On January 1, 1969, the lifeless body of 17-year-old Marina Elizabeth Habe was discovered in a secluded ravine off Mulholland Drive. She had fallen victim to a brutal attack, suffering stab wounds, a slashed throat, and severe blunt force trauma. Decades later, the mystery of her brutal murder still haunts investigators, and the case remains unsolved.
For years, law enforcement searched for answers. Was Marina Habe a random victim, or was she deliberately targeted? The investigation led detectives down a dark and winding path, bringing them face to face with a suspected serial killer known as the Co-Ed Killer, an outlaw biker called Spanky, and members of the notorious Manson Family.
This article meticulously reconstructs the events surrounding her abduction and death, dissecting the evidence, scrutinizing the suspects, and separating fact from fiction. We’ll go beyond surface-level reporting—after all, the devil is in the details.
- Part 1: The Abduction
- Part 2: The Autopsy
- Part 3: The Suspects
- Part 4: The Manson Family
- Part 5: Marina’s Family
Part One: The Abduction
A Night Out Turns Tragic
To understand what happened to Marina Habe, we must first retrace her final hours—the night she vanished in December 1968.
On December 29, 1968, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Marina left her mother’s home on Cynthia Street in West Hollywood to meet her date for the evening, John Hornburg, who lived on Sunset Boulevard in the Brentwood section.
Later that evening, Marina and John went out and headed to the Troubadour, a nightclub on Santa Monica Boulevard. There, around 8:30 p.m., they met up with two other couples: Laurie Kramer and Norm Elder, and Wendy Kleiner and Denis Boses.
Marina and John left the nightclub around 11:30 p.m. and returned to his Sunset Boulevard home, which was about a 20-minute drive. A few hours later, at around 3:15 a.m., Marina left John’s place and drove home.
An interesting detail: although they drove 20 minutes to John’s home after visiting the Troubadour, Marina’s own home was just five minutes from the nightclub. However, since her car was at his place, she went there first to retrieve it.
Marina’s mother reported being awakened around 3:30 a.m. by the sound of a loud muffler. She looked out the window and saw her daughter’s car in the driveway, with a black sedan parked next to it. However, she did not see her daughter in the car or the driveway.
A man, about 20 years old, was seen standing next to Marina’s car. Her mother watched as the man jumped into the black sedan, reportedly the passengers side, shouting something—possibly directed at the driver—before the car sped away.
Her mother went outside and found Marina’s car keys inside the car, but Marina was nowhere to be found. At approximately 3:45 a.m., she filed a missing person report with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
A search was initiated, and at approximately 3:50 p.m. on January 1, 1969, Marina Habe’s body was discovered beneath dense brush near the 8800 block of Mulholland Drive, about 100 yards west of Bowmont Drive.1
The homicide detectives believed Marina was followed home and abducted from her driveway. Based on her mother’s account, the incident likely involved at least two individuals. However, investigators also considered the possibility of a lone perpetrator. According to Sheriff’s Lieutenant Hamilton:
“The murder could have been committed by one person. Miss Hardt believes there might have been two men in the car that apparently carried off the girl from her driveway, although the mother saw only one man in the vehicle.”
A crucial detail in the investigation is that Marina’s mother did not see her daughter in her car that night, nor did she see her in the black sedan.2 This lack of eyewitness confirmation, combined with investigative protocols, means it cannot be definitively stated that Marina was abducted from the driveway.
One scenario that investigators considered is that Marina was abducted elsewhere, and her car was returned to the driveway by the perpetrators as a strategy to delay the filing of a missing person report. This would suggest that the perpetrators were familiar with her and her residence.
Adding to the intrigue is the detail that Marina’s car keys were left inside the vehicle.3 If she was abducted in the driveway, this could imply a confrontation or struggle. However, this raises a question: if the goal was to abduct her in front of her home, wouldn’t it have been less risky to wait until she stepped out of the car, when she would have been more vulnerable?
Marina’s mother also reported hearing a male voice during the incident, but she did not hear her daughter’s voice or screams for help. This suggests that Marina may have been quickly subdued, potentially through physical force or the threat of a weapon. Another possibility is that she knew the individual and wasn’t alarmed by his presence, or she was abducted elsewhere.
In terms of motive, the theory of robbery appears unlikely. Marina Habe’s purse, containing money and credit cards, was found on Mulholland Drive. A second small purse with money was also discovered in her car.4 If the crime had been about money, the killer or killers could have taken the car as well.
The Autopsy Continuation Sheet
Marina Habe’s autopsy report includes a handwritten continuation sheet, which provides valuable details about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the discovery of her body. I transcribed the handwritten notes below.
Marina Habe, Jan 1st, 1969, Case No. 69-45
The decedent went out for the evening Sunday Dec. 29, 1968, in her car. Sometime after midnight the decedents mother heard decedents car come in the drive way, seconds later another car was heard in the front. Poss an older car with loud pipes. This car was heard driving off.
Decedents mother checked and found keys in daughters car but daughter was gone. At 3.45 a.m. Dec. 30th, the mother of decedent filed a missing person report with Sheriff.
Today, Jan 1st, 1969, Mrs Klute of 7534 Trask Ave, Playa Del Rey went to Venice Div Station LAPD with decedents purse that she found in area where body was found. Mrs Klute was in area looking at view of city when purse was found.
Body was in the brush area down the side of a hill approx. 20′ from aux. road. Decedent was lying in supine position clothed with the exception of 1 shoe being off but near her.
Decedents throat had been cut and she had been stabbed numerous times in the chest. An old motorcycle frame was found at decedents feet and will be impounded by Sheriffs Dept. S.I.D Lab (Special Investigations Division).
Sheriffs Homicide requests body not be disturbed until S.I.D Lab has chance to take evidence. Also wish to have rubber sheet body is wrapped in. Sgt. Fitzgerald Sheriff Homicide Investigating and is to be called at autopsy time. No suspect or weapon in custody at this time.
