well. “Those were rough years, but it made us closer, tougher and we made it through…”
Jessie had grown tired of all the rumors she heard throughout the years about their home. “And no, before you ask, it was never a brothel…” she added, defensively. Yet, in the February 1981 edition of The Needles Desert Star, ‘The Old Green Haunted House’ was featured in an article entitled: ‘Historic Landmark Reborn’, which read quite differently: ‘In between the years of 1914-1947, the house required it’s reputation as a brothel. a gambling hall, a speak-easy (a place which illegally sold alcohol) and a haunted house.’ I asked Jessie, “Weren’t you ever afraid of living in a house that was known to be haunted?” “No, not at all, we felt comfortable here. It didn’t bother us one bit…”
Mr. Tyron, who worked in Oatman, Arizona at the Gold Smeltz, had purchased the quarter acre property from John Warren in 1909, then decided in 1910 to build it. It took 4 years to complete. It was 3,600 square feet which originally had 22 rooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, 5 bedrooms and 67 windows.
The many windows inside the old green stuccoed two story house
Some of the many windows in ‘The Old Green Haunted House’
Jessie graciously gave me a tour of the bedrooms on the second floor, including a modernized bathroom her husband had installed with new light fixtures and new windows. “He put each one of them in himself…” Jessie shared, quite proudly. As we headed downstairs, we turned a corner and there was another bathroom, an old tub with claw feet and an antique mirror hanging above it. We turned a corner then stepped onto very old, chipped concrete steps leading down into a large open basement. I could see thick spiderwebs in all the corners where the sun rays shone through even more windows. Another fireplace, a small room with only a toilet, water-damaged cupboards with a stainless steel sink were in between huge concrete pillars that held the old structure in place. It smelled of damp dirt and very thick musk.
Steps leading into the basement, another fireplace, water damaged cupboards…
In 1947, the Old Green Haunted House was sold to the Medley family and during this period of time the basement portion was unusable due to frequent flooding. For the first 3 months in 1951, the house was owned by the Santana family who bought it in January, and sold it in March, for unknown reasons. I asked Jessie if it was true about the tunnels, the locals had always claimed were underneath the house? She said it was true, then showed them to me as I snapped more pictures of the rock-filled crevices in the wall. “They used the tunnels to transport the Japanese after the war, is what we always heard, but none of us ever dared to climb through them for fear of the powdered dirt collapsing on us.”
Another mannequin was standing near a window in the basement wearing a braided wig and a cotton dress, peering out onto ‘K’ Street, standing on a chair. “Oh, that’s Molly. She’s staying, too.” Jessie said, reassuringly.
In 1951, the Strickland family had moved in and lived at the Old Green Haunted House for 12 years telling their friends of the strange sounds of a piano playing coming from the basement, a cowboy, an unknown baby crying, constant 3 ft. of water appearing out of nowhere, flooding the entire basement.
“Jessie”, I asked, gulping, “Did you ever hear any voices late at night? Did you ever hear a baby crying, in particular?” “Yes, yes, I did.” “And, did you ever hear a piano playing in the basement?” “Yes, yes, I sure did…” “And, Jessie”, another gulp, “Did you ever actually see any ghosts? Say, a cowboy?” “No, never saw a Cowboy, but one time, I was standing by the back door, when I turned and noticed a man and a woman carrying a little girl between them, coming down the hallway…and when they noticed me watching them, they disappeared…”
In 1967 and 1968, the building and property changed no less than 4 times with more added features: central air conditioning, a tin roof, an expanded living room and a new paint job. In 1968, the Old Green Haunted House was purchased by the Simons family, which was just one of many houses they owned. This resulted in the house used as a rental to a variety of persons which most dramatically affected the property and its’ contents. In fact, the damage was so severe that for 2 1/2 years between 1977 and 1980, it could not be occupied. In 1981, Ann Marie Soto took it upon herself to restore the property. In addition to the new carpeting, oak floor, custom woodwork and landscaping, she also moved her clothing store, ‘Clouds of Clothes’ into the first floor of the house. In 1985, Jessie and Glen Dolan purchased the Old Green Haunted House and had lived in it with their family ever since.
