Barbara Colby

Summary

True Crime All The Time Unsolved – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Barbara Colby
Podcast: True Crime All The Time Unsolved
Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike Gibson
Release Date: June 8, 2026

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Episode Overview

The episode centers on the chilling, unsolved murder of Barbara Colby, a rising actress in the 1970s, who was killed in Los Angeles shortly after landing her first major television role. The hosts, Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson, walk listeners through Barbara’s life, her promising career, the devastating details of the night she and fellow actor James Kiernan were murdered, and the web of related violent crimes that plagued LA that summer night in 1975. Throughout, the hosts blend thorough case analysis with their trademark banter and a touch of irreverent humor, but always treat the crime and its victims with deep respect.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Barbara Colby’s Background and Career

• Born July 2, 1939, Barbara started in theater in 1964. Notable productions included Six Characters in Search of an Author, The Devils, A Doll’s House, and Julius Caesar.
  • “She did have, you know, during the 60s, a really good career.” (Mike Ferguson, 04:49)
• Moved to California in the late 1960s, joined the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.
• Despite a successful stage career, television roles were hard to secure. Guest spots included Columbo, Odd Couple, McMillan & Wife, Kung Fu, and Gunsmoke.
  • “She’s a working actress and she’s on a lot of big shows.” (Mike Ferguson, 11:40)
• Landed a lead role as Julie Erskine in the Mary Tyler Moore spinoff, Phyllis, starring Cloris Leachman.
  • “This was supposed to be Barbara’s big break… but tragically she was murdered after filming just three episodes.” (Mike Ferguson, 15:16)

2. Philosophy and Character

• Barbara was passionate about acting for personal growth, not fame or money.
  • “You don’t go into regional theater for glory, and you’re not going into it for money... To me, acting is an interpretive art that deals with other people’s ideas. You’re an instrument, and you want to refine and develop that instrument as much as humanly possible.” (Barbara Colby, quoted by Mike Ferguson, 07:14)
• Preferred the authenticity of the West Coast to New York City’s showbiz scene: “Life in San Francisco is so much more real.” (Barbara Colby, 12:29)

3. The Night of the Murder (July 24, 1975) & Immediate Aftermath

• Barbara taught an acting class late into the evening, then chatted in the parking lot with fellow actor James Kiernan.
• Around 11:50pm, both were approached by two armed men who told them to put their hands up, then shot both at close range without taking anything.
  • “Police theorize that the killers may not have stolen anything because they panicked.” (Mike Ferguson, 19:34)
  • “Without stealing anything. It sounds more like a… like a hit.” (Mike Gibson, 20:01)
• Kiernan lived long enough to describe the shooters: two Black men in a light-colored van. No known connection to either victim.
• No robbery occurred, raising questions about motive—was it targeted, a random act, or mistaken identity?

Notable Quote

• “It seems like Barbara and James were either in the process of raising their hands or were too slow in raising them. Whatever happened, someone decided to shoot them.” (Detective Michael Maloney, quoted by Mike Ferguson, 21:02)

4. The Crime Wave of July 24, 1975

• That evening, within about 40 minutes in West LA/Santa Monica:
  • 3 people were murdered (Barbara Colby, James Kiernan, Gloria Witt)
  • 6 others were attacked, assaulted, or robbed in separate incidents involving vans and armed perpetrators.
• Police arrested six suspects in the following days, but links between the various crimes became muddier when different weapons and varying MOs emerged.

Notable Sequence

• 11:10pm: Witt and friends attacked, Gloria Witt shot dead (24:00)

• 11:30pm: Couples tied up, robbed, women sexually assaulted, large haul of cash/jewelry taken (24:02)

• 11:50pm: Colby and Kiernan shot and killed (19:11)

• “What’s going on here? Is it a whole bunch of people and they’re just split up into teams?” (Mike Ferguson, 26:02)

• “Maybe even a scarier thought is that they’re all three unrelated.” (Mike Ferguson, 26:07)

5. Investigation and Suspects

• Six men arrested soon after were quickly ruled out as suspects in the Colby/Kiernan murders (27:57).
• The group was, however, tied to other robberies from that night, especially after stolen items (with victims’ names engraved) and matching weapons were found in their possession.
  • “If you are going to rob somebody, maybe don’t take something that has the victim’s name engraved on it.” (Mike Ferguson, 34:07)
• In the Gloria Witt killing and related robberies, suspects were convicted, but none were linked to the Colby/Kiernan case. Police relied on anonymous tips and continued to suspect a different pair for the murders.

