Monday, January 4, 2021

Sherry Cooper

Happy New Year, TLB Junkies. Let's begin 2021 by revisiting this blog's (long ago) roots and what made us a fun destination very quickly. 

Long time lurker, Jen contacted us recently believing she had located Sherry Cooper. After a short period of due diligence we have confirmed that this is indeed her. Thank you, Jen! 



Sherry Ann Cooper was born in 1953 in Simi Valley, California. She was one of the Manson Family followers who stayed with the family at both Spahn Ranch and Barker Ranch.

Less is known of Sherry than many of the other members of The Family as she was said to be more of a "local girl" and drifted inside and outside of the circle unlike the others who came from other parts of the States to stay with Charles Manson. Some suspect that since Sherry’s home in Simi Valley was so close to the Spahn Movie Ranch, it was highly likely that she would go back and forth from Spahn to home for food and showers.

After the murders, Sherry and Barbara Hoyt fled the family after Hoyt overheard Susan Atkins talking about the Tate killing spree to Ruth Ann Morehouse. After the two fled, rumors were that Charles Manson was furious and wanted them both killed, with Barbara Hoyt actually experiencing an attempt on her life (The LSD laced Hamburger Incident in Hawaii) which failed and she returned home and became a witness for the prosecution. Sherry however, escaped completely unharmed and eventually fled to Canada with Danny "DDD" DeCarlo where they were married in the 1970s.

In late 1975 (sometime after the assignation attempt on President Gerald Ford by Lynette Fromme), a live video interview emerged which contained both Danny Decarlo and Sherry Cooper speaking about their time with and after Charles Manson. In the film, they  alluded to more murders than those of which have already been reported and often were seen laughing during the interview including through parts of the discussion which involved the murders such as that of Donald "Shorty" Shea:



For a number of years it was suspected that Sherry was killed when an unidentified body with 150 stab wounds matching her description and clothing was found on Mulholland Drive, in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California. However, since the body, which was being called informally "Sherry Doe" and officially "Jane Doe 59", was found in late 1969, and the video interview was released thereafter, it was impossible to have been Sherry Ann. The body was eventually identified by the victims sister in June 2015 as Reet Jurvetson, a then recent migrant to California from Canada. Jurvetson had relocated to California to follow a man she was interested in who had relocated. She was in the US for only a few months before she was found murdered.

Sherry and Danny Decarlo divorced and had one child together (who died at age 19 in a vehicular accident). She lives in California and to date refuses to discuss anything related to her time with Manson and the Family.




60 comments:

Dan S said...

She and donkey come off like the biggest criminal scum bags in this interview

Robert C said...

I agree they seem like slime (and stoned silly). It's a shame she won't blab now but I guess I can understand her risk of self-incrimination, especially if any of her hints about other murders and burials are true (?)

AndyTaylor said...

Whatever you do, don't start a drinking game based on every time Sherry says "ya know." You'll be wiped out within about two minutes.

orwhut said...

I didn't watch the interview this time because I'm still disgusted from last time.

TabOrFresca said...

Did you verify that 1949 was Sherri’s birth year and not
just a false date that she gave when being arrested?
In Lyn’s book she mentions Sherri’s youth twice: that she
was 15 and that Danny could get jailed if caught sleeping
with her. In Ed Sanders’ book, he tells Kasabian’s story
if 15 year old Sherri being forced into an orgy. If she were
born in 1949 then she would not be 15 in 1969.

Matt said...

TabOrFresca, you are indeed correct, Sherry was born in 1951. I have made the correction.

Btw, Fresca.


DebS said...

Actually, Sherry was born in November 1953, verified, so she was 15 at the time of the TLB murders and turned 16 in November 1969. Deemer had two birthdates for her 8-1-49 and 5-19-52 but neither was correct. He also had an incorrect middle name for her. Lyn is correct on this one.

Tragical History Tour said...

She's getting younger by the post!

Miracles do happen.

Greeneyes71 said...

I found a 69 yearbook photo that lists her as a Sophomore.

TabOrFresca said...

Thanks Deb for the date.

Now someone could create folklore from my last statement, as has been done a number of times with Manson and Family.

The date of 11/23 makes her younger than Ruth Ann, Snake, Didi, and Collie. That is if their DOB are accurate.

I believe that French Law has the “right to oblivion”, where convicted criminals who have served their time can object to the publication of facts concerning their criminal history. In the USA this would violate the First Amendment. The European Union has the “Right to be Forgotten” data-protection law where Internet data is to be deleted after the current transaction; you cant store it and profile it. The unenumerated privacy rights of those like Sherry, Juanita, Rosina, and Stephanie Rowe should be respected. But don’t you wish they would blab?

I wish Juanita would confirm or deny if the 80’s interview was with her and are the facts accurate.

