What Did Bruce Know and When Did He Know It?

In the comments one of our esteemed regulars pointed out that Bruce might be the last to know what really happened with some of the more prominent events. That got me wondering what he might actually, really know.

Before we posit, we need to reflect upon what his relationship was with Charlie. If Watkins was the puppy dog, and Watson the pit bull, that makes Bobby the rival and Bruce the confidant and right hand, with Clem the court jester.

Bruce, when his actions can be tracked at all, is always at Charlie's right hand.

He arrives with Charlie at Hinman for the ear lopping.
He is right there in the fray with Shea.
He is convicted in both.
Upon Charlie's orders, he vanishes in the sewers.
Upon Charlie's orders, he gives himself up, never to be a free man again.

So we know he's close. If there was an actual NUMBER TWO then that would be Brucie.

So what does Bruce know, for sure?

--> How Hinman went down, and why. I mean what were they talking about in the 35 minute drive over there?
--> Who else was involve in the Shea Murder and cleanup (Gypsy?)?
--> Who killed Doreen Gaul? (I think he did)
--> What happened and why at Cielo (I believe he went there hours later with Charlie)
--> Why was LaBianca targeted? ( He knew True )

Any one of these answers would change the study of this case forever.

So yes, I would love to see Bruce answer them.

But he won't.

And therefore he should not be freed. Which I don't think he will be anyway. Bobby has only half the murder convictions that Bruce has and he's stuck too.

The First Cop Who Messed The Crime Scene Dies

Danny Galindo dies at 88; LAPD detective in Tate-LaBianca murder cases
He was the first detective to arrive at the scene of the LaBianca slayings and conducted a detailed search, according to the book 'Helter Skelter.'

From a Times Staff Writer

April 8, 2010

Danny Galindo, a retired Los Angeles police detective who helped investigate the notorious Tate-LaBianca murders, died of a heart ailment Tuesday at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, his family said. He was 88.

"He was an important member of the Manson murders investigative team," said Vincent Bugliosi, who was the chief prosecutor in the case. Cult leader Charles Manson and several followers were sentenced to death (later reduced to life terms) in the 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca and five others.

Described by Bugliosi as amiable and hard-working, Galindo was a member of the LAPD's prestigious Robbery-Homicide Division when he was sent to the Tate house in Benedict Canyon, where the first five killings took place on the night of Aug. 8, 1969. As he told Los Angeles magazine last year, he took charge of the evidence being gathered and stayed to guard the house after the other investigators left the gruesome scene.

The next night he was filing reports at Parker Center downtown when he was called to the scene of two more murders, this time in the Los Feliz area. He was the first detective to arrive at the LaBianca residence and conducted a detailed search, according to Bugliosi's book about the murders, "Helter Skelter." Galindo later testified about the results of his search, including finding the word "WAR" carved into the abdomen of Leno LaBianca.

On the night of the LaBianca murders he was asked by a television reporter if the Tate and LaBianca murders were related and regretted his answer. "I told him, 'I think it's more of a copycat case.' I introduced that expression, and I've lived with it forever. It was a hell of a mistake on my part," he said in the Los Angeles magazine piece, "because it wasn't until much later that things would begin to fall into place."

Galindo was born in El Paso on May 4, 1921. He flew a fighter plane for the Army Air Forces during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart and Flying Cross after he was shot down over Germany.

He joined the LAPD in 1946 and quickly became a detective. He retired from the department in 1977 after three decades in homicide. He later worked as an investigator for the State Bar of California before starting his own investigations firm.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Margie, a son, a daughter and a grandchild.