Part Two: Inside the Autopsy Report
Marina Habe’s Cause of Death
The autopsy report determined Marina Habe’s cause of death to be exsanguination (severe blood loss) due to external hemorrhage, caused by a severed carotid artery and multiple stab wounds to the neck and chest, and further revealed a deep, gaping incision on the left side of her neck that completely cut through the laryngeal cartilage (voice box).
It also noted garroting (strangulation) as a significant contributing factor to Marina’s death. Additionally, she suffered multiple bruises on her face and body, a lacerated liver, and collapsed lungs.
The absence of defensive wounds on Marina’s hands and arms indicates that she was either restrained or unconscious—possibly due to strangulation—at the time of the knife attack.
Was Marina Habe Sexually Assaulted
There is conflicting information about whether Marina Habe was raped, further complicating the case. Homicide detectives stated that the coroner found no definitive evidence of sexual assault.5
However, Marina’s stepbrother later reported that the coroner had informed the family that Marina had been raped, stating, “The coroner said she was held for a day, fed, raped, and stabbed.”6
One might assume that, because there is no evidence of forcible rape, Marina was not raped, but that is not necessarily the case. The autopsy report sheds light on this. Let’s take a closer look at its findings.
The autopsy report addressed the possibility of both consensual intercourse and sexual abuse. It noted dilation of the vagina, which means an enlarged vaginal opening. Several factors can cause this, including natural relaxation of muscles after death and recent sexual intercourse. However, vaginal dilation can also be a potential indicator of sexual assault.7
Similarly, the report noted dilation of the anus, which can also be caused by muscle relaxation after death or sexual activity, including assault. A contusion (bruise) was observed around the anal ring. The presence of a contusion suggests that some form of trauma has occurred in the anal region. This could indicate sexual abuse, but other factors might also cause it.8
The report found no apparent trauma to the cervix (the lower end of the uterus that connects to the vagina) or the vaginal lining. While the absence of trauma might suggest that no sexual assault occurred, it doesn’t definitively rule it out. It is important to note that not all cases of rape leave clear physical evidence, which can make such determinations challenging.9
In terms of sexual assault, the autopsy report is inconclusive. This means Marina could have been sexually assaulted, or she could have had consensual sexual intercourse. However, there was no evidence of forcible rape.
If the coroner did tell the family that Marina had been raped, it could suggest that, even without definitive proof, investigators strongly suspected it or treated it as their working theory.
The Clues in Marina Habe’s Last Meal
Marina Habe’s stepbrother claimed that the coroner told the family she was fed while held captive. What Marina ate before her death may hold crucial clues about the timing of her murder and whether she was given food in captivity. By examining her autopsy findings we can explore what this might reveal about her final hours.
Food was found in Marina’s stomach, consisting of green peas, green beans, and fruit. The autopsy report noted that “the meal had just begun to enter the duodenum.” This statement suggests that Marina died relatively soon after eating, as the food had only just started moving into the small intestine.10
Generally, it takes about 2 to 4 hours for food to move from the stomach to the small intestine, where the duodenum is located. This provides a clue about how long Marina had been alive after her last meal, suggesting that she died 2 to 4 hours after eating.
To further analyze this, we can reconstruct a timeline of when she might have eaten on the day of her abduction. According to Marina’s mother, Marina and Hornburg spent the entire day together, from 4:30 p.m. to 3:15 a.m.
- 4:30 p.m.: Marina drives to John’s place.
- Evening: Marina presumably eats dinner at John’s.
- 8:30 p.m.: Marina and John leave for their date.
- During the date: Marina possibly eats something.
- 11:30 p.m.: Marina and John return to his home.
- Late night: Marina possibly eats something at John’s place.
- 3:15 a.m.: Marina leaves John’s home.
Time of Death: Unclear, though detectives suggested it occurred on the same day as her abduction—Monday, December 30, 1968.
Reports conflict on the timing of Marina’s death. Most newspaper articles stated that homicide detectives believed she was killed on Monday morning, several hours after her abduction, while several others reported that she was likely killed on Monday evening.
According to Marina’s stepbrother, the coroner claimed she was held for a day, which would place the time of death on either Monday night or Tuesday morning.
If Marina died on Monday morning, her last meal may have been at John’s place between 12:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., with her murder occurring soon after. If she died later, she may have been fed while being held captive.
However, beans, peas, and fruit are unlikely to be a typical late-night snack for a 17-year-old. Another interesting detail is that fruit tends to digest more quickly than other foods. Depending on the type, fruit can pass into the duodenum within 1 to 2 hours.
Homicide detectives would have interviewed John Hornburg about their activities and meals that day. If the details of Marina’s last meal, as determined from her autopsy, did not align with Hornburg’s account, it would suggest that she had been fed during her captivity.
This raises an important question: if Marina was fed, why was she fed? Was there an intention to keep her alive?
One possibility is that Marina was kidnapped for ransom, as her parents had the financial means to pay. Her father, Hans Habe, a renowned and bestselling writer, sold millions of books in the 1940s alone. However, no ransom note ever materialized.
Could something have gone wrong during her captivity that led the perpetrators to kill her instead?
When Was Marina Habe Murdered
One of the major difficulties in determining the time of death in Marina Habe’s case was the length of time that elapsed before her body was discovered. In 1969, due to less advanced forensic methods, pinpointing the exact time of death was challenging.
Investigators primarily relied on factors such as liver temperature, rigor mortis, and algor mortis. We do have this data from the autopsy report—let’s analyze it.
At 7:15 p.m. on January 1, 1969, Marina Habe’s liver temperature was recorded at 58°F (14.4°C), a key measurement in estimating her time of death. The ambient temperature of the location where her body was found was measured at 6:00 p.m. and was noted as 71°F (21.6°C), which indicates relatively mild conditions that could have slowed the body’s cooling process.
Rigor mortis was observed to be in the 2 to 3 range (on a scale of 0-4), meaning it was either still developing or had reached its peak and was beginning to subside. Rigor typically begins within 2 to 6 hours after death, peaks around 12 to 18 hours, and starts to fade after 24 to 48 hours.
- If rigor was still developing, Marina had likely been deceased for 8 to 18 hours at the time of examination.