The phone rang in the silent old house which startled us both. Jessie was afraid she wouldn’t be able to answer it on time so I offered to answer it for her. I hadn’t held a princess rotary phone in my hand since the 1970’s. Jessie said she had to remind herself to call the phone company to disconnect it, after she ended the call. She planned on handing over the keys to Dr. Paget and his wife, Jan, the following Monday, whom have plans on refurbishing the ‘Old Green Haunted House’ into a historical landmark. Her daughter was going to come get the rest of her things. I asked if she had any regrets about selling her beloved home. The only regret she had about selling the place she replied, was knowing her husband’s wedding band was buried somewhere deep in the backyard. She touched the glass pane with her finger pointing down to where her husband had confessed he had lost it, while he was gardening one day. “He never forgave himself for losing it, but maybe that’s where it’s supposed to stay…” Jessie said with a sigh, as her eyes misted with tears.
We walked out of the Old Green Haunted House the same way we had entered it, through the back door, as we both heard the sad, lonely click of the key when Jessie turned and locked it for the last time.
Special thanks to Mrs. Jessie Dolan, The Needles Desert Star & The Needles Regional Museum. Without your contributions this story couldn’t been written.🌹
The House🏠 of 3 Murders🌳
Along the old River Road, nearly 70 years ago, three people were shot and killed on February 24, 1949, at the Winstead Ranch, 12 miles north of Needles, California, in the Mojave Desert.
Ernest Winstead, 23, born in Arkansas, was living in Needles for a few years, working various trades before meeting and marrying his bride, Frances Mendez. Mrs. Frances Winstead, who was born, lived and attended Needles schools all of her life, had just turned 25, the day before she died. Ernest and Frances were married for 4 years and it had only been six months since they signed the deed to the small, red and white farm house, secluded by salt cedar trees, creosote bushes and fertile desert. Still newlyweds, they enjoyed the privacy and peacefulness of their new home, which made Ernest begin making plans to renovate and farm part of the property, plus he worked full time for the City of Needles. They were both so young, too busy building their future, too busy being in love, neither of them had time to die.
William Pugh, 70, was born in Columbus Grove, Ohio and lived in Needles for 49 years, where, ‘everybody knew and loved Pugh.’ He had 4 children living in Ohio from a previous marriage and a daughter who lived in Needles. Frances Winstead considered Pugh as family, since he was once married to her sister, Mary. He was employed as a boiler maker for the Santa Fe, later, he took up ranching, raised cattle, trapped the river, became a member of the local Elk’s Lodge, purchased the property adjacent to the Winstead’s and before he was murdered, he had just become a bee keeper.
Les Hoverton and Dora Farro, were friends as well as neighbors, of the Winstead’s and Mr. Pugh’s, who lived further up the road. Les felt compelled to ask Dora if she thought it odd Ernest’s car was parked in front of his house at 10 o’clock on a Thursday morning, instead of at his job at the Street Maintenance Department for the City of Needles, as they drove slowly by. Dora agreed with Les, something just didn’t ‘feel right’, as he parked and they both stepped out of the pick up truck. ‘Oh my god! Look Dora! ‘ Les shouted, as he walked closer to the house. In the front yard, he found William Pugh, lying on his back, shot dead, on the ground, his face unrecognizable, blood sprayed everywhere, a little further was Frances Winstead’s lifeless body, lying crumpled on her side, bathed in her own blood, 150 feet away on the east side of the house, Ernest Winstead’s body was sprawled out, his clothes, shoes, face, hair, saturated in his blood. The front door was left open and nothing looked out of place inside the house, except a torn lampshade in the livingroom. They went to the bedrooms and brought out 3 blankets to cover the bodies of the victims. Next they went to look inside Pugh’s house, nothing out of the ordinary stood out, only breakfast dishes that had been left on the table and unmade beds. Dora remained in the house while Les drove to Needles to notify the authorities.
