Mrs Vivian Riley 1945

Miss [sic] Vivian Riley, age 28, killed by Vernon Spangler, age 28, in his room at 705 West 6th Street. LA, Cal. 3/17/45. He took her body to the rear of a laundry at 703 West 6th Street. He was charged with 2nd degree murder and sentenced to 5 years to life at San Quentin Prison.

The lifeless body of Mrs. Vivian Roberta Riley, a 28-year-old brunette, was discovered in a rain-soaked alley in downtown, revealing a scene of harrowing violence. She appeared to be a victim of a brutal attack, her semi-nude body marked with bruises and evidence of struggle. The remnants of her clothing were found torn and scattered, and bloodstained undergarments along with ripped stockings were crammed into the pockets of a red coat lying beside her in a puddle. This coat was positioned near the rear of a hand laundry located at the intersection of Sixth and Flower streets, suggesting that her life had been violently disrupted in what should have been a familiar environment. A discarded girdle was carelessly tossed into a nearby ashcan, adding to the chaos of the scene.

Among the few belongings that remained with her was a silver identification bracelet. Engraved with her name, "Vivian Riley," the bracelet bore a touching inscription on the reverse side: "All my love, Charlie." This personal detail hinted at her connections and the life she led outside of this tragic moment. Homicide officers, upon investigation, learned that she was employed as a seamstress at a laundry situated at 703 West Sixth Street. They surmised that she had likely been attacked on her way to or from work, as her body was discovered slumped against the back steps of the company’s office. The circumstances surrounding her death painted a somber picture of a woman whose life had been abruptly cut short, leaving behind questions and a community grappling with the aftermath of such violence.

The tragic fate of Mrs. Vivian Roberta Riley was underscored by the brutal nature of her injuries. Police discovered telltale bruises on her neck, indicating she had been choked to death, possibly by the twisting of a string of beads. This horrific detail hinted at the violent confrontation she faced. Further examination revealed multiple contusions on her head, forehead, and face, suggesting she had been mercilessly bludgeoned. As investigators continued their examination, they uncovered bruises resembling human bites scattered across various parts of her body, alongside numerous other bruises indicating she had been severely kicked. Initially, the forensic team noted that there was no evidence of sexual assault, but subsequent investigations confirmed that she had indeed been subjected to brutalization. Police estimated her time of death to be around midnight on March 17, 1945.

Detectives quickly pieced together the sequence of events leading to her tragic demise. The attack appeared to have occurred in front of a nearby hotel, where investigators found bloodstains and fragments of a woman's comb. It was evident that Mrs. Riley had staggered into the alley, succumbing to her injuries before collapsing in the darkness.

Adding a personal dimension to the investigation, the landlady of an apartment house located at 1443 Bonnie Brae Street revealed that Vivian had lived there for several months prior to the incident but had left without providing a forwarding address. The landlady noted that Vivian was a divorcee who had moved to the area from Oklahoma. This background information painted a picture of a woman who, despite her struggles, had tried to build a new life, only to meet with a tragic and violent end. The layers of her story, intertwined with the circumstances of her death, left an indelible mark on the community and those who sought justice for her.

Captain Thad Brown, head of the homicide detail, was optimistic about the investigation, anticipating that an arrest would be made within 72 hours. That evening, police began questioning a resident of the hotel adjacent to the laundry regarding Mrs. Vivian Riley's death. The man, who identified himself as Vernon E. Spangler, a 28-year-old restaurant chef, had already been booked at Central Jail on a charge of suspicion of murder. Det. Sgts. Harry Hansen and Stewart Jones, members of the homicide detail, apprehended Spangler near Pershing Street after discovering bloodstains that led from Mrs. Riley's body to his nearby hotel room. The police soon learned that Spangler was also an Army deserter, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation.

During interrogation, Spangler vehemently denied any connection to the victim, concocting a bizarre tale involving a chance encounter with a navy chief petty officer he referred to only as "Aiken" in a bar the previous night. He claimed he had agreed to lend his hotel room to this stranger for a rendezvous with a woman he met at Pershing Square. However, his story quickly unraveled when he purportedly told the police that upon returning to his room, he found the woman's unconscious, bloodstained body lying on the floor. In a panic, he claimed to have shouldered her still-unconscious form down the hotel steps, ultimately leaving her in the alley behind the hand laundry where her lifeless body was discovered, rain-soaked and abandoned.

As detectives sifted through Spangler's account, they noted the inconsistencies and implausibility of his narrative, which raised further suspicions about his involvement in the heinous crime. The juxtaposition of his claims against the grim evidence collected would prove pivotal in the unfolding investigation, as authorities worked diligently to unravel the truth behind Mrs. Riley's tragic demise.

The police subjected Vernon E. Spangler to a lie detector test, during which he admitted to discarding the body of Mrs. Vivian Riley but steadfastly refused to confess to her murder. Detectives Harry Hansen and Stewart Jones were quick to investigate Spangler's hotel room at the Lovera Hotel, located at the corner of Sixth Street and Hope Street. There, they uncovered a disturbing scene: scattered remnants of a broken string of beads and bloodstained trousers, alongside a pool of blood soaking into the carpet. Bloodstains marred the furniture, and clear signs of a violent struggle were evident at the foot of the steps leading to the second-floor lobby.