- If rigor had already peaked and was beginning to break down, she may have been dead for over 24 hours.
Using algor mortis, the cooling of the body after death, we can estimate how long Marina had been deceased. A body generally cools at 1.5°F (0.83°C) per hour under normal conditions, though factors like clothing, body mass, and environmental exposure affect the rate.
Given that the normal human body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), a drop to 58°F (14.4°C) suggests a cooling period of approximately 27 to 30 hours. However, since her body was found outdoors in an environment warmer than 58°F (14.4°C), heat loss would have slowed over time, making this a less precise estimate.
The coroner was unable to check livor mortis, the pooling of blood in dependent areas after death. One possible reason for this is that Marina’s body was found on an uneven and sloped surface, which could have disrupted the normal settling of blood and made livor mortis less distinct.
Given these factors, the passage of time, and the limitations of forensic methods available in 1969, pinpointing an exact time of death was difficult. The coroner may have instead provided a broader estimated window for the time of death—likely 24 to 36 hours before Marina Habe’s body was discovered.
If we subtract 24 hours from 4:00 p.m. on January 1, 1969—the date and time Marina’s body was found—her time of death would be around 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 1968.
Subtracting 36 hours places the time of death at approximately 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 1968, suggesting that Marina was likely held captive for 24 hours, as she was apparently abducted around 3:30 a.m. on Monday, December 30.
Conclusion: Fed, Raped, Stabbed
Marina Habe’s stepbrother claimed that the coroner informed the family she had been held for a day, fed, raped, and stabbed—though no definitive evidence of forcible rape was found.
A detailed analysis of the autopsy report, including the presence of food in her stomach and the estimated time of death, suggests that it is both possible and plausible that Marina Habe was held captive for a day, fed while in captivity, and sexually assaulted.
Further supporting this possibility, the coroner took a smear from the anal region, where signs of dilation and bruising were present. While this strongly indicated that sexual assault was suspected, forensic limitations at the time prevented conclusive proof.
Part Three: The Suspects
The Last Person to See Marina Habe Alive
While no police report has been released in the Habe case, certain general patterns in abduction cases offer some insight. Statistically, most abductions are carried out by individuals familiar with the victim. Additionally, it’s a standard investigative approach to focus on the last person known to have seen the victim alive, as they are often considered a prime suspect.
As John Hornburg was reportedly the last person to see Marina alive, investigators likely explored various scenarios, including the possibility of a personal disagreement or unrequited romantic feelings. Such tensions could escalate into violence.
Theoretically, from an investigative standpoint, Marina could have been killed at Hornburg’s home, and her car may have been dropped off at her house by Hornburg and an accomplice.
This scenario is plausible if Marina never left Hornburg’s residence and was held captive there, which could explain the discrepancy between her last reported sighting and the estimated time of death.
However, it’s crucial to emphasize that this is purely a theoretical scenario. All possibilities involving Hornburg are based on investigative reasoning. No evidence supporting this theory has been made public, and Hornburg’s role, if any, remains unclear.
Nevertheless, this raises the question: Was Hornburg Marina Habe’s boyfriend, or was he simply a friend?
Was Hornburg Marina Habe’s Boyfriend
Although Marina Habe and John Hornburg were on a date the night she was abducted, her family stated that they were not romantically involved but were childhood friends.11 The Habe and Hornburg families had been friends for over a decade. They also stated that Habe was dating someone else. Unfortunately, there is no mention of the person her family believed she was seeing.
The autopsy report indicated that Habe had engaged in sexual activity before her death but did not provide explicit evidence of rape. Habe and Hornburg returned to his home that night around 11:30 p.m., and she left around 3:15 a.m.
This may suggest that Hornburg, who was 22 at the time, and Habe, only 17, might have been more romantically involved than her family knew, with the possibility that they were intimate on the night of her disappearance.
Perhaps Hornburg’s potential romantic relationship with Habe was not disclosed due to legal concerns. In California, the age of consent was (and still is) 18, meaning that any sexual relationship with someone under that age could have been considered statutory rape.
After considering Hornburg and others connected to Marina, detectives also explored cases with similar patterns. In doing so, they came across a suspected serial killer believed to have killed seven women from 1967 to 1969.
The Co-Ed Serial Killer
Homicide detectives investigated John Norman Collins, known as the Co-Ed Killer, as a suspect in Marina Habe’s murder. They explored whether Marina and 17-year-old Roxie Ann Phillips, found dead in California on July 13, 1969, were victims of the same killer.12
All of Collins’ suspected victims were young women who were abducted, raped, beaten, strangled or stabbed, and killed between 1967 and 1969. This pattern aligns with the circumstances of Marina Habe’s murder.
Although suspected of seven murders, Collins was convicted of only one: the murder of Karen Sue Beineman. Despite sufficient evidence to indict him for the murder of Roxie Ann Phillips, Collins avoided extradition to California and was never tried.13
At the time of Marina’s murder, Collins was 21 years old, matching the age of the man Marina’s mother reported seeing in the driveway. However, detectives were unable to definitively link him to Marina’s case.
A Violent Outlaw Biker
In a 1988 L.A. Magazine article, Marina’s stepbrother revealed that one of the homicide detectives working the case suspected a drug-dealing outlaw biker known as “Spanky” might have been responsible for the crime. The article noted that Spanky was already deceased by the time of its publication.14
One potential candidate for Spanky is Kirk ‘Spanky’ Smyth, who was mentioned in a newspaper article as the best man at a 1984 prison wedding of an Aryan Brotherhood member and was once caught smuggling a Buck knife into the prison in his rectum.15
However, no definitive proof links him to the crime, and his involvement remains uncertain. Establishing Spanky’s identity is challenging, as no official homicide investigation report on the Marina Habe murder case has been released, leaving much of the information to speculation.
Could Marina have been abducted by a violent outlaw biker? What are the chances of Marina meeting a serial offender or outlaw biker early Monday morning, around 3:15 a.m.? Let’s examine her route.