As the news of the murders spread through Needles and the surrounding areas, calls/reports started coming in at the Needles police station. Mr. Hoverton shared with the police and a ‘Desert Star’ reporter, Billy Ray Gilbert had appeared at Pugh’s ranch about three weeks prior and spent some time with the rancher, who lived alone. Gilbert told Pugh he had been working at Davis Dam and was laid off, a new disclosure divulged, Gilbert had been held on a grand theft charge in Kingman jail and escaped on January 26th, while Mr. Pugh let Gilbert stay at his house for a few days, fed the man and tried to find him employment.
About a week before the murders, Gilbert left the ranch and told Mr. Pugh he planned to visit friends and relatives on the coast. When Gilbert returned a few days later, he was driving a 1947 Ford Coupe accompanied by George Schmid, who had just been released from Arizona State Penitentiary, and a woman named Florence Chisholm, whom he introduced as his wife.
Chief Bland said he had investigated a call, claiming trouble was brewing at Ruby’s Tavern. Mr. Pugh, Mrs. Winstead and the three visitors had been at Ruby’s Tavern Wednesday afternoon around 4 p.m. while Mr. Hoverton added, they stopped by his house later and seemed to be in good spirits. Chief Bland said there were only a few people at Ruby’s Tavern when he arrived and he hadn’t seen any trouble. A big tulle fire was in progress, so he left. It was also reported from the Needles Trading Post, men answering the description of the suspects had purchased ammunition for a 380 and 44 the day before. The woman, Florence Chisholm, also visited the Sprouse-Reitz store and bought toothpaste and lipstick. It was also discovered, Florence had been forced to accompany Gilbert and Schmid in her car from the Phoenix Riding Stable where Gilbert had formerly been employed and knew her well.
Late Thursday night, a report came in, the trio had just robbed a gas station in downtown Phoenix and escaped. Miss Chisholm called the police from a Scottsdale Drug store where she had been sent by Gilbert to call a deputy sheriff whom he wished to ‘bump off.’ Gilbert ran when police cars drove up, but Chisholm turned herself in and asked she be given protection. She claimed Gilbert had intentions of killing more officers and the warden at the Arizona State Penitentiary in Florence, Arizona. Schmid had left them and was hiding in the area. She also revealed Mrs. Winstead had been killed first on Thursday morning when she stepped in between Gilbert and her husband as he threatened Ernest, then Ernest was shot and Pugh was in the car and ordered out and told by Gilbert to, “Look me in the eye and die like a man’ then shot Pugh in the face.
Two of the suspects were now in custody. George Schmid was captured Saturday afternoon as he was walking along an irrigation ditch, he didn’t resist arrest and complained he hadn’t slept or eaten in days. Gilbert died in a barrage of officers’ fire when he was cornered at a tourist cabin outside of Phoenix.
The Desert Star’s (single copies, 10 cents) headlines’ caption on Thursday, July 7, 1949 read in black, bold font:
‘SCHMID GETS 15 YEARS’
‘George Adolph Schmid was found guilty of 3 counts of second degree murder of William Pugh, 70, Ernest Winstead, 23 and Frances Winstead, 25, by a jury of four men and eight women and has been sentenced to serve three consecutive terms of five years to life in San Quentin Prison. The prosecution asked that Schmid be found guilty of first degree murder which would have carried the death penalty. The jury deliberated for 5 hours. Under the sentence Schmid must serve at least fifteen years in prison. For good behavior he might be able to reduce the time by three years. Schmid had only been released a few months before his arrest in connection with the local triple slaying. The woman, Florence Chisholm, pleaded she had been kidnapped by Gilbert and was held prisoner by him during the crimes. Schmid verified her statements. She wasn’t held, except as a state witness. She testified that Gilbert was the killer and that Schmid only fired one shot which missed the mark. Schmid’s plea to the jury was that he too, was under the spell of fear of Gilbert and that he was merely obeying commands in the killing.’
