Case 298: Bonnie Hood

Case 298 Bonnie Hood

On August 19 1990, the tiny mountain town of Camp Nelson, California, was stunned when the owner of the Camp Nelson Lodge, Bonnie Hood, was found shot to death in her private cabin. Her handyman, Rudy Manuel, was also shot in the head during the attack.

While various suspects and theories emerged, it wasn’t until a separate shooting took place a little over a year later that the truth unravelled behind what some have called the strangest murder case in California’s history.

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People v Hood (1997)

Executive Report on Parole Review Decisions (2012)

Blood & Money: The Hitman’s Tale – Oxygen

Mystery in the Mountains –  Dominick Dunne’s Power, Privilege, and Justice

Murder in the Mountains – Murdered by Morning, NBC

Murder Victim Seen as Disliked Outsider – The Fresno Bee

Resort Slaying of newport Woman Probed – LA Times

Robbery Suspected in Cabin Slaying Case – LA Times

Camp Owner Killed During Robbery – The Fresno Bee

Letters to the Editor – The Fresno Bee

Riverside-area ManCharged in Camp Nelson Killing – The Fresno Bee

Suspect Awaits Arraignment in Slaying of Employer’s Wife – LA Times

Slaying Case Takes New Turn – The Fresno Bee

Porterville Lodge on the Block – The Hanford Sentinel

Fontanan Held in Resort Slaying – San Bernardino County Sun

Suspect Pleads Innocent – The Fresno Bee

Shooting Survivor Faked Death – The Fresno Bee

DA challenges Camp Nelson Case Attorney – The Fresno Bee

Cattle rancher Claims He Was Set Up – The Signal

Key Evidence Blocked in Cattle Rustling Case – The Signal

Camp Nelson Murder Puzzle – The Fresno Bee

Camp Nelson Defense Lawyer Says He’ll Stay – The Fresno Bee

Murder Suspect’s Counsel Keeps Post – The Fresno Bee

Assailant Identified in Camp Nelson Case – Merced Sun-Star

Witness Says Fontana Man is Murderer – San Bernardino County Sun

Survivor Points to Suspect – The Fresno Bee

Death Penalty Ruled Possible in Slaying Case – The Fresno Bee

Camp Nelson Trial Will Test Credibility of Victim – The Fresno Bee

Murder Jury Told of Drug Data – The Fresno Bee

Witness says Hood Struggled With Gunman – The Fresno Bee

Account of Hood Killing is Attacked – The Fresno Bee

Detective: Hood Witness Confused – The Fresno Bee

Husband’s Gun Not Used in Killing, Expert Says – The Fresno Bee

Defendant in Murder at Camp Nelson Denies Quilt – The Fresno Bee

Experts Testify on Blood – The Fresno Bee

The Long-Distance Mom – The Orange County Register

Testimony Conflicts With Death – Expert – The Fresno Bee

Nelson Case Will Go To Jury Today – The Fresno Bee

Acquittal in Lodge Murder – The Fresno Bee

Man Acquitted in Lodge Killing Shot – The Hanford Sentinel

Police Arrest Bloomington Businessman – San Bernardino County Sun

Man Held in Death of Ex-Murder Suspect – LA Times

Developer Claims Self-Defense – The Californian

Attack Victim Relieved by Beauchamp’s Death – The Fresno Bee

Widow Adds Twist to Slaying – San Bernardino County Sun

Beauchamp Widow Alleges Link – The Fresno Bee

Developer Charged With Man’s Murder – LA Times

Hood’s Role in Plot Alleged – The Fresno Bee

Prosecutor Says Hood Planted Gun – The Fresno Bee

Widow of Beauchamp Testifies – The Fresno Bee

Pathologist Describes Slaying – San Bernardino County Sun

Fibers in Hood Case Fall Short – The Fresno Bee

Murder Trial Ordered for Developer – LA Times

Life For The Hoods was Golden – The Fresno Bee

DA Won’t Seek Death – San Bernardino County Sun

Trial May Use new Technology – The Fresno Bee

Tangled Tale of Slaying Goes to Trial – The Fresno Bee

Charting Fall From Golden O.C. Lifestyle to Lurid Trial – LA Times

Victim’s Brother-in-law Testifies – The Fresno Bee

Widow Says victim Went to Meet Hood Unarmed – The Fresno Bee

Testimony of Beauchamp’s Widow Attacked – The Fresno Bee

When Justice Starts Watching Videos – The Sacramento Bee

Hood Reenacts Shooting at Trial – San Bernardino County Sun

Hood Blames Gun Slaying on Victim’s Look – The Fresno Bee

Hood Holds Remorse – San Bernardino County Sun

Money Behind Hood Slaying – The Fresno Bee

Hood Jury Hears Closing Arguments – San Bernardino County Sun

Hood’s Attorney Says “Case is an Illusion” – San Bernardino County Sun

Jury Still Considering – The Fresno Bee

Hood Trial Winds Up – The Fresno Bee

Hood Trial Jurors Urged to Continue – The Fresno Bee

Jury Deadlocks Again – San Bernardino County Sun

Jury Can’t Agree – The Fresno Bee

Hood Crashes Boat – San Bernardino County Sun

DA: Scheme Traces to Blackmail – San Bernardino County Sun

Brother-in-law Testifies of Blackmailing – San Bernardino County Sun

Hood Says Threats Had Scared Him – San Bernardino County Sun

Retrial Takes Unusual Twist – San Bernardino County Sun

Builder Guilty of Murder in Retrial – San Bernardino County Sun

Sentence is 29 to Life – San Bernardino County Sun

Developer Gets 29 Years – LA Times

Sierra Resort For Sale Again – The Fresno Bee

Galik’s Lawyer Says Conduct was Calculated – The Fresno Bee

True Tale of Greed, Death Ends – The Fresno Bee

Effort to Renew Investigation of Bonnie Hood Murder Fails – The Fresno Bee

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