8 h, dec 25, 1971 y - Horace Clark Last seen alive

Description:

"Clark, on Christmas leave from Camp Pendleton, had been headed for Long Beach, according to Marine Corps officials. However, investigators said they would have to wait until today to talk with Clark's buddies who might have accompanied him to Long Beach" (SPNP 12/27/71).

"According to a public information officer at Camp Pendleton, Clark left the camp Christmas Day to go on liberty and he was due back at camp Monday [12/27/71]. [...] He had arrived at Camp Pendleton from Camp Lejuene [in North Carolina] about two weeks ago" (SMU 12/28/71).

"Last Dec. 25 he left the base alone to have Christmas dinner with friends in Wilmington. Clark never got to his friends' home. They found out why the next morning when his body was found beside a dirt road leading to a junkyard at 831 Sampson Ave. [...] Clark left the base at about 8am Christmas day. An intensive investigation of Clark's last movements so far has turned up no one who admits to having seen Clark after he left Camp Pendleton. [...] Robbery apparently was not the motive for the slaying, for Clark's wallet, containing $20, was found intact. Clark's body was found about 9:30am by a man who had gone to the junkyard looking for parts for his car. Clark had been dead about eight hours before his body was discovered" (LBPT 6/16/72 pts 1 & 2).

"Stabbed to death in Wilmington last Christmas day. Clark left the base alone at about 8am to have Christmas dinner with friends in Wilmington, but never arrived. His body was found the next morning beside a dirt road leading to a junkyard at 831 Sampson Ave" (LBI 6/22/72).


Proposed by: me
Reasons proposed: Demographics, time period, SoCal; MARINE, WILMINGTON, COD stabbing, holiday, found on side of road, no robbery, Vietnam vet, traveling to Long Beach, one of his fingers was cut off, body dumped, "Police authorities have not as yet discovered a motive for the slaying" (SMU 1/1/72)

Reasons against: Wallet (presumably with his ID) left on him; no further sources after Aug. 1972, so unsure if ever solved (most likely not)
IDRK... IMO this sounds SO much like it could be a Kraft case it's crazy. The circumstances are especially very similar to those of Edward Daniel Moore (i.e., Camp Pendleton Marine on Christmas leave)




LBI 12/27/71: https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent-horace-william-clark/200334908/
SPNP 12/27/71: https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-pilot-howard-w-clark-san-pedro-ne/162721260/

SMU 12/28/71: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-union-howard-w-clark-sprin/162720969/
BE 12/29/71: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkshire-eagle-howard-w-clark-ber/162720999/
SMU 12/29/71: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-union-howard-w-clark-sprin/162721071/
BE 12/30/71: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkshire-eagle-howard-w-clark-ber/162721124/

LBPT 6/16/72 pt 1: https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent-howard-w-clark-lb-independ/162721290/
LBPT 6/16/72 pt 2: https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent-howard-w-clark-lb-independ/162721359/
LBI 6/22/72: https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent-horace-william-clark-secre/162719854/

FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71279888/horace-w-clark

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