Probable Location of Vivian Cercy's Dodge at 0230

'73 Dodge Dart Swinger

Where was Vivian Cercy's '73 Dodge Dart parked around the time that Vincent Johnson saw Thomas, Greg, and Mary? Of course we can't know its location for sure, but we might be able to reach a conclusion as to where it probably sat around 0230, August 16.

Mary's family planted a tree and had a plaque placed near where they believed Mary and Greg had been murdered.  It's located near a picnic area at Cesar Chavez Park, close to the North Basin.  At the time of the murders, the landfill office seems to have been nearby.  A rough estimate of the distance between this spot and Rainbow Village would be a quarter of a mile.

Vince Johnson  testified that, on his way back to his bus, he saw Thomas, Greg, and Mary standing "next to the first set of cement pilings near the landfill office." (Berkeley Marina Murders, p. 136)  Thomas appeared angry.

The accounts Thomas gave to the police seem to agree with Johnson's testimony.  For example, Thomas spoke with inspector Daniel Wolke on August 20.  Wolke recorded the following during this interview:

"Thomas decided to go to Ledger's Liquors to buy some beer. Walking out past the village, he saw Vivian Cercy's car pointed north along the roadside. He also saw Gioia and Kniffin near the concrete docks.  Kniffin called him over to ask him if he had any matches. Thomas gave them some wooden matches in a leather-like pouch with a beaded design of deer mating, which he called “Peruvian love beads.” They asked him if he had any marijuana. Thomas said he did and took out a wooden pipe in which they all smoked the marijuana. They also drank beer. Thomas told Wolke he also had a corncob pipe with a broken stem and that he must have left it behind for Gioia and Kniffin or else lost it where they were. While Thomas was with them, Vincent Johnson passed by on his way to Rainbow Village and said hello." (In Re Ralph International Thomas, p. 17)

Mary and Greg left Jim Prew's van around 0215.  Thomas left soon after.  Vincent Johnson testified that he saw all three around 0230.  So by Thomas's own account, this means Vivian Cercy's Dodge was probably parked between Rainbow Village and the landfill office between 0200 and 0230.

The important thing to remember here is that Mary and Greg probably walked past Cercy's vehicle as they left Rainbow Village, and so did Thomas.  

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