‘It was really something. So very sad. It made national news. I was small, only 10 years old when it happened, but I remember. Frances Winstead’s maiden name was Mendez. She was my Dad’s (Filo Mendez) sister, my Aunt. There were alot of people with cameras, all over town, the FBI followed all of my Dad’s family watching our every move for several weeks after it happened. Everybody talked about it and there were many rumors, which we’ll never know the answers to.’ –Mrs. Tillie Puentes, a lifelong resident of Needles, Calif. shared on her back porch, by the Colorado River.
‘In the 60’s-70’s’, another lifelong resident, Stella Bernal, remembers it was ‘everyone’s hang out’, although the house no longer existed, only a slab of concrete and part of the walls remained, the trees were still there, which provided the privacy underage kids or anyone needing a off- the-beaten-path place to throw keg parties, smoke pot, make out and tell ghost stories. ‘It’s what bored river rats did for fun. One time in high school, my boyfriend asked me if I wanted to take a drive out to ‘House of 3 Murders’, then he felt embarrassed when he realized my family was related to Frances Winstead. She was my grandmother’s sister, which made her my Mom’s aunt and my Great Aunt, and Ernest, my Great Uncle ‘Pugh’ which everyone called him, was my Great Uncle, too. He was married to my Grandmother’s twin sister, Mary. It was just something that happened, a terrible, terrible, family tragedy. There was an article written about it in ‘Inside Detective’ Magazine, which my Mother bought a copy right away and a laminate cover, to preserve it. She thought it was important to save the past, to always remember, no matter how tragic it was.’
Special thanks to The Needles Regional Museum & The Needles Desert Star, Ms. Stella Bernal and Mrs. Tillie Puentes for your contributions. Without you, this story couldn’t been written.🌹
Needles, California: ‘Stars in the Desert Night’
Wikipedia describes Needles, California as ‘A city in the county of San Bernardino, founded in 1883, as a result of the construction of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, which sits along the western bank of the Colorado River, in the Mohave Valley sub-region of the Mohave desert accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95.’
Needles, California, is known for being a major stop on the Historic Route 66 during the 1920′-1970’s and is considered the gateway to the Mojave National Preserve and often reaches some of the highest temperatures in the world in the summer, (132 degrees, June 20, 2016) although, Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California, still holds the world record (134.1 degrees, July 10, 1913). Needles claims the worlds’ hottest rainfall during a thunderstorm (115 F-44 C, 2012).
The small desert town (population: 4,890, 2012, Census) was named after a group of pinnacles and mountain peaks, ‘The Needles’ where the wind-blown holes can only be seen by boat on the Colorado River from the south end of the valley.
The Mohave Native American community also shares the town and the nearby Fort Mojave Indian Reservation.
Needles has been mentioned in songs, ‘Never been to Spain’, sung by Three Dog night and Elvis, Izzy Stralin’s album, ‘Ride On’ (1999), song titled, ‘ Needles, CA’, John Lowery (John 5) former guitarist of Marilyn Manson, CD, ‘Vertigo’ (2004) titled, ‘Needles’.
Needles has also been written about in books: John Steinbeck’s, ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ and seen in movies: The Grapes of Wrath (1940),
Two Lane Blacktop (1971), Convoy (1978) Repo Man (1984), Evicted (2000), Domino (2005), Criminal Xing (2007), Into The Wild (2007) , The Road to Paloma (2013). On televison: Route 66 (1960), The Amazing Race (2001), Mock National Security Workshop (2006), UFO Hunters (2009) , National Pride (2010) , Needles High School: ‘School Pride’ (2010) Sex and The City: Season 6, episode: ‘Out of the Frying Pan’, Route 66 Paranormal Investigations (2015).