6. The Hollywood Context & Other High-Profile Killings

• Barbara Colby’s unsolved case contributed to an atmosphere of fear in Hollywood, compounded months later by the murder of actor Sal Mineo in early 1976.
  • “The biggest stars are as vulnerable as anybody else. The Sharon Tate case showed that.” (Producer Oliver Haley, quoted by Mike Ferguson, 37:56)
• The vulnerability of actors in that era is discussed—lack of modern security, modest living situations, and the randomness of violent crime.

7. Enduring Mystery and Theories

• Decades later, police and experts remain divided: was it a random robbery, a professional hit, or mistaken identity?

  • “To me, it’s a contract killing.” (Retired Sgt. Tim Loomis, 42:15)
  • “It was so methodical. Drive up, walk up, bam. One shot each, turn around, get in the car and drive off. That’s a cold-blooded act.” (Tim Loomis, quoted by Mike Ferguson, 42:32)

• The lack of a clear motive paralyzed the investigation:

  • “Motive often is what takes you to your suspect.” (Retired LAPD Capt. Paul Vernon, 40:33)

• The case remains open, with police encouraging tips to cold case units or Crime Stoppers.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Barbara Colby’s Philosophy:
  • “Acting is an interpretive art… You’re an instrument, and you want to refine and develop that instrument as much as humanly possible.” (Barbara Colby, via Mike Ferguson, 07:14)
• On The Crime’s Professionalism (and Host Banter):
  • “If it’s a professional hit, was it for both of them or one of them and the other one was just collateral damage?” (Mike Gibson, 43:11)
  • “I would be hard pressed to look at this as anything other than this being a professional killing.” (Ret. Sgt. Loomis, 42:49)
• On Hollywood’s Vulnerability:
  • “The biggest stars are as vulnerable as anybody else. The Sharon Tate case showed that.” (Oliver Haley, 37:56)
• On The Challenge for Police:
  • “We know nothing. We’ve interviewed hundreds of people. We’re still hoping.” (Detective Maloney, 38:50)

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Important Timestamps

• 03:45 — Start of case discussion: Barbara Colby’s background
• 07:14 — Barbara’s own words/philosophy on acting (quote)
• 15:16 — Landed role on Phyllis and timing of murder
• 19:11 — Details of murders of Colby & Kiernan
• 21:02 — Detective Maloney’s quote on the shooting
• 24:00–25:40 — Overview of other crimes that night (Witt murder, robberies/sexual assault)
• 27:57 — Suspect arrests/links ruled out for Colby/Kiernan
• 29:45 — Cloris Leachman tribute for Colby vetoed by CBS
• 34:07 — Commentary on thieves taking engraved items
• 37:56 — Producer Oliver Haley on celebrity vulnerability (quote)
• 40:33 — Paul Vernon on the need for motive in unsolved cases
• 42:15–42:49 — Ret. Sgt. Loomis’ theory of a contract killing
• 43:11 — Was both Colby and Kiernan targeted, or just one?
• 46:10 — Police contact info for case tips

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Analysis & Reflections

• The hosts emphasize how Colby’s killing was either a tragic case of being “in the wrong place at the wrong time” or the result of a highly targeted, methodical hit, likely perpetrated by professionals.
• The night’s rampant violence, with multiple suspects and varying degrees of overlap, continues to muddy the investigative waters.
• The episode highlights the enduring sorrow of unsolved murders, not only for victims’ families but also for communities and the larger public, especially when the victim is a beloved public figure.
• Mike and Gibby regularly return to insights on crime investigation: the key role of motive, challenges when cases go cold, and the hope that future advances or tips might still bring long-overdue justice.

