I am not sure I buy the conspiracy theory in the article “Missing Pieces” (Oct. 1). I agree with Judge Dodie Harman: It [the Houlgate murder] is one of the most senseless killings we have heard of. When have we heard of rational, well-thought-out decisions being made after a binge of meth and alcohol topped off by days without sleep? A few years ago San Quentin executed a man for killing two teenagers because he wanted their Jack-in-the-Box cheeseburgers. Violent crimes most often are senseless. The supposed Manson-like figure in this case, who may have requested the hit, probably wasn’t happy when he found out the murderers did something witchy, like leave an eye witness.
As far as Renae Moser’s theory that Wollett and Westerbrook “cooked up their story to save their asses,” they are both soon to be lifers. Not much of a save here. It is hard to know how many enemies Mr. Houlgate had; he was obviously involved in a destructive, dangerous environment that eventually put him in mortal danger. That being said, in no way did he deserve to have his life ripped from him and his family.
The one thing we do know is that the two men who ended his life face prison for the rest of their lives.
This article appears in Oct 22-29, 2009.