Driving Down Sunset Boulevard
The fastest route between John Hornburg’s home at 13326 Sunset Boulevard and Marina’s mother’s home at 8962 Cynthia Street is about 8 miles, or a 20-minute drive.16 This is likely the route Marina took, as she left Hornburg’s home around 3:15 a.m. and apparently arrived at her mother’s home around 3:30 a.m.
Marina’s drive began heading east on Sunset Boulevard. After covering most of the distance—approximately 7.5 miles—on Sunset, she would have passed through the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, which was just a few blocks from her home.
Marina would have turned right onto Phyllis Street, followed by another right onto Doheny Drive. A final left turn would have brought her to Cynthia Street and her destination.
Even on a Sunday evening, the Strip—famous for its vibrant nightlife—would have been buzzing with activity. The counterculture movement of the 1960s was in full swing, and with it came an increase in drug use and the presence of dealers, especially around popular spots like clubs, bars, and music venues on the Sunset Strip.
A Group Known to Visit Sunset Boulevard
In late 1969, the case took an unexpected turn as homicide detectives began focusing on a group known to frequent Sunset Boulevard and the Sunset Strip around the same time Marina Habe did. On December 12, 1969, a newspaper article appeared with the headline: Same Tate Murder Knives Believed Used in Girl Case.
The opening of the article read: “The teen-age daughter of screenwriter Hans Habe may have been slashed to death by the same knives that killed actress Sharon Tate and six others, it had been learned today.”
Following the Manson Family’s arrest for the Tate-LaBianca murders, investigators intensified their investigation into the Marina Habe case, suspecting that Manson’s followers might have been involved in her death.
But did the Manson Family truly play a role in her murder, or was this narrative fueled by sensationalism? Let’s delve into the facts and separate truth from fiction.
Part Four: The Manson Family
Welcome to Manson Territory
Marina Habe graduated from University High School in West Los Angeles in June 1968, placing her in the vicinity of many of the routes the Manson Family traveled at that time. This was when Manson mingled with celebrities like the Beach Boys and Terry Melcher on Sunset Boulevard.
The young man Marina had a date with on the night of her kidnapping, John Hornburg, lived surprisingly close to the Manson Family on Sunset Boulevard during the spring and summer of 1968; their addresses were separated by a three-minute drive.
Even more startling, Charles “Tex” Watson, one of Sharon Tate’s killers, once lived just around the corner from Marina. Their addresses were only a four-minute walk apart.
Marina lived just a one-minute drive from the Whisky a Go Go, a popular hangout for the Manson Family, where Charles Manson once cleared the dance floor with his gyrating dance moves.
Adding another layer to the web of connections, Marina had also dated someone with ties to the Manson Family: the brother of Sonic Youth singer Kim Gordon, who was acquainted with Manson Family member Bobby Beausoleil.
These numerous connections raise the question: Was Marina Habe merely in the wrong place at the wrong time, or was she a specific target? To explore this further, we must first establish her whereabouts during the spring and summer of 1968.
Marina Habe’s Whereabouts in 1968
Marina Habe graduated from University High School in West Los Angeles in June 1968. She completed her exams in May, but the graduation ceremony took place in June. See the 1968 University High School Yearbook, with Habe’s photo on page 154.
After high school, Marina attended the University of Hawaii. As a first-year student, she likely began her first semester in late August, the typical start of the academic year for freshmen.
In January 1969, her father, Hans Habe, informed reporters that he had last seen Marina during the summer of 1968. Although Marina frequently visited her father in Switzerland, it remains unclear whether Hans had traveled to the United States that summer or if Marina had made a trip to Switzerland herself.
Given that Marina’s graduation ceremony took place in June 1968, it seems reasonable to assume that Hans likely traveled to the United States to attend the event, particularly given the close bond he shared with his daughter. If Hans visited the U.S. for her graduation, it’s highly probable that Marina was also in the U.S. during the summer of 1968.
This timeline places Marina Habe in Los Angeles during the spring and early summer of 1968, and possibly throughout the summer until late August. This confirms she was in the same area as the Manson Family during that time frame.
The Sunset Boulevard Connection
Sunset Boulevard, a legendary street synonymous with Hollywood glamour, played a crucial role in the Manson Family saga. Manson and his followers frequently visited the home of Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, located at 14400 Sunset Boulevard. Manson and his clan even lived there for a period during the spring and summer of 1968.17
John Hornburg, Marina Habe’s longtime friend and date on the night of her disappearance, lived just a short distance away at 13326 Sunset Boulevard. The distance between the two addresses is approximately a 3-minute drive.
As a 1969 newspaper article reported, “Police said Miss Habe left her home Sunday to meet her date for the evening, John Hornburg, 22, at his house at 13326 Sunset Blvd.”18
Manson Family member and serial killer Tex Watson wrote that while staying on Sunset Boulevard, the Manson girls did garbage runs at supermarkets in both the Brentwood and Palisades areas. The Brentwood area includes a section of Sunset Boulevard where John Hornburg lived. Watson further mentioned that he regularly drove the girls on these garbage runs.19
The Manson Family regularly passed by Hornburg’s home on their route between Dennis Wilson’s home on Sunset Boulevard and Spahn’s Movie Ranch, another Manson Family hangout. Marina Habe’s body was discovered near the route the Manson Family would have taken from Spahn Ranch to Sunset Boulevard.
It is important to note that, at this time, the Family actively recruited young people like Hornburg and Habe. While it is now known as a murderous cult, the Manson Family was once a very social group, constantly attracting new people. Marina Habe herself was known to be sociable, as evidenced by the more than 350 people who attended her funeral.20
The Hornburg Family Connection
The possibility of Marina Habe and John Hornburg, friends for over a decade, encountering someone from the Manson Family increases due to potential connections through Hornburg’s father, Charles Hornburg. He likely sold a car to music producer Terry Melcher and possibly serviced Dennis Wilson’s Rolls-Royce.
The Manson group was associated with both Melcher and Wilson, and Manson Family members were known to have driven both Melcher’s and Wilson’s cars.21
Charles Hornburg was a prominent figure in the Los Angeles car scene, owning a luxury car dealership at 9176 Sunset Boulevard.22 He became the first importer of Jaguars into the United States and served high-profile clients, including Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra, and Jayne Mansfield.