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Conclusion

This episode stands out as both a heartfelt tribute to Barbara Colby and a meticulous exploration of a labyrinthine murder mystery. The hosts provide context and compassion, punctuated by a few moments of levity, ensuring the listener comes away with a clear understanding of the case’s complexity and emotional weight—even 50 years later. The case remains open, with law enforcement still welcoming tips, though Mike and Gibby express skepticism that a solution lies ahead without new evidence or a confession.

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If you have any information related to the murder of Barbara Colby or James Kiernan, contact:

• LAPD: 877-527-3247
• LAPD Cold Case Homicide Special Section: 213-486-6810
• LA Regional Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS

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Transcript

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[Mike Ferguson]

Hello everyone and welcome to episode 468 of the True Crime all the Time Unsolved podcast. I'm Mike Ferguson and with me, as always, is my partner in true crime, Mike Gibson. Gibby, how are you?

[Mike Gibson]

Hey, I'm doing good, man. How about you?

[Mike Ferguson]

I'm doing very well.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

Tired. You and I just got back from CrimeCon. Separately we did. Not together, but separately. We had a good time. We met a lot of great people, some new people, some people we've known for many, many years.

[Mike Gibson]

Loved it.

[Mike Ferguson]

But there's no time to rest because I got to get ready to go to Jamaica. And you're heading to Greece. I know it's so we've got to get a bunch of recording done. Let's go ahead and give our Patreon shout outs. We had Richard Ramirez jump out at our highest level.

[Mike Gibson]

Thanks, Richard.

[Mike Ferguson]

Patrick Erickson also jumped out at our highest level. Erickson in the house we had Casey Van New.

[Mike Gibson]

Thanks, Casey.

[Mike Ferguson]

Jackie Hansen. Well, there's Jackie and Charles Thompson.

[Mike Gibson]

Well, thanks ct. And if we go

[Mike Ferguson]

back into the vault this week, we selected Rebecca.

[Mike Gibson]

You mean Rebecca.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yep, probably. I get an email says Gibby Said it exactly correct.

[Mike Gibson]

Yes.

[Mike Ferguson]

Listen, we have an episode out right now on True Crime all the Time where we're talking about a 13 year old named Casey Woody who in 2002 was stalked, abducted and murdered by a 47 year old man she met online who had been posing as a teenager in chat room. It's a tragic case, but it's also extremely interesting as to how all of this went down and how the authorities identified this guy.

[Mike Gibson]

Just disturbing to me.

[Mike Ferguson]

It is. Yeah, it really is. All right, buddy, are you ready to get into this episode of True Crime all the Time Unsolved?

[Mike Gibson]

I'm ready.

[Mike Ferguson]

We're talking about the murder of actress Barbara Colby. Barbara Colby was murdered in 1975, shortly after she got a big break in her career, a major role in a new sitcom. Fifty years later, her murder remains unsolved. Barbara Colby was born on July 2, 1939. She started her career in theater in 1964. She performed in the play Six Characters in Search of an Author. The next year she made her Broadway debut in the Devils. She appeared in multiple productions throughout the 60s, such as under Milkwood, Murder in the Cathedral, Dear Liar, A Doll's House and Julius Caesar.

[Mike Gibson]

Oh, Julius Caesar. We were just there.

[Mike Ferguson]

Does Caesar really live here?

[Mike Gibson]

No.

[Mike Ferguson]

Also, do you have a big bank of payphones in case my pager goes off?

[Mike Gibson]

Oh, that's funny. That's funny if people get that.

[Mike Ferguson]

But she did have, you know, during the 60s, a really good career. Barbara moved to California in the late 60s to continue pursuing theater. In 1968, she joined the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco as a lead actress. Over two years, she appeared in about 30 productions and maintained a full schedule of classes.

[Mike Gibson]

I too was a lead actress. I too was a lead actor.

