A cryptic note, a family massacre, and fears of a cult in 1970 Santa Cruz
This preview is based only on the published show notes. The episode appears to examine the 1970 murders of Dr. Victor Ohta, his family, and his secretary, along with the eerie note at the scene and the wider climate of violence that shaped public fear.
## What this episode seems to cover Based on the show notes alone, this episode centers on the October 19, 1970 killings of Dr. Victor Ohta, his wife, their two children, and his secretary, Dorothy Cadwallader, at the family’s Santa Cruz County home. The notes open with the shocking discovery at the scene: firefighters responding to a house fire found the victims in the backyard pool. What gives the case its particular intrigue is the mention of a cryptic note left under Dr. Ohta’s windshield wiper. According to the notes, it referenced the occult and the counterculture movement, which appears to have pushed investigators and the public toward fears of a ritualistic or cult-related crime. The episode also seems to place the murders in a broader historical moment. Southern California was, as the notes describe it, in the midst of a wave of serial, spree, and Manson-related killings, so this story likely explores how that atmosphere influenced the investigation and public reaction. If you’re interested in true crime stories that combine a disturbing crime scene, social panic, and the cultural anxieties of the early 1970s, this sounds like a strong fit. If you prefer episodes that stay away from family murder cases or child victims, the subject matter here may be especially heavy.
About this episode
<p>In the early evening of October 19, 1970, police and firefighters were called to the Santa Cruz County home of Dr. Victor Ohta, a well-respected ophthalmologist, for a report of a house fire. Intending to siphon water from the pool out back, firefighters ran a hose from the truck to the backyard. However, when they reached the pool, the made a horrible discovery—floating in the pool were the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Ohta, as well as their two children, and the doctor’s secretary, Dorothy Cadwallader. When they searched the scene, investigators discovered a cryptic note stuck under the windshield wiper of Victor Ohta’s car that made references to the occult and the counterculture movement.</p> <p>At the time of the murders, Southern California was experiencing an unprecedented wave of violent murders by multiple serial and spree killers, as well as the notorious murders committed by the Manson family. Given the content of the note and the potentially ritualistic way in which the Ohta family had been killed, investigators and residents couldn’t help but fear that they may have another murderous cult on their hands.</p> <p><strong>MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE</strong></p> <p>Come to the <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/morbid-tickets/artist/2704690" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Live Show</strong></a> in New York on June 27th!</p> <p>Preorder <a href="https://zandoprojects.com/books/the-butcher-legacy-hardcover" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Butcher Legacy!</a></p> <p><strong>Resources</strong></p> <p>Bennett, Bruce, and Christine Connor. 2017. "Killer Prophet." <i>A Crime to Remember.</i> Janaury 24.</p> <p>Hagar, Philip, and Dick Main. 1970. "Neighbor charged in Ohta murders." <i>Los Angeles Times</i>, October 23: 1.</p> <p>Holmes, Christian. 1970. "Doctror, family slain in mansion." <i>San Francisco Examiner</i>, October 20: 1.</p> <p><i>John Linley Frazier v. The Superior Court of Santa Cruz County.</i> 1971. 22812 (Superior Court of Santa Cruz County, July 7).</p> <p>Murray, Emerson. 2022. <i>Murder Capital of the World.</i> Santa Cruz, CA.</p> <p>Santa Cruz Sentinel. 1970. "Live Oak fire chief first to discover bodies in pool." <i>Santa Cruz Sentinel</i>, October 20: 5.</p> <p>—. 1970. "'Most tragic murder'." <i>Santa Cruz Sentinel</i>, October 20: 5.</p> <p> </p> <p><p>Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)</p><p>Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)</p><p>Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley</p><p>Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally</p><p>Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>