Terry Melcher, the music producer who lived at 10050 Cielo Drive (the house where Sharon Tate was killed), owned a 1968 Jaguar XKE.23 As Hornburg was the primary Jaguar dealer west of the Mississippi, it’s highly likely Melcher purchased his Jaguar from Hornburg.24
Here is a 1968 advertisement for the 1968 Jaguar XKE that Terry Melcher owned; note the name and location of the dealership: Hornburg—9176 Sunset Blvd.
Charles “Tex” Watson, one of the Manson Family members convicted of the Tate-LaBianca murders, even borrowed Terry Melcher’s brand-new Jaguar in 1968,25 along with Manson Family member Dean Moorehouse26—several months before Marina Habe’s murder.
Besides Jaguars, Hornburg also handled the sales and maintenance of Rolls-Royces. This raises the possibility of a connection with Dennis Wilson, who owned a Rolls-Royce27 and lived near Hornburg’s dealership. Wilson lived at 14400 Sunset Blvd, while Hornburg’s car dealership was located at 9176 Sunset Blvd. Here is a 1966 job posting where Hornburg was looking for mechanics with experience in Jaguars and Rolls-Royces.
Tex Watson met Charles Manson after picking up Dennis Wilson, who was hitchhiking on Sunset Boulevard.28 Both of Wilson’s cars, including his Rolls-Royce, had been wrecked. Given the limited number of places specializing in Rolls-Royce service at the time, it’s plausible that Wilson brought his car to Hornburg’s for repairs.
The Manson Family was known to use Wilson’s Rolls-Royce for various activities, including dumpster diving. Dianne Lake, a former member of the Manson Family, recounted, “That is how we wound up driving in Dennis’s burgundy Rolls-Royce to the back of a grocery store and showed him the art of dumpster diving.”
Imagine Dennis Wilson’s Rolls-Royce full of Manson girls cruising down Sunset Boulevard in the summer of ’68. Did they ever encounter Habe or Hornburg there? Did they perhaps bring the Rolls-Royce to Hornburg’s for repairs after it was damaged?
In Ed Sanders’ 1971 book The Family, one of the earliest works about the Manson Family, a former associate of the group claims that Marina Habe was known by its members, a claim that Vincent Bugliosi repeats in his 1974 book Helter Skelter.29
So many chance encounters led to the murder of Sharon Tate. Could a random meeting with the Manson Family have cost Marina Habe her life?
Given how interconnected we all are, this wouldn’t be surprising. For example, Dennis Hearst—the son of a bike shop owner who delivered a bike to Sharon Tate’s residence on the night of the Tate murders—was Marina Habe’s lab partner in biology class.30
Marina Habe’s Red Sports Car
Marina Habe owned a red foreign sports car, which she drove on the night of her kidnapping. While no make or model has been specified, one might speculate that, since her family were longtime friends of the Hornburgs—owners of a car dealership specializing in foreign sports cars—she may have purchased the car from them. It’s possible that Melcher, Wilson, and Habe all bought their cars from Hornburg’s.
Interlude: Connections to Sharon Tate
Marina Habe lived just an 8-minute drive from the house where Sharon Tate was killed. Marina had her autopsy performed by the same medical examiner that did Sharon Tate’s; she had her Requiem Mass in the same church as Sharon Tate; and she is buried in the same cemetery as Sharon Tate.
The Sonic Youth Connection
“In high school, one of my brother’s ex-girlfriends, Marina Habe, was allegedly killed by the Manson Family.” (Gordon, Girl in a Band, 2015)
Before dating John Hornburg, Marina Habe had dated Keller Gordon, the brother of Kim Gordon, the singer of Sonic Youth. According to Kim, her brother was acquainted with Bobby Beausoleil, who was part of the Manson group.
Gordon wrote in her book, that Keller had met Beausoleil at a house in Topanga Canyon: “Keller used to crash sometimes at a house at the foot of Topanga Canyon, where one night he met another Manson Family member, Bobby Beausoleil. Bobby would say repeatedly, ‘You should come over to the ranch sometime.’”
This encounter likely occurred in the first half of 1968, after the Manson Family had moved to the Spahn Ranch. Prior to that, the Family had lived at the Spiral Staircase house,31 located in the lower part of Topanga Canyon. The Spiral Staircase house was a crash pad for anyone needing a place to stay.
After leaving the Spiral Staircase house, the Family moved to a location on Fernwood Street,32 Topanga Canyon, before eventually relocating to Spahn Ranch. However, Beausoleil likely met Keller at the Spiral Staircase house, which was a popular hangout for locals. In fact, the Family eventually moved out of the house because it became too crowded with visitors.
While the Family eventually moved to Spahn Ranch, Beausoleil frequently visited Topanga Canyon. In fact, Beausoleil committed the murder of Gary Hinman in Topanga Canyon.33
Bobby Beausoleil, a promising young musician who had worked with Frank Zappa, was convicted of Hinman’s murder, which he committed alongside Susan Atkins and Mary Brunner. Charles Manson, who slashed Hinman’s face with a sword, was also convicted for the crime. Beausoleil was sentenced to death, but the sentence was later commuted to life in prison. He is still serving his sentence today.
“It wouldn’t be long before the Manson murders exposed the darker side of the city, and they also touched the Gordon household. Marina Habe, an ex-girlfriend of Kim’s older brother, Keller, was found brutally slain in January 1969. It has long been speculated that she was an early victim of the Manson Family.” (Excerpt from a L.A. Magazine article)34
Spahn’s Movie Ranch
Could Marina Habe have unknowingly stepped into the heart of the Manson Family’s operations? It’s possible that she visited the Spahn Ranch, the Manson Family headquarters. When we think of the ranch, we may imagine it as a godless place where hippies roamed nude, engaged in orgies, and held drug-fueled parties.
However, the ranch was, first and foremost, a place for horseback riding. The old movie ranch was a popular spot for families to rent horses on weekends. The Manson Family also cared for the horses, assisted with renting them out, and provided guided tours of the area.