[Mike Ferguson]

Okay, you think I'm taking that out? Because I am not. So you might as well just go on with your thought.

[Mike Gibson]

I've got a few productions underneath my belt too.

[Mike Ferguson]

As a lead actress. I. I can imagine you do.

[Mike Gibson]

You can probably still find them underneath the Rex west production company in the

[Mike Ferguson]

old days in the old video VCR stores, you know. Yeah, they were back in that room that had like the beads or the curtain that only certain people were allowed to go back in there.

[Mike Gibson]

I don't know what you're talking about. You sure have a pretty good description of it.

[Mike Ferguson]

In a 1970 interview with the LA Times, Barbara described what she loved about working for the American Conservatory Theater. She said, the thing that happened was that we were able to evolve together as a company. One of the biggest Flaws in the commercial theater is that you get a scenic designer, a custom designer, a whole bunch of people who have perhaps never met each other. Whereas if you have a company evolving together and minds which can work together and develop a kind of theatrical shorthand, you can create something without all the handicaps of people meeting for the first time.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah. We call that organic growth today.

[Mike Ferguson]

Okay. I know there's a lot of buzzwords in today's business world, but I mean, it is true, right? If you can keep the same group together and it doesn't matter if it's business, sports, whatever, I think it makes it a little bit more easy to be successful. You look at some of the. The really successful dynasties in sports, most of it was because they kept a large core of the people together for a number of years.

[Mike Gibson]

That's very true. And even think about comedy. Think about sctv.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Mike Gibson]

You know, places like that, Saturday Night Live.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. All those things. She also said about her decision to move from New York City to San Francisco. You don't go into regional theater for glory, and you're not going into it for money. So obviously you're going into it for some sort of personal growth that you think is important for you to have in your work. To me, acting is an interpretive art that deals with other people's ideas. You're an instrument, and you want to refine and develop that instrument as much as humanly possible.

[Mike Gibson]

How many times have I told you that?

[Mike Ferguson]

That you have to refine and develop your instrument?

[Mike Gibson]

Yes.

[Mike Ferguson]

Okay. And what have I told you? Whatever you do on your off time, that is up to you. But I actually thought that quote was pretty profound. You know, we talk about people who go into acting. Why do you think most people do it?

[Mike Gibson]

Well, I would back in the day say because I think that they have a passion for it. But now I'd say they. They go to be famous. They want fame.

[Mike Ferguson]

Fame and money.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

I think a lot of people do it for that. And what happens, okay, you're scratching and clawing, working a waiter waitress job, going on auditions. Some people make it, some people don't. I'm not getting that from her at all. She actually says, hey, if you're going into this for the money, you're going to be disappointed.

[Mike Gibson]

Right.

[Mike Ferguson]

Barbara met her future husband, Robert Levitt Jr. The son of famous singer, actress Ethel Merman, through the act. He joined the ACT as a stage manager during its first years in San Francisco. And, you know, let's face it, Ethel Merman was a little bit before My time. But she was a very famous singer and actress. The only thing I really know of Ethel Merman is when she does the cameo in the movie Airplane. Oh, yeah. Where she's singing, like in the bed, the hospital bed, or. Or whatever it is. Barbara was a successful and well known theater actress, but it was difficult for her to break into the television industry.

[Mike Gibson]

You telling me, man, Rex west has been trying and trying and you know it.

[Mike Ferguson]

Again, if you just look at a place like Hollywood, Louisiana area, how many people there are trying to be actors, actresses.

[Mike Gibson]

Right.

[Mike Ferguson]

Half the town. I don't know what the percentage is, but a lot of people, and it's a very small percentage who make it

[Mike Gibson]

big, you know, that's why I keep going. Because they say you're just one no away from yes.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. I think as you hit 60, though, you might be a lot more nos than just one away from yes.

[Mike Gibson]

I'm going for those older roles.

[Mike Ferguson]

I would hope so. You're not trying to start a new 21 Jump Street, I wouldn't think.

[Mike Gibson]

Call it 60 Jump Street.