I wish Rosina would tell us her side of the Crowe incident?

I wish Stephanie would tell use when she joined, when she left and why she left? I think she had a Big Mac Attack.

I wish that Sherry would describe the journey of leaving Barker and getting back to LA? I’d also like to know where she was staying until she and Danny finally went to Canada. Was she in Venice with Danny during 69-70 while Danny was giving police interviews, a witness at trials, etc?

This is what I remember reading about Sherry/Sherri (I believe Poston, Ed Davis, and Lyn use an “i”.

In Poston’s 10/69 police interview he mentions a 16 year old Sherry being at Barker in 2/69 and going for supplies with Juanita.

Watkins mentions Sherry as new in 69 and being given to Danny along with Ruth Ann. He also mentions that Sherry was one of the girls that were on their way to Barker’s with Karate Dave and himself, when they were all arrested.

Ed Sanders say that Sherry’s forced orgy took place in 7/22/69.

Lyn mentions that underage Sherri would hide when the police cane.

8/16/69 Sherry is arrested at the Spahn raid and uses Ruth Ann’s married name.

Ed Sanders says that in 9/15/69 Sherry and Hoyt fled Barker. He also mentions her living with Danny in Venice that fall.

Jane Doe #59 is found around 11/15/69. Sometime after Ruby Pearl IDs her as Sherry .

Around 12/18/69 Ruth Ann while in custody is shown a picture of Sherry that the cops think is Ruth Ann. Ruth Ann tells them that in nit her and she wants to know if the cops have seen Sherry ; for she must believe that Sherry is dead.

I believe I read on cielodrive site that Sherry was interviewed by the police in 1/70.

I believe i read in the last two weeks that Sherry traveled with Hoyt to Texas to try and find Karate Dave some time in 69 after Dave left.

In 1974 in Helter Skelter, BUG mentions that some believe Jane Die #59 to be Sherry.

About 10 years ago the mid-1970s Canadian interview with Danny and Sherry appears in the Internet.








Peter said...

I believe poston lives in Washington State and can be found on google if you spend about 15 minutes looking.

starviego said...

TabOrFresca said...
"I wish Rosina would tell us her side of the Crowe incident?"

The cops probably put the fear of God into her at the time, threatening dire consequences if she ever told what happened. Because if she ever talked, it would have become obvious that the cops had the goods on Charlie but simply refused to follow up. Because they were ordered not to. I think she is still scared.

TabOrFresca said...

Thank you “starviego” for your interesting theory. I have enjoyed reading your articles and comments on this and other blogs.

Peter said...

"Because if she ever talked, it would have become obvious that the cops had the goods on Charlie but simply refused to follow up. Because they were ordered not to."

Yeah, must be that.

Anonymous said...

Rosina has already pretty much given her version of the Crowe incident, no need to make it more interesting than it already was

Anonymous said...

The "Crowe incident" had nothing to do with Charlie until he picked up the phone by mistake at Spahn and had to become involved, after TJ wimped out of using the gun Charlie had to

Anonymous said...

The cops had nothing to do with it even after Crowe was shot, Bernard didn't even want to report it but handle it himself

TabOrFresca said...

Back to Sherry.

Starviego, do you know of anything else about Sherry? Is there anything written about her in RH’s “Death to Pigs” or in the “BOXs” at the cielodrive site?

starviego said...

TabOrFresca said...
"Starviego, do you know of anything else about Sherry?"

No. Since she was so young, and since she probably had the option of going back home periodically(as her family home was close by) I suspect the gang didn't quite trust her with any details. I wish she would give an interview or two.

--------------------

Unknown said...
"Rosina has already pretty much given her version of the Crowe incident.."

She did? Where?

--------------------

Unknown said...
"The cops had nothing to do with it even after Crowe was shot"

I think it's a myth that Crowe "didn't talk."

LADA files Box 6 Vol172 pg71of93 TLB penalty phase
Q: You had talked to police officers on how many occasions...
A(Crowe): First the homicide--... three times, something like that. ...
When I first got shot and I was going to die I talked to homicide. Those people I did not see again--I was on my death bed.


AustinAnn74 said...

TJ "wimped" out? No, I don't really think so. TJ might've just had a shred, and I mean a shred of humanity in him and didn't want to murder someone, unlike a lot of them that didn't have any respect for human life whatsoever, including the rectums in the above video clips. Laughing about murder seemed to have been a common trait amongst the group, give or take a handful. What the hell was so funny about a man being stabbed to death ala Julius Caesar? You know who else laughed? The group that beat old Karl Stubbs to death. Makes you wonder, huh?

DebS said...

Starviego wrote-

Unknown said...
"The cops had nothing to do with it even after Crowe was shot"

I think it's a myth that Crowe "didn't talk."