According to Tex Watson, ‘The real business was renting out horses, mainly to teenagers, usually on weekends.’ Watson further wrote that they actively sought potential candidates to join the Family among their customers.35
The Krenwinkel Connection
Marina Habe and Manson Family member Patricia Krenwinkel share a surprising connection: they both attended University High School in West Los Angeles. Krenwinkel graduated in June 1966,36 while Habe graduated two years later, in June 1968. Krenwinkel’s University High School diploma ironically states that she had been “found worthy in character and citizenship” — a statement that, considering her later actions, hasn’t aged well.
Patricia Krenwinkel was later convicted for the Tate-LaBianca murders, which she committed with Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, and Leslie Van Houten. Krenwinkel was sentenced to life in prison, a sentence she is still serving today, although she has been recommended for parole.
The Tex Watson Connection
Tex Watson was the Manson Family’s primary killer. He was responsible for the Tate-LaBianca murders and the murder of Donald Shea—eight victims in total, nine if you include Sharon Tate’s unborn baby. Could Tex Watson, the Manson Family’s chief executioner, have personally encountered Marina Habe?
It has long been rumored that Watson had met Marina Habe. Interestingly, there are parallels between them that warrant further examination. Both lived in the same neighborhood, and were in the same vicinity from the fall of 1967 until at least early summer 1968. Additionally, Watson had a wig shop close to Marina’s home.
Finally, Tex Watson was in Los Angeles at the time of Marina Habe’s murder. During this period, Watson had left the Manson Family for several months and was on his own.
The Love Locs Wig Shop
While Tex Watson is primarily known for his role in the Manson Family murders, his activities before joining the group place him in close proximity to Marina Habe.
When Watson arrived in Los Angeles from Texas in 1967, he enrolled at Cal State and began his first classes in September. To support himself, he took a job as a wig salesman at Continental Wigs, where he sold wigs and canvassed the streets, distributing business cards to women to attract them to the shop.
Not long after, Watson opened his own wig shop, “Love Locs,” located at the intersection of San Vicente Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills.37 Remarkably, the shop was just 1.4 miles from Marina Habe’s home.
Wonderland Drive
In early 1968, Tex Watson lived on Wonderland Drive38 (now Wonderland Avenue), roughly three miles from Marina Habe’s home. At the time, Watson had begun experimenting with drugs and engaging in heavy partying.
Watson noted in his book that, during this period, he visited the Whisky a Go Go,39 which, as mentioned earlier, was just one minute from Marina Habe’s house.40 At that time, Habe was a student at University High School in West Los Angeles. Interestingly, Charles Manson was also known to frequent the Whisky in 1968.41
Wonderland Avenue is the same location where the infamous Wonderland murders occurred in 1981. Tex Watson lived just a one-minute drive, approximately 0.3 miles, from this now-notorious location.
Tex Watson Lived Around the Corner
After leaving Wonderland Drive, Tex Watson moved to 917 Larrabee Street, where he lived for three months.42 This is where the story takes a compelling turn: 917 N Larrabee Street was located just around the corner from Marina Habe’s West Hollywood home at 8962 Cynthia Street. The two locations were separated by a mere four-minute walk or a one-minute drive—a distance of just 0.2 miles.43
Both Sanders and Nelson mention Tex Watson living on Larrabee Street in their books, with Ed Sanders describing it as “a street famed for dope-dealing.”44 This is particularly noteworthy, as Watson was reportedly selling marijuana at the time.45
Did the 23-year-old Watson and the 17-year-old Habe ever cross paths during their daily routines? Did they frequent the same shops or restaurants? Did they have any mutual acquaintances? The possibility of them encountering each other, even casually, becomes much more likely given their close proximity.
The timeline continues with Watson meeting Charles Manson and moving into Dennis Wilson’s home on Sunset Boulevard.46 This placed Watson in the same general area as Marina Habe and her date on the night of her disappearance, John Hornburg, who, as previously mentioned, lived near the Manson Family on Sunset Boulevard.47
Same Place Same Time
On December 2, 1968, Tex Watson and his fraternity brother, David Neale, reported for military duty. Neale enlisted the same day, but Watson was declared unfit due to a knee injury and received a one-year deferment.48
During this period, Watson had broken off contact with Manson and went on to live with Neale’s brother in Highland Park, Los Angeles. Neale testified that Watson was still living in Highland Park during his Christmas leave.49
This places Tex Watson in the same general area as Marina Habe in December 1968, around the time she was kidnapped and murdered. Habe had returned home from the University of Hawaii for the Christmas holidays.
The Tex Watson Tapes
Tex Watson’s attorney revealed that Watson confessed to previously undisclosed murders committed by the Manson Family in the Tex Watson Tapes, a series of recordings made in 1969. These tapes remain hidden from the public despite numerous requests for their release. As a result of those tapes, the police initiated investigations into twelve unsolved homicides in 2012, with details not disclosed to the public.50
Could these tapes hold the key to finally solving Marina Habe’s cold case? Even if her murder isn’t explicitly mentioned in the tapes, they could still provide insights into the Manson Family’s activities and potential motives during that time period. The fact that the justice department continues to fight their release only fuels speculation about what secrets they might hold.
Was Marina Habe a Manson Family Target
The Manson Family was constantly on the lookout for potential members to join their group, often targeting individuals who could bring value to the Family. Sandra Good contributed her father’s money, Linda Kasabian brought $5,000, and Juanita Wildebush added $10,000 to the Family’s coffers.
Tex Watson contributed not only his truck but also his willingness to kill. Manson cultivated relationships with wealthy benefactors like Dennis Wilson, Cass Elliot, and Charlene Cafritz and regularly mingled with Hollywood celebrities.
Could Marina Habe have been a target? A 17-year-old driving a foreign red sports car, with an actress mother and a renowned writer as a father, living near the Sunset Strip—she fit the profile of the type of girl the Family was recruiting at the time.
