Member-only story
Wrong Place, Wrong Time
The forgotten Manson Family victim
Warning: disturbing crime scene images are included in this article…
Ohioan William Garretson, 19-years old, was living at 10050 Cielo Drive in posh Benedict Canyon, Bel Air, in the summer of 1969. He was hired to work as the property caretaker, and lived in small one-bedroom guest house at the rear of the property, behind the pool. Property owner Rudy Altobelli, a talent agent, had hired Bill Garretson that spring. For his services he was paid $35 weekly and his responsibilities included caring for Altobelli’s three dogs: two poodles and a Weimaraner.
On Friday, August 8, 1969, Garretson was at home alone. He wasn’t feeling too well, frankly. Bill drank a lot of beer on Thursday and on Friday, he was hungover. He managed to clean the guest house and washed dishes then at 8:30pm he hitchhiked down to the Sunset Strip. He purchased a TV dinner from Turner’s Drug Store plus a Coke and a pack of cigarettes. He walked around for a while, then started back toward Benedict Canyon. He was picked up hitch-hiking by a group of female hippies who dropped him off at the gate to 10050 Cielo Drive around 10:00pm.
Garretson popped the TV dinner into the oven and turned on the television. He watched a show and ate potato chips while waiting for his dinner to cook. Around 11:30pm, there was a knock at the door. It was Steven Parent, carrying a clock radio.
Steve was 18-years old, a recent graduate from Arroyo High School in El Monte. Born February 12, 1951, Steve had one sister and two brothers, and their dad worked in construction. Parent was well-liked in school and had several girlfriends throughout his teen years. He had gingery red hair, wore glasses and possessed a winning smile. He also played the guitar and had a keen interest in electronics.
“Steve was fascinated by electronics and mechanics and he stole several radios, bringing them home and tearing them apart to understand how they worked.” —…
