On November 7, 1973, nine people were killed in a single incident at the home of Walter and Joanne Parkin in Acampo, California. Among the victims was their son Robert Allen Parkin, age 9; his sister Lisa, age 11; their parents Walter, age 33, and Joanne, age 31; the family babysitter Debbie Earl, age 18; and four members of her family: Richard and Wanda Earl, Ricky Earl, age 15, and Debbie’s boyfriend Mark Lang, age 20.

The motive reported was robbery: perpetrators William Luther Steelman and Doug Gretzler sought money from the safe at the United Market in Victor, California, which Walter Parkin operated, and took about $4,000. The killers allegedly celebrated afterward by eating Joanne Parkin’s birthday cake and making themselves drinks. San Joaquin Sheriff Michael M. Canlis described the scene as looking like the work of a madman.

Steelman and Gretzler were arrested and later convicted of multiple murders and sentenced to death. Does anyone have memories of the Acampo community in 1973 or information about the victims that could shed further light on the family and that night?