22 h, jan 31, 1974 y - Brenda Kaye Merchant

Description:

19yo; Feb. 1 at 3:30am: found stabbed to death at her small apartment in Marysville, CA.
She was stabbed 36 times in the chest (and/or upper torso, neck, arms, and legs) with a long bladed knife, and had asphyxiated on her own blood from her many wounds. She was wearing a nightgown when discovered in her living room. Her baby son -- either 8mo, 10mo, or 1yo -- was asleep in an adjacent room. The killer left a bloody handprint on the screen door of the apartment as he fled.

She was last seen alive at ~6pm on Thurs., Jan. 31 by her roommate, George B. Stewart (20yo; cleared of suspicion) after having dinner together at their apartment.

It's believed she was attacked "between when she was last seen at 6pm to when a loud argument was heard by neighbors at around midnight." An argument was heard at ~9pm (and/or btwn 9:30-10:00pm) and again at ~2am.

JANUARY 31
LUNAR PHASE: first quarter
ZODIAC SIGN: aquarius
DAY OF WEEK: Thursday
Moon-Mars 9:22

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