Another Mystery on Mulholland Drive
On November 16, 1969, the body of Reet Jurvetson, also known as Jane Doe 59, was discovered in the same area as Marina Habe’s body, off Mulholland Drive. Jurvetson, like Habe, was found fully clothed, with 157 stab wounds.
Marina Habe and Reet Jurvetson were both born in Europe. Habe was born in Germany, while Jurvetson was born in Sweden, but both were found dead off of Mulholland drive. Both murders remain unsolved.
The Manson Family, already suspects in the Tate-LaBianca killings, were also implicated in Reet Jurvetson’s murder. Ruby Pearl, the forewoman of Spahn’s Movie Ranch, thought she recognized Reet Jurvetson from the photos distributed by police.
Pearl believed Reet was a girl known as Sherry Cooper, also called Simi Valley Sherry, who was associated with the Manson Family. Cooper had fled from the group while they were staying in Death Valley, after the Tate-LaBianca murders.
For years, this theory lingered, casting a shadow over Reet’s identity. Then, 46 years after her body was discovered, advancements in DNA technology finally confirmed that the young woman found off Mulholland Drive was indeed Reet Jurvetson.
Part Five: Marina habe’s Family
Hans Habe: Father, Writer, and War Hero
Marina Habe’s father, Hans Habe, led an extraordinary life. Like Sharon Tate’s father, Colonel Paul Tate, Habe also worked in military intelligence and was trained in psychological warfare during World War II.
Born on February 12, 1911, in Budapest, Hungary, Hans grew up in Vienna after his family relocated there during his childhood. He studied in Germany but returned to Vienna to escape the rising tide of antisemitism. Of Jewish descent, Hans found himself increasingly marginalized as the political landscape darkened.
In the 1930s, Habe established himself as a respected newspaper editor. He also authored several books warning of the rising Nazi threat, which were subsequently banned and burned by the Nazi regime after Austria’s annexation. Forced into exile, he fled to France, where he enlisted in the French Foreign Legion and rose to the rank of sergeant.
Captured in 1940, Habe endured three months in a prison camp before successfully escaping and ultimately immigrating to the United States. After arriving in America, he authored A Thousand Shall Fall, a book about his wartime experiences in France that sold over 3 million copies in 1941.51
Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942, Hans was trained in psychological warfare. He was deployed to North Africa in 1943, where he participated in Operation Avalanche, the Allied invasion of Italy. During this time, he was responsible for producing propaganda aimed at demoralizing enemy troops and gathering intelligence through the interrogation of German prisoners of war.
- 1943: A son, Antal Miklos, is born to Hans Habe and Eleanor Habe. Antal is a half-brother of Marina Habe.52
By 1944, Habe had become a U.S. Army instructor, training others in psychological warfare and assembling a team of German writers to prepare for post-war reconstruction. He was allowed to handpick men he deemed fit for training. In 1945, Habe returned to Germany, where he established 18 newspapers in the American-occupied zone. His skills and experience made him a key figure in rebuilding Germany’s press after the war.
- 1951: Hans Habe’s parents commit suicide.53
Hans Habe’s personal life was as complex as his professional one. He was married six times, his fifth wife being the American actress Eloise Hardt. Hardt appeared in several films during the 1940s and 1950s, primarily in supporting roles. She also guest-starred in a number of television programs, including Charlie’s Angels, Dynasty, Dallas, Columbo, and Days of Our Lives.
Hans and Eloise had one daughter, Marina Elizabeth Habe, born on February 23, 1951, in Germany. They separated in 1954, and Eloise subsequently returned to Hollywood with Marina. Although Hans remained in Europe, he maintained a close relationship with Marina, who visited him regularly at his home in Switzerland during her vacations.
Marina’s murder deeply affected Hans. In the immediate aftermath of the kidnapping, he returned to the United States to assist in the search for his missing daughter. Following the discovery of Marina’s body, he attended her funeral. The tragedy profoundly impacted him, and after the funeral, he returned to Switzerland, never to visit the United States again.
Hans Habe passed away in 1977 at the age of 66 in a hospital in Locarno, Switzerland, following a brief, undisclosed illness. Eloise Hardt died in 2017 at the age of 99 in Palos Verdes Estates, California.
Final Thoughts: More Than a Victim
In this article, we have methodically examined the facts, relying on cold, clinical language—phrases like “sexual assault” and “the autopsy report indicated.” Yet, amidst this necessary analysis, it’s vital to remember the person at the heart of this tragedy—a real individual who suffered a horrific end.
While much about Marina’s personal life remains unknown, those who knew her described her with words like “enchanting,” “intelligent,” “quiet,” “kind,” “artistic,” and “beautiful.”
When doing countless hours of research on a person, you can’t help but feel an emotional connection. In telling Marina’s story, my hope is to keep her memory alive, reclaim her humanity, and ensure she is remembered as an individual with dreams, loved ones, and a life, not just as a victim of a crime.
Her brutal murder shattered her parents’ lives. Her mother, in particular, carried the unbearable weight of grief for 48 years until her passing at the age of 99. She reportedly never fully recovered from the loss of her beloved daughter. After all, it’s almost impossible to imagine any parent ever truly recovering from the loss of a child.
As time passes, the chances of solving a cold case decrease, but hope remains. Although rare, decades-old cases are sometimes solved, often aided by advances in DNA technology. Breakthroughs in cases like the 1974 murder of Arlis Perry (solved in 2018) and the 1968 murder of Anita Piteau (solved in 2020) highlight the impact of these advancements.
With continued dedication and the help of such technology, Marina Habe’s case could still be solved.
This article will be updated as new information becomes available in the ongoing investigation of Marina Habe’s murder.
References
The linked books are available for free on Archive.org, though they are best for reference checking. Each book is linked to the specific search query within the reference. For a full read, I recommend an eBook version like Kindle.
Tex Watson’s book is also free and hosted on his website, AboundingLove.org. Books without links are not available online for free but may be purchased elsewhere.
The newspaper articles are linked either internally (within this website) or externally (to news sites). However, I ensured that all links direct to free sources, with no subscriptions required.
