9h 30min, dec 26, 1971 y - Horace Clark Body found

Description:

"The body of a 19-year-old Camp Pendleton Marine, stabbed several times in the neck, was found early Sunday [12/26/71] near a Sampson Avenue junkyard in Wilmington. [...] The body was discovered at about 9:30am by Therman Joiner, of 1085 Lewis Ave, Long Beach, who had gone to the junkyard looking for parts for his car. [...] Clark apparently had been dead about eight hours" (LBI 12/27/71).

"MARINE STABBED, BODY DUMPED:
[...] mutilated body was found near a Wilmington wrecking yard Sunday morning [12/26/71]. The body [...] was found in front of 831 Sampson Ave shortly before 10am by a passerby who was looking for junked cars in a lot. Therman Joiner of Wilmington told homicide investigator Sgt Jim Pitman that he noticed the body in a crouched position on Sampson Avenue, just north of Anaheim Street.
"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.
"Police said the body bore several large stab wounds in the neck and face areas. The youth's wallet was found in his pocket with approximately $20, ruling out robbery as motive for the killing. The body was [f]ound on the Wilmington-Long Beach border, and according to one investigator, Clark may have gotten into a fight and then been dumped near the wrecking yard.
"One police official said Clark's body was in a crouched position with his knees tucked up to his chest, indicating that he might have been trying to defend himself against the knife-wielding attackers who also cut off one of his fingers" (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).

"Found stabbed to death Sunday [12/26/71] on a lonely road near a harbor junkyard in Wilmington, Calif. Police there say he was stabbed repeatedly in the neck. [...] Police said it was a 'very vicious murder with no motives established'" (SMU 12/29/71).

"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)


NOTE TO SELF: Any record requests should be submitted to LAPD Harbor Division.
Harbor Division: https://www.lapdonline.org/lapd-contact/south-bureau/harbor-community-police-station/
South Bureau Homicide Division (which serves the Harbor Division): https://www.lapdonline.org/lapd-contact/south-bureau/south-bureau-homicide-division/

Mentioned investigators: Harbor Det. Joe Massito (LBI 12/27/71, LBI 6/16/72), Homicide inv. Sgt Jim Pitman (SPNP 12/27/71), Harbor Division Detective Capt. Martin Hairabedian (LBI 6/16/72)


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/
SR 12/30/71: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-republican-horace-william-clark/200335988/
SR 12/31/71: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-republican-obituary-for-horace-w-cla/200336178/
SMU 1/1/72: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-union-horace-william-clark/200335982/

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

** Case in LB Secret Witness list from 6/16/72 to 8/10/72 **

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