In the spring of 1971, Melford Everett Sample was one of 25 men discovered murdered and buried in shallow graves in Sutter County peach orchards. The bodies of the victims, many described as itinerant farm workers, had been hacked and stabbed to death. Sample’s grave was found on May 21, 1971; buried with him were two meat receipts dated just days earlier that carried the signature of a local labor contractor, Juan V. Corona, which gave investigators a key lead.

As more graves were uncovered, additional items linking Corona to other victims were recovered, including bank deposit slips bearing his name and a ledger with several victim names. Corona was arrested on May 26, 1971. Evidence recovered from his home and vehicle reportedly included a machete, a bloodstained club, and knives. Two trials followed, and juries convicted him of first-degree murder for all 25 killings.

Does anyone have memories of the orchards or the victims from that spring of 1971 who could shed light on this case?