sep 5, 1972 - Joan Alexandra Gery HOMICIDE

Description:

On Tuesday, September 5, 1972, a claims adjuster named William Pascal noticed an unauthorized small van in the basement garage of an insurance building at 3344 MacArthur Blvd in Oakland, Alameda County, CA. Peering through a crack in the vehicle, Pascal discovered the body of a young woman lying on the floor of the 1961 model truck, and quickly notified authorities.

The body was that of a young white female with blonde hair. She was found nude, lying on her back, covered by an "Indian blanket." Her hands had been bound behind her back with a gray cloth belt. She had been beaten to death, with her face and head both badly bruised. The official cause of death was ruled to be "shock and hemorrhage due to a blunt trauma."

Investigators found a driver's license for one Joan Alexandra Gery near the body. Joan's mother, Mrs Irene Gery of 327 Helen Dr, Millbrae, identified the body. Joan, 24, had recently moved from Millbrae to 216 Frisbie St, Oakland. She was a part-time student who sometimes worked as a cocktail waitress. Irene told authorities that she had last seen Joan a week prior.

At the time of reporting on September 6, 1972, police stated that they "did not have a clue."

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Gery is also known as "Alexandra Clery" in Zodiac circles, Robert Graysmith's book, etc. In his book Zodiac, Graysmith lists cases that he thinks could be potential Zodiac crimes: these include some of the semi-canonical/unconfirmed Zodiac cases and (confirmed and unconfirmed) SRHM cases; the remaining events on Graysmith's list are what Wikipedia (and likely Graysmith himself) dubs the "Astrological Murders." Joan is listed among the AM victims.

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CONFIRMATION OF COMPLETION DATE: May 31, 2025
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LUNAR PHASE: waning crescent
ZODIAC SIGN: virgo
DAY OF WEEK: Tuesday
EVENTS: Sept. 4 = Labor Day (1 day earlier)

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