And even in a cartoon strip: ‘Peanuts’ (Charles Schulz)
Yet, despite the empty parking lots, abandoned and burnt down buildings, and the fact the towns’ only grocery store closed in 2012, lifelong residents claim their memories of the once famous, nearly forgotten historic desert town, they call ‘home’—still shine–like stars in the desert night…
In the early 1900’s, famed Old West Lawman, Wyatt Earp, lived in the nearby town of Vidal, California, and would often travel with his wife to gamble in Ft Mojave, always stopping in Needles. He once was in a fist fight with Mr. Williams’ son, who owned the jewelry store, as a crowd gathered to watch, on Front Street. ‘Another time, (1930) my Father told me, when he was 12 years old, he saw Wyat Earp thrown out of a local saloon’, Rita Miranda, a Needles life-long resident, shared on ‘Needles Memories Past and Present’ FB page.
A new family moved into a house on Palm Way and Bazoobuth (1928-1930), near the railroad tracks and their son attended ‘D’ Street school. The little boy–Charles Schulz– would grow up to become the world’s most loved cartoonist who never forgot his childhood in the desert by colorfully illustrating brown pointed hills, cactus’ with big thorns, tiny white clouds, blue skies with a big bright yellow sun. He would later create memorable, endearing characters, including ‘Spike’ Snoopy’s long black-mustache brother who lived in the desert wilderness and would visit ‘his friends in Needles on the weekends’ and ‘run afoul with the coyotes at night.’
His father, Carl Schulz, worked as a barber in his Uncle Monte’s shop at 125 Front Street. ‘Sparky’, Charles Schulz’s nickname, along with his dog ‘Snooky’, a Boston Bull Terrier and his Dad and Mom, Dena, loaded up the family’s ’28 Ford in 1929. His Uncle ‘Frenchy’ and Aunt Ella (she would get a job as a “Harvey Girl’ at The Harvey House as soon as they had settled) along with his eight year old cousin named Shirley, followed close behind in their Model-T.
Sparky began second grade in the heat of the old wooden primary school, a three story Victorian surrounded by barren lots. Townspeople called it, ‘The Castle on the Hill’. He felt a singular passion for a girl in his class named ‘Marie Holland’, a brown haired daughter of a railroad engineer. ‘She was cute’, he would say, seventy years later. But besides her beauty, what made Marie exceptional was her intelligence. Sparky and her were the only ones in class that made the honor roll. Few words passed between them during the school year, but that was precisely the point: with her, there was ‘no need to talk’. Sparky delivered the popular ‘Liberty’ magazines to his neighbors, but would send his cousin Shirley to the door because he was too timid and shy to collect the money. Once the cousins earned 10 cents they bought booklets on ‘How to Draw’. ‘He could draw right away…’ Shirley later said. ‘He had a knack for it…’
One evening Marie and him met each other outside his house on Palm Way. Dusk had streaked the desert sky a vibrant blue and pink. They ran to the corner and back. He later recalled a wild sense of drawing close, of being whole and complete instead of feeling as he often did, ‘lost and alone’. He was smart in school, although he felt ill at ease with himself and others. ‘I wasn’t very friendly. I didn’t have any friends.’ He had no memory of ever seeing Marie Holland again. In adult life, he tried to look her up through the Needles Chamber of Commerce and throughout his life on the rare occasions and whenever Charles Schulz crossed paths with someone who had lived or visited the desert town between the wars, his first words would always be, ‘Did you know a Marie Holland from Needles?’ (Excerpts from the book: ‘Schulz & Peanuts’: Biography by David Michaelis).
In the 1940’s, on West Broadway, was General Patton’s office, whom headed the Desert Training Center throughout the Mohave Desert. Gena B. Russell-Strembough shared on ‘Memories of Needles Past and Present’ FB page, her daughter’s friend lives in the house General Patton lived in on Washington Street, ‘One room added and designed by him with hardwood floors…’ The Army barracks were directly down the hill on ‘Army Road’.