LADA files Box 6 Vol172 pg71of93 TLB penalty phase
Q: You had talked to police officers on how many occasions...
A(Crowe): First the homicide--... three times, something like that. ...
When I first got shot and I was going to die I talked to homicide. Those people I did not see again--I was on my death bed.
--------

Do you think that Crowe gave police a name, that of Manson, or simply said he was shot by a person unknown to him? Or perhaps police didn't follow up because he was Black and Blacks were not a priority to police at that time. At the same time of TLB, the Black Panthers were in the police's sights as a group to take down. Maybe they just didn't care that a Black man got shot.

Anonymous said...

Then why didn't he give the cops Mansons name? He knew it

Anonymous said...

TJ pissed out of it plain and simple, he had the gun, had chance to use it and didn't, Charlie had to get it from him, that's what I call being a chickenshit bastard

Anonymous said...

Where did Watson and Manson get it? If there's another one let's hear it, she was threatened, give us the name of the guy with you or you die, if that's not a threat what do you call it?

ColScott said...

Remember Lotsa called the ranch and asks for CHARLES. Gets CHARLIE. Says he is coming up there gonna rape the women tie up the men and prop their eyes open with toothpicks to watch.

Did he even know Charlie Manson last name?

ColScott said...

I just read all these posts from UNKNOWN did someone pull the Shortbus up to the site?

Anonymous said...

Lol are you saying he didn't find out?

starviego said...

DebS said...
"you think that Crowe gave police a name, that of Manson, or simply said he was shot by a person unknown to him?"

Unknown said...
"Then why didn't he give the cops Mansons name? He knew it"


I don't know if Crowe gave it up, but his cooperation wasn't really necessary. You can bet Rosina DID give it up, and probably the others there(Lukachefsky, Fimple).

starviego said...

Unknown said...
"Where did Watson and Manson get it? If there's another one let's hear it, she was threatened, give us the name of the guy with you or you die, if that's not a threat what do you call it?"

Could you rephrase? I am not understanding your questions.

Gorodish said...

ColScott typed:

I just read all these posts from UNKNOWN did someone pull the Shortbus up to the site?

Indeed sir...the Shortbus has rolled in from the 'burbs of St.Louis...

Unknown AKA dave1972 typed:

TJ pissed out of it plain and simple, he had the gun, had chance to use it and didn't, Charlie had to get it from him, that's what I call being a chickenshit bastard

Ahhh, now there's the dave1972 we know and love. That ghostwriter you hired for the AndyTaylor posts finally had enough, eh?

Gorodish said...

ColScott typed:

Did he even know Charlie Manson last name?

I'd say maybe, but not for certain. I'm sure Tex constantly proselytized to Rosina about Charlie and Spahn during their time together, but she may not have known or cared about his last name. And she was the one to point Crowe to Spahn after the Tex burn.

Matt said...

Gorodish said...

Ahhh, now there's the dave1972 we know and love.


Is he back from the Capitol yet?


Gorodish said...

Matt typed:

Is he back from the Capitol yet?

Ahh, that explains it. He was probably there, while the ghostwriter stayed behind. He's blogging from his phone.

Doug said...

Just the TIP, Dave...

Milly James said...

Yah... Just the wrong place... The wrong time...Yah now....Yah.

What a hoot yah now...

Hey I guess, yah now...like 9 pieces...I don't now...Yah now, It weren't me yah now so I don't yah now...

Incoherent or simply evil?

Anonymous said...

Regardless the cops had it

Anonymous said...

How do you know anyone in the family beat Karl Stubb's to death?

Anonymous said...

And Crowe would have done the same thing to Manson or Tex without thinking twice for much less

Anonymous said...

Of course she knew his last name

AndyTaylor said...

Well thanks for giving me an out by assuming dave1972 / unknown asked me to get a knife and change of clothing and post something witchy. I have a valid driver's license so being new to posting side of this group I will be given the task of handling super important acts. As a longtime lurker and new poster it's good to know I can blame someone when my posts go to shit. I'll hold that in my back pocket for later. Just to establish my stance I'll say TJ showed some normal moral character when he refused to turn violent for CM. It was of course shit for him to return to the Family just in time to be preserved on film with bad facial hair choices and even worse friend choices. Who can resist the offer of fame at such an early age and wearing Manson pants on Geraldo? And I just LOVE the kismet involved when the captcha asks me to identify all the photos with a boat in it, one of which is a boat, attached to a car, parked in the street. True story.

DebS said...

Unknown, why do you presume that Rosina told the police Charlie's last name? She wasn't there when the ambulance picked Crowe up. Of course since Crowe was taken to the hospital from Rosina's apartment the police would have spoken to her but she easily could have said she knew nothing because she wasn't there when Crowe was shot. Remember that she could have been arrested for participating in a drug deal that she set up. Why would she bust herself?

