By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
Crestline has its own mass murder, the Boles Family murders, about which a documentary was made examining this almost unknown event. The documentary, using CSI investigation techniques (before that was made popular on TV), was filmed by investigative reporter Davey Porter.
The documentary, The Boles Murders, will be shown for the next two weekends in the Cozad Theater, inside the Mountain History Museum at 27176 Peninsula Drive in Lake Arrowhead. The 1:30 p.m. showings of the documentary investigating the murder of the Boles family is free. Since it has a re-creation of the murder scene within it, it is not meant for children.
The Boles Murders is an hour-long film that details the bloody facts surrounding the murder of the Boles family that occurred in Crestline in 1965. The making of this documentary actually led to the solving of that cold-case murder. The video will be shown on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 9 and 10 and Aug. 16 and 17. The host for each Saturday showing will be Russ Keller, while local historian Rhea-Frances Tetley will host the Sunday showings.
An introduction will be given by the host to set the scene; after the showing of the movie, the host will explain who the murderer was and their motive.
Was the murderer a male or female, or maybe several persons working together, or a drifter, a complete stranger, someone they cut off while driving up the highway, a local resident or family member or was it the homeless man who had been squatting in the home? Has that murderer been charged, or did they actually “get away with murder,” unscathed?
This murder took place exactly 60 years ago this month, on Aug. 12 or 13 of 1965. The killing of the Boles family and their family dog is almost forgotten in history because of the timing of the murder. On any average weekend, this horrific murder would have made the front pages of newspapers everywhere and the national TV news would have swarmed Crestline, as well, except for the Watts riots, which also occurred that same weekend. The Boles family murder faded into obscurity, almost everywhere, but locally it was etched into the minds of their remaining family members and local law enforcement agents who investigated the case.
As Porter was researching for the documentary by reinterviewing all the officers and witnesses and studying the notes and files on the case, the mystery unraveled and the cold case was solved, which actually relieved the minds of the investigators that were involved.
The Boles family had just purchased a home in the mountain community of Crestline in the exclusive Club San Moritz area and they were up visiting their new vacation home for the first time. They had a delicious dinner in the dining room at the exclusive Club San Moritz and then went to enjoy their new vacation home. The whole family was found murdered inside their home and in their driveway on Aug. 13; even the dog was killed. Why? Who? And did anyone benefit from the family’s demise?
Seating is limited by the size of the Cozad Theater. This is a presentation of the Rim of the World Historical Society for mature members of the mountain communities. This movie reveals a dark, but true, chapter of mountain history. For more details, call the museum at (909) 744-8625.
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