Investigators Step Up Search for Clues In Slaying of Lompoc High School Pair

Investigators stepped up their search in the Lompoc area today for clues which might shed some light on the mysterious slaying Tuesday of teen-age sweethearts at a lonely beach 25 miles north of Santa Barbara.

They continued interrogation begun last night of a 17-year-old Lompoc boy, after he was arrested on suspicion of intoxication in downtown Lompoc. He told authorities he knew both victims well, that he had been jealous of the dead boy, and that he had been at Refugio Beach Tuesday. Refugio is several miles from the murder area.

The bullet-riddled bodies of Robert Domingos, 18, and Linda Edwards, who would have been 18 today, were found about 10 p.m. Wednesday in a crudely-built hideaway at a remote and rugged spot along the coast.

The youth being questioned was described by sheriff’s deputies as having a badly bruised hand, with knuckles “pushed in.” They said he was belligerent and has an arrest record with the Lompoc police department.

YOUTH SOUGHT

Overnight, deputies who had traveled to Santa Cruz to return them, brought to the county jail two boys who have admitted being implicated in the fatal stabbing of a Lompoc man early Monday. They said the actual deed was done by a third youth, known only as “Sandy,” whom they let off at the Royal Motel, Arroyo Grande, Monday. The sheriff’s office has confirmed that a youth answering his description did check into the motel.

He was being sought today under a coast-wide all-points bulletin in that death, and also for questioning in connection with the shooting of the couple.

In Lompoc, deputies were also checking out stores which sell the type of .22 caliber long-rifle ammunition found at the scene, where Miss Edwards and the Domingos boy had gone to spend “ditch day” from Lompoc High School, where they were to have been graduated last night.

They were also questioning friends of the couple, particularly those who also did not attend the regular senior day activities planned.

INVITATION DECLINED

They were told by Shirley Gnesa, a friend of Miss Edwards, and who is planning to be married soon, that she and her “steady” were to have accompanied the couple to the beach Tuesday in the Domingos car. She said it later developed that her “steady” had to work, so they “backed out.” Miss Edwards and Domingos then invited Shirley to go along, but she declined, she said.

Miss Gnesa is the sister of Lee Gnesa, 19, who directed California Highway Patrol officer Paul Shults to the beach shack Wednesday night, where the bodies were found by Shults. Gnesa’s father and Domingos’ father accompanied Lee Gnesa to the general area first, where the Domingos car was found parked on Highway 101, above the beach. When they found the car, they reported to Officer Shults, whom they located at Vista del Mar School, where he was writing out a ticket to a motorist.

Ray Pinker, forensic chemist with the Los Angeles Police Department, made an initial investigation of the scene and the bodies yesterday, en route to Arizona, where he is chief speaker at a conference of law enforcement officers. He will return Sunday and take to his laboratory the bullets, clothing, and other material for analysis.

Meantime, authorities agreed there had been an attempt to set fire to the shack, in an apparent effort to destroy it and the bodies.

Though there were strong indications that a rifle had been used to pump eight bullets into the girl and 11 into the boy, officers said it still has not been determined whether the weapon was a revolver, an automatic, or a rifle.

It is speculated that the boy and girl, who has been swimming, and who left some of their clothes in the car and some in the shack, were shot down sometime Tuesday afternoon, perhaps only a little while after they had arrived. They were planning to be married, and Miss Edwards was to have been a bridesmaid at the coming wedding of Miss Gnesa.

Miss Edwards’ purse had also been left in the locked car. The car keys were found in a pocket of the boy’s surf pants. The girl’s bathing suit and panties had been cut and ripped from her body, and she was left piled on top of the boy, after the bodies had been dragged into the shack from the beach.

Officers received several “tips” overnight from persons trying to be helpful in the case. These included a call from James L. Summer, of 2150 Las Canoas, who reported that last Saturday, his son and some friends were at the shack when two bullets were fired at them from the direction of the railroad tracks, near the highway. The bullets came close enough, Summer said, so that the boys could hear them whistling through the air.

The all-points police bulletin describes “Sandy” as being between 17 and 20 years of age, about 5 feet, 11 inches tall, wearing new shoes and possibly black corduroy pants and shirt. He has sandy hair, a ruddy complexion, and is of stocky build. He may be using the name of William Carr, or Robert Coffman, and claims to be from San Francisco or Oakland.

Meanwhile, authorities were investigating the disappearance of four teen-aged girls in the county.

Pamela Youngblood, 15, of Vandenberg Air Force Base, was still missing at midday today after having left home at 7 last night to attend the Lompoc High School graduation. Her parents reported her missing.

Sheriff’s deputies said Linda Ladd, 14, of 64 Warwick, Goleta Valley, and Teresa Fantes were still missing today after having been last reported seen at 4:30 p.m. yesterday walking from La Colina Junior High School toward Five Points.

This afternoon parents of another girl told deputies of their daughter’s disappearance, but this information was not immediately available.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

LINDA EDWARDS — Victim of Killer

ROBERT DOMINGOS — Slain Near Beach