Rod Decrona

Omg snoho, I read that same statement yesterday and thought about the cut in the couch cushion too! DeCrona has been criticized over that interview. But it was violent scene, especially for a small town dept like PCSO who had never experienced a crime of such magnitude.

We aren't privy to every detail and PCSO didn't do a perfect job with their documentation. For instance that couch cushion, the slash in it isn't documented anywhere. The knife marks in the wall are unusual, we know they were there, but not much documented based on what we've seen. It does seem possible there was more damage to furniture items than we are unaware of.

Before the original officers were decided to be corrupt assholes, locals spoke about how traumatizing this case was to them. How many of them young men themselves and never experienced anything like this. DeCrona may not be listed as an early investigator per the case files. However, that doesn't mean he didn't visit the scene at some point after the victims were removed. He was a deputy at the time. And at the very least he later investigated the case, had access to all the case files and photos, and heard everything those at the scene that morning had to say about it.

If I remember correctly DeCrona said the writer of that article exaggerated his comments, however, it's not far off imo.

Did the writer of that article exaggerate his comments or did DeCorona exaggerate his comments then try to backtrack? 

LE documented the “stab” marks on the walls and from their documentation it doesn’t appear to be anything like DeCorona said - plus who knows how long these marks had been on the walls? I think LE checked the walls after Justin claimed the killer left a knife stuck in the wall - but if the knife was not still stuck in the wall when LE arrived at the CS then what happened to the knife? Did Justin remove it or did he stab the wall with the knife himself (thinking of the bent knife on the floor near Johnny)

*** After writing this post I kept thinking of Justin saying he saw a knife sticking out of the wall, but I also remembered it being said the killer returned and took the knife out of the wall so I searched and searched and never located Justin's actual interview of the knife in the wall just a statement written when Don returned to look for the knife marks. But I finally remembered where I'd read that:

Mike Gamberg statment in the 2018 Plumas News article:

So when Stoy returned to 28 was it to see if the knife could have been left stuck in the wall (when the killer left? then possibly removed by Justin?). 

The more I research the more Justin's ever changing stories just add up to him being absolutely untruthful. That's why he couldn't keep his stories straight. Stoy said Justin could not see what he claimed to have seen in the living room from the boys bedroom and  Justin told of trying to stop the bleeding on Sue and it was documented that this was known only by the officers because Sue's gown was covering it up (so did Justin lift her gown up with her bound wrists in the way?? Or did he see it because her gown was up over her breast and he was able to pull the gown down with her bound wrists in the way??) His stories make absolutely no sense. He didn't see Tina - he did see Tina etc....  

There's some great thoughts that could explain away his different stories but how many times should his stories be "explained away"? The simple fact that he couldn't keep his stories straight certainly was a red flag to LE (that obviously did not point to Marty). 

Sorry I got off track with this topic!!

For 1981 I think LE did a really good job of trying to get to the bottom of Justin's stories. Thanks to Hope for writing out a timeline for Justin - I'm gonna post the short version.

4-12-81
Justin tells Shaver he didn't see or hear anything

4-13-81
Marilyn brings Justin into the SO and he, once again, says he didn't see or hear anything
Marilyn is interviewed by Crim & Bradley and tells them what Justin has been telling her about the murders
Justin is interviewed by DT, Crim & Bradley 

4-14-81
Justin is interviewed by DT, Crim & Bradley and tells about his dream and tells them things like cut on Sue's chest that only investigating officers knew about and describing killers

4-15-81
11:11am (3 days after murders) DT flies to Reno to p/u sketch artist Harlan Embrey and brings him back to Quincy 
14:10am (3 hours later)Justin is place under hypnosis with Bradley present and Embrey draws a sketch

4-16-81
Justin is taken into protective custody for his safety

4-20-81
DOJ Agent Leonard speaks with Alfred French about Justin

4-21-81
11:45am Justin is p/u from school by DT and taken to lunch then Justin is polygraphed by Sam Lister
14:30am Lister requests that DT sit in on Justin's interview - Justin admits this was not a dream but he witness what happened
Don Stoy takes Justin's shoes into possession and finds no traces of blood

4-22-81
Don Stoy goes to 28 to look for knife marks as referenced in Justin's interview

4-30-81
Don Stoy returns to 28 and confirms it is physically impossible to see the kitchen from the spot Justin claims to have seen it in from the boys room

5-12-81
DT consults with child psychologist Martin Reiser regarding Justin's statements and Marty - Reiser recommends Dr. Jerry Dash who agrees to come to Quincy on 5-19-81

5-19-81
8:15am Dr. Dash arrives
10:15am Dr. Dash hypnotizes Justin - this is taped and video recorded
Dr. Dash thinks it's very likely Justin did see some things and suggests that the composite sketches be released

7-8-81
Justin is shown a photo lineup with Henry Thompson but does not identify any of the me as being in the cabin that night

9-18-81
Justin is shown photo lineup with 6 suspects he says Steve McKim looks a lot like the suspect

12-17-86
Justin is interveiwed by Decrona but information of this interview has not been released

5-22-14
After a recent news article Justin contacts Gamberg at the SO and is interviewed and gives a DNA sample

6-30-14
Justin's DNA sample sent to DOJ in Chico for processing

7-25-14
Meghan Gray from the Chico lab reports a possible match in Keddie homicides

10-24-14
Gamberg attempts to get helpfrom a criminal psychologist in how to best approach Justin

3-22-16
Gamberg informs Justin of DNA match and Justin is interviewed

***If Justin was a problemed child before and after the murders, as has been stated, then I would like to think he was given some kind of counseling during DT's time at PCSO. I know DT left soon after Justin went to stay with Joan in Meadow Valley and he really seemed like the one trying to help Justin (Marilyn said he didn't receive counseling because he went to live with his father and his father didn't believe in it - but that doesn't answer the question of was he in counseling with anyone right after the murders - I would be surprised to know he wasn't).