[Mike Ferguson]

Barbara spent years doing smaller roles before she earned one of her biggest career opportunities. In 1971, she appeared in the Colombo detective series in an episode titled Murder by the Book. In the show, Barbara plays a shop owner named Lily Lysenka who miscalculates the danger of blackmailing a murderer. The final scene focuses on her terror as the killer closes in. Columbo was a big show. Barbara also had guest roles in other big shows like the odd couple, McMillan and wife, the FBI Medical Center, Kung Fu and Gunsmoke.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, I remember some of these. I mean, I remember Columbo. Love Columbo, you know, a little mystery and he solves it at the very end.

[Mike Ferguson]

Sure.

[Mike Gibson]

Like. Like they all do in those type of shows. And then Kung Fu. Love Kung Fu. With that David guy.

[Mike Ferguson]

David Carradine.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, yeah, Grasshopper. And then, I mean, the Odd Couple was just funny.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah, I thought those two actors were perfect. The story was good. It was just a funny show. But I think it goes to show. Right? I mean, these were guest roles. Yeah, I get it. But she's a working actress and she's on a lot of big shows.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

She never stopped working in the theater industry. She did an off Broadway role in Richard III and returned to Broadway to perform in Murderous Angels in 1971 and a revival of A Doll's House in 1975. After a lengthy absence, Barbara returned to the American conservatory theater. In 1972, she returned to the west coast after finishing her role in Murderous Angels, she was glad to be back in San Francisco and told the Oakland Tribune, I don't enjoy the actor's life in New York. I'm not a drinker, and I don't enjoy hanging out in bars after the show, and I don't enjoy all that theatrical gossip. Life in San Francisco is so much more real.

[Mike Gibson]

Well, you know, I mean, different strokes

[Mike Ferguson]

for different folks, you know, I've heard that before.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, it's a quote from me, by the way.

[Mike Ferguson]

So you are the originator and everybody else has just used it over the years.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, I've. I coined it.

[Mike Ferguson]

She said about her decision to leave New York City, I believe in timing and being in the right spot at the right time. When I left, it was to explore other areas. What I want more than anything else is to integrate my work with my life. And the only way that seems possible is to have a continuum. I have some control over act and I seem linked by other things. I was getting into transcendental meditation and so was the company. Some of my dearest friends were here, and the season looked wonderful and it seemed the right time to come back. And, man, was that transcendental meditation big in the 70s.

[Mike Gibson]

It was.

[Mike Ferguson]

I mean, I don't really remember it because I. Well, I wasn't born until 73. But still, if you watch any show about the 70s, they're going to talk about transcendental meditation.

[Mike Gibson]

They will, they will. And you see it in some of the, you know, older shows or some of the shows that are based on the 70s.

[Mike Ferguson]

In 1974, Barbara appeared in two films, California Split and Memory of Us. In 1975, she played a supporting role in Rafferty and the Goldust Twins. Never heard of any of those. But in 1974 and 1975, she was a guest on the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

[Mike Gibson]

And I love the MTM show.

[Mike Ferguson]

That was a big show, very popular, and it was good, too. In 1975, MTM Enterprises executives decided to cast Barbara in a lead role in the spinoff show Phyllis, starring alongside actress Cloris Leachman.

[Mike Gibson]

Well, that sounds like a big move.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah, I think it would be a big role. Cloris Leachman is an amazing actress. I mean, she was great in some of the Mel Brooks films. She was really good in that show, Raising Hope.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, she was.

[Mike Ferguson]

She's very funny. In Phyllis, Cloris Leachman reprises her role of Phyllis Lidstrom, who moves from Minneapolis to San Francisco after the death of her husband. Phyllis takes a job as an assistant in a photography studio. Owned by Julie Erskine, played by Barbara. This was supposed to be Barbara's big break in the TV industry, but tragically she was murdered after filming just three episodes.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, I mean, she's worked so hard in the theater and in TV and film. Now she's getting the big break as a lead. You know, records three episodes and then murdered.

