Odd as it is, postcards of Camarillo State Mental Hospital were sold to tourists who visited the hospital and many were used to write notes to people back home, such
as this one which I found on an auction site online. (Photo/Copyright: K.Anderberg)
I get email constantly asking if I know anything about different relatives of people out there, who want to know more and often could not get full information due to
family pride, etc. The State and Hospital have hidden behind patient confidentiality laws to keep much of their past hidden. So, I am logging the names of ex-patients here, alphabetically,
with the cites where I found their names, so that some comprehensive list is begun regarding who the patients at CSMH were. This page is dedicated to those who died at CSMH, nameless
for all real purposes...hidden even in death. NOTE: I spend a lot of my time digging up these primary source cites and I would be grateful if people using my work would acknowledge where
they found the information, i.e., please credit me if you use information from my site and research. Thank you.
The following are patients who reportedly were in CSMH at one time or another, according to historical documents:
Adams, Barbara - Approx. 1945 (L.A.Times, "Girl in Killing Judged Insane," Sept. 15, 1945, p. 4)
B., Mary - Approx. 1978 (LATimes, Ronald B. Taylor, Girl Caught in Mix of Prop. 13 Tangle, Nov. 6, 1978, p. B3; LATimes, Ronald B. Taylor, Mental Patient's Battle, Dec. 17, 1978, p. 3)
Boyd, Edith - Approx. 1955 (LATimes, Body of Woman Found in Icebox, Jun. 14, 1955, p.2)
Brogden, Joyce - Approx. 1975 (Ellen Hume, L.A.Times, "Jurors Review 42 Death Cases at Camarillo," Nov. 23, 1976, p. B3)
Burns, Barbara - Approx. 1975 (LATimes, Cordell Hicks, "I'm Hooked," Says Daughter of Bob Burns in Dope Case, Jan. 9, 1958, p. 2)
Campbell, Delora Mae - Approx. 1952 (L.A.Times, "High School Student Tells of Strangling Victim During Vision," Dec. 31, 1951, p. 1; L.A.Times, "Babysitter Stays Calm Over Slaying,"
Jan. 1, 1952, p. 2; L.A.Times, "Babysitter Faces Charges of Murder," Jan. 3, 1952, p. A3; L.A.Times, "Babysitter Who Killed Girl Sane," Doctor Says, Jan. 4, 1952, p. A1; L.A.Times,
"Babysitter Scratches Death Story on Compact," Jan. 5, 1952, p. 2; L.A.Times, "Baby Killer Once Escaped Term in Reformatory," Jan. 8, 1952, p. 5; L.A. Times, "Child Slayer Committed as Mental Patient," Jan. 17, 1952, p. A2;
L.A.Times, "Girl Committed to State Hospital in Child Slaying," Apr. 24, 1952, p. 2; L.A.Times, "Girl Strangler Taken After Fleeing Camarillo," April 9, 1954, p. 4; L.A.Times, "Girl Committed
to State Hospital in Child Slaying," April 24, 1952, p. 2)
Clark, Jeanne - Approx. 1942 (L.A.Times, "Fired Stenographer Placed in Hospital Psycho Ward," April 26, 1942, p. B14; L.A.Times, "Sit-Down Striking Typist Fights to Prove Sanity," May
13, 1942, p. A1; L.A.Times, "Typist Adjudged Mentally Ill," May 14, 1942, p. A12)