It wasn't until much later, after Charlie had been arrested and charged with the TLB murders and police needed to find an incident where Charlie personally displayed violent actions for the DA's office to be able to show the jury that he was capable of committing murder. By then Rosina had something to deal with, she would tell the police what really happened in exchange for not being charged on the drug deal. The DA's office needed corroboration for the story that Crowe was telling them.

Anonymous said...

Come on Deb lol

Matt said...

True, Deb. If Crowe died from his injuries - even years later - Rosina could have been charged with murder given that she was in the process of committing a felony when the shooting occurred.


starviego said...

Yet Crowe, Fimple, Lukashefsky could have been charged with kidnapping or unlawful imprisonment, since they had tied up Kroner and held her against her will.

TabOrFresca said...

Starviego,
What are the sources that you are using to say that “Lukashevsky” was present and that “Rosina” was tied up?

The earliest document I have seen is
RS interview with Jakobson where he says a friend called him up and said that Charlie: shot a spade, took one of the guys jacket, and kisses his feet. Even if the friend was Lukashefsky, it doesn’t mean he was there - he could have.heard it from Del/Dale Fimple or the mysterious “Steve” or the mysterious Jim”

Trial doc #86 on 9/10/70 gives TJ’s testimony concerning: receiving the phone call from a woman and handing the phone to Charlie, Charlie has the gun as they enter the apartment on Franklin Ave.

Trial docs #171,172 on 1/28-29/71 show Crowe’s Penalty phase testimony. He doesn’t mention Rosina being tied up, Kanarek never brings it up,

Later in 1971 Ed Sanders publishes his book. He mentions Dale Fimple being present with Lukashevsky when Charlie arrived and Rosina answered the door, so Sanders didn’t hear that she was tied up. Crowe’s testimony says that only Del/Dale was present (DebS proved that Del and Dale were the same). Dale told someone that Charlie did a ritualistic dance before leaving but Dale died a few months after Crowe was shot so it would be highly unlikely that Sanders or his PI got the story from Dale. Could it be that Jakobson or Lukashevsky are Sanders source? And again how do we know that It was not Dale told Jim and Jim told Lukashevsky and Lukashevsky told Wilson and Wilson told Jakobson and Jakobson told Sanders PI who then told Sanders? Just throwing it out there.

In 1986 Nuel Emmons does mention that Rosina is tied up. BTW, Emmons is the first source that i’ve seen say that Rosina asked for Charles (in a round about way).

So please point me to the sources you have that put Lukashevsky there and Rosina being tied up.

TabOrFresca said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
TabOrFresca said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Monica said...

Wow. Sherry doesn't even resemble her younget self at all. Looks like she had a little work done. She would have an interesting story, for sure.

Does anyone know of a pic of Rosina from 1969? I've seen the recent ones and recent interviews but never an older one. She would be able to clear up a lot of stuff in my head (such as how bad good ole Tex really was before the murders). I'm fascinated by the stories of the peripheral, cameo women.

Anonymous said...

You've seen pics of Tex from 1969, you be the judge of what he looked like

Gorodish said...

Monica typed:

Does anyone know of a pic of Rosina from 1969?

There's one on H.Allegra Lansing's blog. Here's the link: "I Was Willing To Kill For Manson

Monica said...

Wow. Nice Gorodish. She looks nothing like I thought. But glad she's for the most part stayed out of the limelight.

starviego said...

Monica said...
"Does anyone know of a pic of Rosina from 1969? I've seen the recent ones and recent interviews but never an older one."

What recent interview?

starviego said...

TabOrFresca said...
"So please point me to the sources you have that put Lukashevsky there and Rosina being tied up."

The sources are the ones you mentioned--Sanders and Emmons.

TabOrFresca said...

Thanks Starviego,
I know you do a lot of digging and have viewed many BOXs. Every once in a while someone finds something new and i was hoping for that.

Doug said...

Possibly referencing this television interview from around 7yrs ago (that was posted on this blog in 2014). Rosina at approx 37 seconds into report.

https://youtu.be/dm2uucvJJBY

Tragical History Tour said...

I vote 3 - Not the same person.

Hahaha couldn't resist.

Unknown said...

Sherry still hot ASF.

dawnn said...

They both look like they liked to brag and they also looked like they had been drinking.

dawnn said...

The young woman that was found murdered and they thought was Sherri was from Montreal and she went to the same graduated from the same high school as Vice president Kamal Harris. The name of that high school was Westmount High. It would be amazing if California could solve that crime.

R.G.Whitley said...

Thank you. She has changed quite a bit from the 2009 video on Youtube. In 2009 she almost looked the same as she had in 75, or very much the same.