About this episode

The episode discusses the tragic and mysterious murders of Dr. Victor Ohta's family and their secretary, exploring themes of occult and cult activity in the context of 1970s California.

In the early evening of October 19, 1970, police and firefighters were called to the Santa Cruz County home of Dr. Victor Ohta, a well-respected ophthalmologist, for a report of a house fire. Intending to siphon water from the pool out back, firefighters ran a hose from the truck to the backyard. However, when they reached the pool, the made a horrible discovery—floating in the pool were the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Ohta, as well as their two children, and the doctor’s secretary, Dorothy Cadwallader. When they searched the scene, investigators discovered a cryptic note stuck under the windshield wiper of Victor Ohta’s car that made references to the occult and the counterculture movement. At the time of the murders, Southern California was experiencing an unprecedented wave of violent murders by multiple serial and spree killers, as well as the notorious murders committed by the Manson family. Given the content of the note and the potentially ritualistic way in which the Ohta family had been killed, investigators and residents couldn’t help but fear that they may have another murderous cult on their hands.

People in this episode

Hosts: Ash Kelley, Alaina Urquhart

Topics covered

• true crime
• occult
• family murders
• serial killers
• ritualistic killings
• 1970s crime

Keywords

• Dr. Victor Ohta
• murders
• occult
• Santa Cruz
• 1970
• family
• ritualistic
• Manson family
• crime

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Manson family

Places: Santa Cruz County

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