[Mike Ferguson]

You know, Gibby and I were a little terrified when we started this podcast. I think most people are when they start any big endeavor, especially some type of business, right? Is it going to work out? Are we going to look like idiots? Well, now we know we made the right decision, but there were some bumps in the road along the way. One thing that really helped us out was working with a great partner like Shopify to help with our podcast merge. It helps when you have a partner like Shopify on your side. Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and 10% of all e commerce in the US from household names like Gymshark to True Crime all the Time to brands just getting started. You know what I love about Shopify is it's packed with helpful AI tools that make writing, product descriptions and enhancing your product photography way easier. Shopify can also help you find your customers with easy to run email and social media campaigns. And they have amazing customer support. Award winning in fact 247 customer support. It's time to turn those what ifs into with Shopify today. Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at shopify.com unsolved. Go to shopify.com unsolved that's shopify.com unsolved. This episode is sponsored by RO. Hey listen, everybody's talking about GLP1s these days, but I think a lot of people assume that they cost a fortune and that assumption keeps people from looking into them. There's also the question of insurance. How do you get started? Well, RO simplifies all of it by helping patients understand their options up front and find the lowest cost way to access FDA approved GLP1 treatment. Whether covered or paying cash, RO really wants to help people lose weight. That's why they have the lowest cost options out there, whether you're paying with insurance or cash. They even have a free insurance checker to make it easy to see if you're covered. And if not, RO offers lower cost cash pay FDA approved GLP1s including newer dosage forms like daily pills and multi dose pins. When you become a RO member, you'll have support throughout the process. You'll have access to your provider on Demand for any questions. So join the over 1.5 million people who've trusted RO on their weight loss journey. I use an injectable for my diabetes, but if I didn't, I would Definitely try the GLP1 pill from RO. Go to RO CO Unsolved to see if you qualify. That's RO Col CO Unsolved. To get started on ROE, go to ROE CO Safety for boxed warning and full safety information about GLP1 medications. On the evening of July 24, 1975, Barbara taught an acting class at 8970 Ellis Avenue in the Palms area of West Los Angeles. It was a late night class and Barbara stayed behind, even later talking to her friend and fellow actor James Kiernan in the parking lot. At about 11:50pm as the two were talking, a pair of armed men approached and fired two deadly shots. One at Barbara and one at James. Barbara died at the scene. James Kiernan was transported to David Brotman Memorial Hospital, where he died of his injuries at 1:32am But James did live long enough to give a description of the attackers. Now, it wasn't extremely detailed, but he described the shooters as two black men driving a light colored van. The men told them to put their hands up before shooting and driving off. He had no clue who they were. Investigators noted that Barbara and James were shot at close range but were not robbed. Police theorize that the killers may not have stolen anything because they panicked. But I do think, you know, you got to take a look at this. Right. You have to figure out why these two men would want to approach Barbara and James and then shoot them and then just leave. Yeah.

[Mike Gibson]

Without stealing anything. It sounds more like a. Like a hit.

[Mike Ferguson]

Right. And I, I do think at one point there, there were a couple of theories. One was that they were targeted, and then another was that this was just a random drive by. But I don't know in how many drive bys the shooters actually get out and tell you to put your hands up.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah. Why go through that?

[Mike Ferguson]

Just shoot from the car.

[Mike Gibson]

Right.

[Mike Ferguson]

That's, that's normally, I think, how a drive by happens. At the time of the murder, Barbara was separated from her husband, Bob Levitt, but the split was said to be amicable. It seems that Bob was never considered a serious suspect. Well, obviously, I'm, I'm sure they knew that it wasn't Bob who pulled the trigger. But could Bob have hired the men? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. It's something they have to check into. LAPD Detective Michael Maloney later told the San Antonio Star, it seems like Barbara and James were either in the process of raising their hands or were too slow in raising them. Whatever happened, someone decided to shoot them. The most I can tell you is that it was a small caliber revolver.

[Mike Gibson]

You know, maybe it was their reaction to just put their hands up. You know, when someone comes at you with a gun, it seems like a natural reaction to put your hands up, like, hey, I'm not going to hurt you, don't hurt me.