General Patton often ate at the Harvey House, which was considered at the time, the ‘Crown Jewel’ of all of the Harvey Houses in the United States. In the Golden Age of Train Travel, the Santa Fe Super Chief was known as the ‘Train of Stars’. Mr. Soto, 86, another lifelong resident, recalls many celebrities, including Mickey Rooney, Yul Brenner, Clark Gable, Carol Lombard travelling through the tiny town and dining where he worked.
Dining room of The Harvey House
The Harvey House
Famed magician, Harry Houdini’s wife & assistant, Bess, died while on a train, in Needles in 1943. Country singer, Skeeter Davis lived in Needles in the mid-40’s then traveled to Nashville to make it big, with her hit single, ‘End of The World’.
Skeeter Davis
Jim Elling, remembers in 1958, he was working the late shift at Locke’s Texaco Station when the actor Charles Coburn, wearing his signature monocle, drove up in a white chaffeured Cadillac limousine on his way to Vegas. ‘He was such a nice, old gentleman…’
In the late 50’s, early 60’s, Vincent Price, Ann Landers and First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt were part of a lecture series at Needles High school. Mr. & Mrs Bender and their children, also long time residents, hosted the First Lady while they dined with Mr. & Mrs. Max Rafferty, Superintendent of Needles School District, whom later became California Superintendent of Public Instruction (1962-1970).
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
Teddy Kennedy stopped and gave a speech at Santa Fe Park in 1960, another local, Michael Wilson recalls. ‘It was on Halloween night…a month before JFK was elected…’
Senator Ted Kennedy presented with a hand beaded bola tie from Mrs. Minerva Jenkins / Ft Mojave Indian Council
Actor Raymond Burr, at the height of his career (Perry Mason) in 1960, was on vacation with another gentleman and decided to stop at the drug store on Front Street. Ronnie Davis said his Mother remembers Raymond Burr talking to her about the weather, then noticing her holding Ronnie in her arms and asking if he could hold him, because he ‘just loved babies.’
Elgin Gates, the famed Hunter and Adventurer, traveled and hunted the world over, claimed, ‘Needles as my ‘home’. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were his friends and would vacation just outside of Needles to get away from the Hollywood movie lots— to fish, hunt and enter the Annual Boat Races on the Colorado River.
Steve Brown, Elgin Gates, Clare Brown
They dined at Valenzuela’s Cafe on the corner of Chestnut & Elm Street, resident Raul Cristerna Luna remininsced: ‘ My Mother, Maria Natividad Luna, her sisters, Guadalupe and Chona, my Tia’s, were the cooks that night.
Roy Rogers
Some of Roy’s group went back to the kitchen to see how they made the food. All the kids in the neighborhood brought their guitars for Roy to play and sing, but he declined, so they all started asking, taunting, for Gene Autry…”
Gary Mc Cary received a call from his mother, Irene Mc Cary (owner of Irene’s Burgers 1950-1970’s) to: ‘Hurry! Get down here, quick! You’ll never believe who just pulled up and ordered burgers, shakes and fries!’ He remembers his brother and him running as fast as they could down ‘D’ street to the corner of West Broadway to meet Desi and Lucy Arnaz, the famous Hollywood couple who were talking sweetly to gawkers underneath the awning with picnic tables.
Alice Notley, named, ‘America’s Greatest Living Poet’ by The Poetry Foundation, was born in Bisbee, Arizona, but grew up in Needles and left for New York to attend Barnard in 1963. Later, she included Needles in her poetry and wrote extensively about her childhood in her book, ‘Tell Me Again.’ (Am here, 1982)
Born and raised, Needles’ own hometown hero, Jim ‘Jimbo’ McConnell competed in his first outboard race boat on the clear blue waters of the Colorado River at the age of 13.