- Newspaper Articles:
–Marina Habe Missing (int)
–Writer’s Daughter Missing (ext)
–Body of Authors Daughter is Found (int)
–Author’s Daughter Died from Stabbing (int)
–Mystery Shrouds Stabbing Incident (ext)
–Teen Girl Slain in Lovers Lane (ext)
–Kidnap Victim is Found Dead (ext)
–Kidnapped Girl’s Body is Found (ext)
–Body of Missing Coed is Found in California (ext)
–Daughter of Actress Found Dead in Hollywood (ext)
–Girl’s Body is Found in Ditch (int)
–Few Clues in Slaying (ext)
–Dog Leads master to Body of Girl (ext)
–Body of Missing Coed is Found in Brush (int)
–Purse leads Police to Co-Ed’s Body (int) ↩︎ - Newspaper article (internal)
Newspaper article (internal)
Newspaper article (internal)
Newspaper article (external)
Newspaper article (external)
Newspaper article (external) ↩︎ - Autopsy Continuation Sheet ↩︎
- Newspaper article (internal) ↩︎
- Newspaper article (internal) ↩︎
- The Charlie Conspiracy, 1988, Lamag.com
*Archived page from the original ↩︎ - Autopsy page 4, File: # 69-45 ↩︎
- Autopsy page 3, File: # 69-45 ↩︎
- Autopsy page 4, File: # 69-45 ↩︎
- Autopsy page 4, File: # 69-45 ↩︎
- Newspaper article (internal) ↩︎
- –Newspaper article (internal)
–Newspaper article (external)
–Newspaper article (external) ↩︎ - Michigan Murders, Wikipedia ↩︎
- The Charlie Conspiracy, 1988, Lamag.com
*Archived page from the original ↩︎ - A Bond Stronger Than Bars, 2008, L.A. Times
*Archived page from the original ↩︎ - Google Maps ↩︎
- Five Down on Cielo Drive, Murderinside.com
Watson, Trial testimony, p24
Watson, Will You Die For Me, 1978, p27
Fromme, Reflexion, 2018, p175
Lake, Member of the Family, 2017, p250
Atkins, Child of Satan, Child of God, 1977, p113
Watkins, My Life With Charles Manson, 1979, p37
Wilson, I Live With 17 Girls, 1968
Bugliosi, Helter Skelter, p269
Sanders, The Family, p52 ↩︎ - Newspaper article (internal) ↩︎
- Watson, Will You Die For Me, p28 ↩︎
- 350 Attend Funeral For Slain Girl ↩︎
- Watson, Will You Die For Me, p30
Watson, Trial Testimony, p40
Moorehouse, Trial Testimony, p6
Melcher, Trial Testimony, p10
Watkins, My Life With Charles Manson, p37
Lake, Member of the Family, p225
Sanders, The Family, p56
Fromme, Reflexion, p160 ↩︎ - Photo: Charles Hornburg (right) at 9176 Sunset Blvd ↩︎
- Watson, Trial Testimony, p40
Melcher, Trial Testimony, p10 ↩︎ - Hornburg Newsletter (PDF) ↩︎
- Watson, Will You Die For Me, p30
Watson, Trial Testimony, p40
Moorehouse, Trial Testimony, p6
Melcher, Trial Testimony, p10 ↩︎ - Moorehouse, Trial Testimony, p6
*Read more about Moorehouse ↩︎ - Five Down on Cielo Drive, Murderinside.com
Watkins, My Life With Charles Manson, p36
Lake, Member of the Family, p218
Fromme, Reflexion, p158
Watson, Will You Die For Me, p27 ↩︎ - Watson, Trial testimony, p24
Watson, Will You Die For Me, p27
Fromme, Reflexion, p175
Lake, Member of the Family, p250 ↩︎ - Sanders, The Family, 1971, p127
Bugliosi, Helter Skelter, 1974, p764 ↩︎ - Hearst, Youtube ↩︎
- Lake, Member of the Family, 97
Fromme, Reflexion, p121 ↩︎ - Lake, Member of the Family, p167 ↩︎
- Five Down on Cielo Drive, Murderinside.com ↩︎
- Lamag.com Article
*Archived page from original ↩︎ - Watson, Will You Die For Me, p33 ↩︎
- Krenwinkel, High School Diploma ↩︎
- Watson, Will You Die For Me, p25 ↩︎
- Watson, Will You Die For Me, p24
Sanders, The Family, p55
Nelson, Tex Watson: The Man, the Madness, the Manipulation, p25 ↩︎ - Watson, Will You Die For Me, p21 ↩︎
- Google Maps ↩︎
- Guinn, The life and times of Charles Manson, Chapter 1
–New York Times Article
*Archived page of the NYT article ↩︎ - Sanders, The Family, p55
Nelson, Tex Watson: The Man, the Madness, the Manipulation, p25 ↩︎ - Google Maps ↩︎
- Sanders, The Family, p55 ↩︎
- Watson, Will You Die For Me, p26 ↩︎
- Watson, Will You Die For Me, p27
Watson, Trial Testimony, p26
Moorehouse, Trial Testimony, p2
*Read more about Moorehouse
Fromme, Reflexion, p175
Lake, Member of the Family, p250 ↩︎ - Hornburg, 13326 Sunset Boulevard, Brentwood, Los Angeles
*Newspaper article with John Hornburg’s address ↩︎ - Watson, Will You Die For Me, p48
Watson, Trial Testimony, p23 ↩︎ - Neale, Trial Testimony, p23
Watson, Trial Testimony, p170
Watson, Will You Die For Me, p48 ↩︎ - The Tale of the Manson Tapes, Medium.com
*Archived page from original
Judge Denies release of Tapes, Latimes.com
*Archived page from original
Three Murders Listed in Warrant for Watson Tapes, Cielodrive.com
*Archived page from original
LAPD Probing Manson Family to 12 Unsolved Homicides, (archived page) Latimes.com ↩︎ - Hans Habe Obituary, New York Times (PDF) ↩︎
- Son Born to Mrs. Hans Habe, New York Times (PDF) ↩︎
- Hungarian Writer, Wife Die, New York Times (PDF) ↩︎