Comingore, Dorothy - Approx. 1953 (L.A.Times, "Dorothy Comingore to Enter Mental Hospital," May 29, 1953, p. 2; L.A.Times, "Actors Move to Bar Communists," July 1, 1953, p. 25;
Peter Brown, L.A.Times, "Blacklist: The Black Tale of Turmoil in Filmland," Feb. 1, 1981, p. N3)
Curtis, Mary Kendall - Approx. 1953 (LATimes, Mother Jailed as Girl Disappears in Mystery, Jun. 12, 1953, p. 1; LATimes, Skull and Crossbones Painted on Car, Jun. 13, 1953, p. 1;
LATimes, Girl in Hoax Found Hiding Near Anza, Jun. 14, 1953, p. 1; LATimes, Charge Filed in Girl Slaying Hoax, Jun. 16, 1953, p. 12; LATimes, Mother in Murder Hoax Committed to Hospital,
Jul. 4, 1953, p. 3)
Duke, Connie - Approx. 1975 (LATimes, Baby Recovered Unhurt, Texas Woman Arrested, Dec. 29, 1975, p. 3; LATimes, Steve Emmons, Suspect, 14, is Mental Patient, Dec. 31, 1975, p. C3)
Duncan, Elizabeth Ann Duncan - Approx. 1958 (LATimes, Mrs. Duncan Takes First Sanity Tests, Jan. 9, 1959, p. 4; LATimes, Kidnap-Killer Suspect Enters Insanity Plea, Feb. 11, 1959, p. 22;
LATimes, Mrs. Duncan Undergoes Brain Wave Studies, Feb. 24, 1959, p. D2; LATimes, Judge to Rule Today on Mrs. Duncan's Sanity, March 24, 1959, p. 2)
Elay, Gladys Baker - Approx. 1963 (LATimes, Metropolitan, Nov. 20, 1966, p. A; LATimes, Art Berman, Marilyn Monroe Debts, Taxes Erase $1 Million, Jun. 22, 1965, p. 3; LATimes,
Marilyn Monroe Mother Flees Sanitarium, Found, Jul. 6, 1963, p. 14)
Haas, Marjorie - Approx. 1956 (LATimes, Gas Explosion Burns Woman, Jul. 25, 1953, p. 1.
LATimes, Mother Clings to Baby Smothered in Crib, Nov. 15, 1956, p. B6)
Harp, Deliga - Approx. 1946 (LATimes, Couple Given Jail Sentence, Jan. 11, 1946, p. A3)
Hathaway, Carol Jean - Approx. 1956 (L.A. Times, "Valley News," Dec. 29, 1984, p. V7)
Herrera, Dora - Approx. 1945 (LATimes, Woman Seized in Store, Feb. 27, 1973, p. 3)
Hodgson, Mary - Approx. 1945 (L.A.Times, "Mental Patient Slays State Hospital Inmate," May 22, 1945, p. A8)
Katona, Tara Ann - Approx. 1945 (LATimes, Jan Klunder, Daughter Killed Herself, "Couldn't See Beauty Anymore," Dec. 25, 1983, p. V1; LATimes Myrna Oliver, $2 Million Sought From Gun Shop in Suicide, Nov. 29, 1983, p. C1;
LATimes, Elizabeth Lu, Gun Seller, Hospital Sued in Suicide, Apr. 1, 1986, p. V_A7; LA Times, The Region, Mar. 14, 1986, p. SD2)
Marmolejo, Mrs. Lupe - Approx. 1940 (L.A.Times, "Death of Infant Charged to Mother," Jan. 17, 1939, p. A2; L.A.Times, "Mother in Court for Baby Killing," Aug. 8, 1940, p. A12;
L.A.Times, "Mother in Ice-Pick Slaying of Baby Son Given Freedom," Oct. 9, 1940)
McDonald, Edna - Approx. 1945 (L.A.Times, "Mental Patient Slays State Hospital Inmate," May 22, 1945, p. A8)
Meza, Mary Alice - Approx. 1959 (L.A.Times, "It Wasn't Really Kidnapping," June 7, 1959, p. B4; Jerry Hulse, L.A.Times, "Mother of Victim Wonders About Reprieve of Daughter's Attacker," Feb. 20, 1960,
p. A; L.A.Times, "Chessman's Victim Still in Hospital," May 3, 1960, p. 21)
Kim, Miriam - Approx. 1955 (LATimes, Kiss Case Dismissed, Dec. 20, 1955, p. 24)
Klinker, Myrtle Nell - Approx. 1941 (LATimes, Kiss Case Dismissed, Dec. 20, 1955, p. 24)