HIs wife, Cathy McConnell recently, shared: ‘We were going together in 1964 and we got married in 1967 when he came home from Vietnam…Needles was where his career started, and took him places we could never imagine in the Professional Circuit, ending when the V-8 Outboards were the ‘hot’ stuff. Many of his records still stand. His most memorable moment was on July 15, 1979 when he became the ‘Fastest Outboard in the World.’ From the Stock Outboards to the biggest Outboards produced in OPC Racing.
One thing for sure, neither of us ever forgot Needles. Wherever racing took us…Europe, South Africa, Norway, Belgium, France, Germany, UK, Holland, Canada and all over the United States, we were always proud to say we were from Needles. That is why in 1987, we chose to come back ‘home’ after Jimbo’s near fatal racing accident that happened in 1985 in downtown Sacramento. Jimbo and I have always told others, ‘Never make an excuse for not reaching your dreams and goals, even if you’re from a small desert town…’
Reggie Kenner, remembers sadly, in the 60’s, when he was a DJ at KSFE, the very popular group, ‘Anthony and The Imperials’ stopped by the station to promote their records. ‘But I couldn’t play such music at the time…’ Linda Smith’s sisters also met ‘Sam the Sham and The Pharoahs’ (‘Wooly Bully’) at Foster Freeze ‘when that song was all you practically heard on the radio and jukeboxes.’
Diane Peden shared online: ‘My parents, Barney and Ethel Shepherd told me Jose Feliciano played his guitar and sang in the bar at Leisure Lanes Bowling Alley in the early 60’s. They talked about how great his voice was and my mother would get so excited whenever she heard one ofhis songs come on the radio.’
Elvis Presley, stayed at Rainbo Beach in 1962, just after being released from the Army and started to prepare to headline in Las Vegas. The King wanted quiet and seclusion so few residents knew he was there.
Kathy Garver, actress, ‘Sissy’ on the TV series, ‘Family Affair’ attended Needles High School between 1960-1962. ‘I remember her in my gym class, ‘ Kippy Poulson, shared on ‘Memories of Needles Past and Present’ FB page.
‘How the West was Won’ (1963) actor, John Wayne and ‘Journey to The Center of the Earth’ (1959) actor, Pat Boone, both starred in movies that were filmed just outside of Needles. Joe Blizzard, recalls his Mother and Dad, along with Coach Aitken and another couple, met John Wayne in Oatman, Arizona for dinner. ‘My mother grew up with ‘The Duke’ and actor, Ward Bond, in Yosemite, where they both played football for USC…’ He also mentioned two brothers from Amboy, the eldest, driving Pat Boone back and forth through the desert to where the movie was being shot, ‘The whole time Boone complaining about the heat…’
In the late 60’s, Brandon Lyon remembers his mother entering several beauty pageants and all the contestants had a luncheon in Needles, with actress, Susan Anton, who was ‘Miss California’ at the time.
Charlene Allen, also reflected, on FB of those years: ‘ Karen Valentine, Dustin Hoffman, Cat Stevens, Apollo 13 ground crew all stayed at The Lad River Motel. The Hell’s Angel’s Motorcycle Club stayed every year when they came through town. They just loved my Mom…’
Another lifelong resident, Rita Chavez, remembers as a child, how she liked to peek through the fence to watch her neighbor, a Mohave Indian woman, named Annie Fields, make clay pots, till one day, she caught her watching and told her to come over and ‘sit’. Annie Fields would collect the clay each time it rained from the side of the desert hills in buckets and empty it on a wheel then slowly spin and mold the wet clay with her hands. Today, Annie Fields’ masterful works of Indian clay pottery, beadwork and Indian dolls are displayed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.
In 1971, Greg Morris, one of the actors of the hit Suspense Tv series, ‘Mission Impossible’ stopped in Needles on a Saturday Night at the Needles Theatre on West Broadway.