Hotel manager J.M. Gostine recounted hearing a disturbance in the hotel entry shortly after midnight, coinciding with the estimated time of the attack on Mrs. Riley. Other residents echoed his testimony, reporting hearing a woman’s voice pleading, “Don’t, don’t,” amidst the chaos. This corroborating evidence painted a vivid picture of the events that transpired that fateful night. Additionally, police managed to locate several witnesses who confirmed seeing Spangler in the company of the brunette woman earlier that evening, further implicating him in the unfolding investigation. As the pieces of the case came together, the mounting evidence pointed towards a brutal encounter that would soon demand justice for Mrs. Riley.

The victim's estranged husband, Charles Riley, 30, residing at 816 South Westlake Avenue, insisted on his wife Vivian's high moral character, asserting that she would never allow herself to be picked up by a stranger. Mr. Riley confirmed his identity as her husband and recognized Vernon E. Spangler as a former chef at a nearby restaurant located at Seventh Street and Broadway, where Mrs. Riley had worked as a waitress. This connection added an unsettling layer to the investigation, as it suggested a potential acquaintance between Spangler and the victim.

On March 21, 1945, Spangler was formally indicted for the bludgeoning murder of Mrs. Riley, mere hours after a Coroner's jury recommended that he be held accountable. The county grand jury subsequently returned a first-degree murder bill before Superior Judge William R. McKay, who ordered that Spangler be held without bail in county jail. During the coroner's hearing, two conflicting versions of Spangler's explanation regarding the circumstances of the woman's death were thoroughly dismantled by witnesses. Detective Lieutenant Stewart Jones provided compelling testimony, revealing that Mrs. Riley's lifeless body had been discovered behind a laundry facility and that strangulation had played a role in her death. Additionally, blood-flecked pearl beads were found near the body, identical to those later discovered in Spangler's hotel room, further intertwining him with the gruesome crime.

Initially, Vernon E. Spangler claimed he had lent his hotel room to a chance acquaintance, a Navy man named Aiken. However, his narrative shifted dramatically when he later asserted that he returned home to find an unknown woman dead in his room. In a bid to avoid trouble, he admitted to moving the body outside. Yet, Mrs. Lucille Fox, a resident at 1515 South Hoover Street, provided compelling testimony, revealing that she had seen her friend, Mrs. Vivian Riley, just two hours before the murder, in the company of Spangler at Eighth and Broadway, where they engaged in conversation.

Spangler's trial was scheduled for May 8, 1945, in the court of Superior Judge Thomas L. Ambrose. During the proceedings, forensic evidence emerged linking Spangler directly to the crime. Notably, bite marks found on Mrs. Riley's arm were identified in court as being made by Spangler himself. Leland Jones, an attache of the police scientific laboratory, testified that he had created a wax impression of Spangler's teeth and determined that the bite marks on Mrs. Riley were identical to those left by Spangler.

After just three hours of deliberation, the jury, composed of six men and six women, convicted Spangler of second-degree murder. Following the verdict, on May 25, 1945, Spangler’s attorney, Leola Buck Kellogg, filed a motion for a new trial. However, on June 1, 1945, the court sentenced Spangler to a term of five years to life in prison, marking a grim conclusion to a brutal case that had captured public attention.

The Murderer:

The murderer, Vernon Edward Spangler, was born on May 25, 1917, in Texas to Mrs. R.E. Spangler (née Hinson). By the time of his draft registration in 1940, he was living in Denver, Colorado, where he was described as having a ruddy complexion, blonde hair, and blue eyes. Notably, he bore a tattoo on his left wrist. In 1941, Spangler enlisted in the Army, highlighting his commitment to serve during World War II. His registration card indicated that he had completed four years of high school education and had developed skills as a mechanic and repairman.

Spangler’s military service came to an end when he was discharged from a WWII hospital in 1943 while stationed in New Zealand. He served as a private in the infantry, but the specifics of his medical diagnosis were not disclosed, although it was noted that the condition predated his entry into military service. This background reflects a complex individual whose experiences may have influenced the tragic events that would later unfold in his life.

Vernon Edward Spangler's prison record at San Quentin characterized him as a man of 5 feet 8 inches in height and weighing 220 pounds. He had a ruddy complexion, blue eyes, and blond hair, and his marital status was recorded as single. Spangler identified as Protestant.

His criminal history included prior incarceration in Tulare County Jail, where he was held for carrying a concealed weapon in 1940. At that time, he was employed as a coal miner.

Spangler's life came to an end on February 24, 1967, in San Francisco, leaving behind a troubled legacy marked by violence and crime.

The Victim:

Vivian Roberta Burns was born on April 12, 1917, in Oklahoma, to parents Robert H. Burns and Pearl G. Burns. Her early life remains largely undocumented, but her journey led her to California, where she eventually became a seamstress.

After her tragic death in 1945, Vivian was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. Her headstone bears the poignant inscription "All my love, Charlie," a phrase that resonates with the emotional significance of her silver identification bracelet, reflecting the love and affection she shared with someone special in her life. This touching tribute serves as a lasting reminder of her humanity and the relationships that shaped her existence.