Krieg, Joan - Approx. 1966 (LATimes, Housewife, 24, Held in Death of 3 Children, Oct. 9, 1966, p. G6; LATimes, Two Arrive Split Second in New Year, Jan. 2, 1966, p. B3)
Moore, Esther - Approx. 1941 (L.A.Times, "Sit-Down Strike Wife Sued for Annulment," Mar. 8, 1941, p. A16)
Moore, Lillian - Approx. 1942 (L.A.Times, "Boat Sought in Tragedy," May 10, 1942, p. A13)
Nichols, Joyce - Approx. 1947 (L.A.Times, "Girl, 13, Confesses Beating 5 Year Old to Death," Nov. 20. 1947, p. 5; L.A.Times, "Coroner Finds Girl, 5, Killed by Bobby-Soxer," Nov. 22,
1947, p. 4; L.A.Times, "Cave Death Case in Juvenile Court," Nov. 25, 1947, p. 2; L.A.Times, "Girl, 14, to Face Murder Charge in Superior Court," Apr. 24, 1948, p. 7; L.A.Times, "Life Term
Given Girl, 14, in Bakersfield Slaying," May 29. 1948, p. 12)
Quinn, Gloria - Approx. 1945 (L.A.Times, "Last Date Husband Shooting Suspect Booked," July 20, 1946, p. 3; L.A.Times, "Last Kiss Gun Victim Still Fights for Life," July 21, 1946, p. 10;
L.A. Times, "Shooting Victim Gives Testimony," August 17, 1946, p 3)
Paris, Donna - Approx. 1975 (Ellen Hume, L.A.Times, "Problems with Staff, Drugs, Cited at Hearing," Nov. 13, 1976, p. OC5; Ellen Hume, L.A.Times, "Tranquilizers Linked to Death of
Patient," Nov. 16, 1976, p. B3)
Rice, Craig - Approx. 1949 (L.A.Times, "Craig Rice in Hospital; Suicide Threat Reported," August 31, 1949, p. 1; L.A.Times, "Craig Rice Shows Some Improvement," Sept. 8, 1949, p.
2: L.A.Times, "Craig Rice Committed to Camarillo Hospital," Nov 23 1949)
Shaw, Della - Approx. 1952 (L.A.Times, "Woman Held as Insane Freed by Appeal Court: Ex-Actress Tells Story of Weight Loss and "Torture" Shock Treatment at Camarillo," Feb. 7,
1953, p. A22; L.A.Times, "Authority to Commit Sanity Cases Questioned," Feb. 11, 1953, p. A7)
Shedden, Mrs. Elaine Chatt - Approx. 1947 (L.A.Times, "Mother Stabbed to Death; Police Seize Daughter," Jan. 17, 1947, p. 8)
Smith, Alice - Approx. 1973 (Ellen Hume, L.A.Times, "Probe on Deaths at Camarillo Hospital Opens," Nov. 9, 1976, B3)
Walker, Wanda - Approx. 1975(Ellen Hume, L.A.Times, "Jurors Review 42 Death Cases at Camarillo," Nov. 23, 1976, p. B3.)
Wright, Mandi - Approx. 1976 (L.A.Times, "Award in Hospital Death," Sept. 6, 1979, p. D2; Ellen Hume, L.A.Times, "Mental Worker Says He Saw Man Choked," Nov. 19, 1976, p. 3;
Celeste Durant, L.A.Times, "5 More Surrender in Camarillo Case," Dec. 21, 1976, OC1; Michael A. Levett, L.A.Times, "DA Seeks to Void Charges Against 4 in Camarillo Case," p. C1; L.A.
Times, "2 in Camarillo Case Enter Pleas," Jan. 25, 1977, p. B3)
Marmolejo, Mrs. Lupe - Approx. 1940 (L.A.Times, "Death of Infant Charged to Mother," Jan. 17, 1939, p. A2; L.A.Times, "Mother in Court for Baby Killing," Aug. 8, 1940, p. A12;
L.A.Times, "Mother in Ice-Pick Slaying of Baby Son Given Freedom," Oct. 9, 1940)
Zigler, Edna - Approx. 1956 (L.A.Times, "Woman, 86, Found Dead in Coma," May 31, 1956, p. 4; L.A.Times, "Widow, 68, Accused of "Mercy Death" of Sister," Jul. 7, 1956, p.2)