Lifelong resident, Jamie Lucas, recalls: ‘The show was ‘The 101 Dalmatians’ and he was ambushed by the crowd asking for autographs, mostly on popcorn boxes, he left his family and went and sat in the projection room. After the movie, we all followed him and his family to The Imperial 500 Motel…’
I watched Pamela Anderson do a Playboy photo shoot at the ‘66 Motel’ on the corner of Desnok and East Broadway, ‘ Johnny Stark shared on ‘ Memories of Needles Past & Present’ FB page. 
‘And I also remember when I was in high school, I was at the Texaco visiting a friend who worked there, when we watched a red Pantera drive up to his work bay and out stepped John Snyder, (Dukes of Hazzard) and asked us to please close the door as he was being chased by the CHP , then stayed and talked to us for about two hours and left as quickly as he came…’
Right before ‘I Never Been to Spain’ came on the radio and hit #5 on the record charts, Three Dog Night played ‘impromptu’ one night at ‘The Rock-Inn’ after the band’s bus broke down and rumor was a band member fell in love that night with a girl from Needles.
‘Iron Eyes Cody’ was the famous Indian pictured everywhere throughout the 70’s, on posters, billboards and tv commercials with a tear drop rolling down his cheek standing in garbage, pleading to ‘Keep America Beautiful’, came to Needles one weekend to be the Grand Marshall in the ‘Indian Days Parade’. He drove a red Cadillac with red leather seats, waving proudly through the sun roof, to the bystanders. Some say, after the festivities, a few Mojave Indian men became in a heated argument with Iron Eyes Cody and started throwing beer cans, until he finally sped away in his red Cadillac with his entourage following close behind him into the Mojave Desert sunset.
In 1977, Jami Aitken, resident, was paid $30 a day, along with other locals, to be an extra in the filming of the movie, ‘Convoy’, starring Kris Kristofferson and Ali McGraw. In the movie, there’s a scene of the beloved Old Bureau Bridge being blown up. which many residents have fond memories of diving or jumping off, as a kid in the summertime. Cheryl Smith, still has a piece of wood from the bridge that drifted down the river that day, as a momento, displayed in her home.
‘I remember driving across the old bridge when I was a kid…it had a couple of holes in it. My Dad liked to mess with people and make them go back, saying our car didn’t have reverse! It was was sad seeing it blown up in the movie…’ Carole Chapuis, shared on FB.
Rising to fame quickly, comedian, Sam Kinison, died in a car accident just outside of Needles on his way to perform in Laughlin, Nevada. His wife was injured and stayed in the Needles hospital for about a week. Larry shared on rosewritesallday.com, recently: ‘On April 10, 1992, I was standing in Valet at the Riverside Resort in Laughlin, Nevada…a young Security Training Officer waiting for Sam Kinison to arrive to escort him to the DCT, where he was to perform. ‘One of my favorite comedians. I was very bummed that night…’
Sam Kinison, Rodney Dangerfield
In 2013, ‘ The filmmakers of the movie, ‘The Road to Paloma’ focused on the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation in Needles. They were looking for a tribe who wanted to participate in the making of the film, which the Mojaves did and clearly demonstrated’, Tessie Villegas-Garcia shared in ‘Memories of Needles Past and Present’ FB page. ‘The Mojaves allowed the filmmakers to photograph their gatherings, games and record sacred hymns which had never been photographed or recorded before by anyone outside of the tribe. They also taught the actors how to speak their native language…’
In 1972, Comedian and TV personality, Flip Wilson, drove up to Yee’s Village Chinese Restaurant on Front Street driving a light blue Rolls Royce with the license plate: ‘KILLER’.
‘He made many local friends with his warmth and humor’, The Needles Star reported, then posed for a picture with the owner, Mr. Wing Yee and gave Yee’s cook an autographed message that read: ‘What I saw was what I got.’
‘Special Thanks’ to The Needles Desert Star, The Needles Regional Museum, The Fort Mojave Tribe and all the Needles lifelong residents, who contributed to this article. Without you, it couldn’t been written.🌹