[Mike Ferguson]

But even in that scenario, wouldn't you think if the motive was robbery, they would quickly rifle through their pockets, take a purse, take a billfold, something like that?

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

I mean, I can understand the theory that once the shots are fired, well, you think, well, I got to get out of here. Right, because people are going to be here. But then you've basically shot two people for nothing. At first. Investigators tentatively linked the murder to the fatal shooting of Gloria Witt, the wife of a Lockheed Corporation executive. Gloria was also murdered on the night of July 24th. So July 24th, 1975, was a violent and chaotic night for law enforcement in the West Los Angeles Santa Monica area. In just 40 minutes, three people were murdered. Six others were threatened, assaulted or robbed in three separate attacks.

[Mike Gibson]

Wow, that's intriguing because what's driving this? You know, is this like a planned event?

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. I mean, and maybe that was very strange for 1975. I don't know. I feel like in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles area, West Los Angeles, in 40 minutes, there's probably quite a few shootings around town.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, maybe today.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. A fourth robbery was also being investigated for a possible connection. All of the incidents involved assailants driving vans. In three robberies, the victims were confronted as they approached their homes. The incidents occurred at 11:10, 11:30 and 11:50pm At 11:10pm, Roland and Gloria Witt were dropped off with their friends John and Nancy Hudson by Mr. And Mrs. Charles Clemenshaw at the Hudson's home in Santa Monica. Within moments, three masked men emerged from a hedge and confronted the two couples. They forced the wits to lie down in the front yard. The Hudsons were stopped at the rear of the house. Mrs. Hudson fled. Her husband was pistol whipped in the head. Gloria Witt was shot twice in the back at close range. Once with a handgun and once with a shotgun.

[Mike Gibson]

Wow. Brutal.

[Mike Ferguson]

At 11:30pm, Hyman Walter and his wife Lynn were returning to their home in West LA after an evening out with Mr. And Mrs. Malcolm Brook. Six men confronted the couples as they got out of their car and forced them into the House, Walter was kicked in the head, and the women were sexually assaulted. The victims were tied up before the robbers left with an estimated $5,300 in cash and jewelry, which is quite a haul in 1975.

[Mike Gibson]

That's true. But you, you know, you had the murder happen, what, 10 minutes, 20 minutes before this, and now you have this robbery and sexual assault happening. Sure. The police are going, what's going on out there?

[Mike Ferguson]

Oh, yeah, absolutely. But the one thing that does kind of stand out to me is, you know, we mentioned two men. Right. In the assault on Barbara and James, the murders of Barbara and James. And then, you know, at 11:10, you have three men with masks on confronting two couples. 20 minutes later, you have six men. Yeah. Confronting these two couples, but they also force them into the house and their sexual assault involved and the robbery of quite a bit of cash and jewelry. So, I mean, there seem to be some differences, but also some similarities.

[Mike Gibson]

Right, right.

[Mike Ferguson]

So what's going on here? Is it a whole bunch of people and they're just split up into teams, or is 20 minutes enough time for some of them to get and find their next victim? But why such a difference in the mo?

[Mike Gibson]

Well, that's a good point.

[Mike Ferguson]

I think you have to take all of it into account.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

And maybe even a scarier thought is that they're all three unrelated.

[Mike Gibson]

That is a scary thought.

[Mike Ferguson]

And you just have multiple bands of murderers and robbers roaming the city.

[Mike Gibson]

Maybe it was a full moon that night and just made everybody do some crazy stuff.

[Mike Ferguson]

On July 25, police arrested six young men believed to be involved in the shootings and robberies. Around 1am Officers arrested two men at a residence in Venice in connection with one of the robberies. Between 1 and 5am four others were arrested. They were caught after two men were robbed at their home on Landfair Avenue in West Los Angeles. The men were tied up, and two masked intruders stole $5,000 in cash and valuables. A witness reported the license number of the van used in the robbery. There was a lot of talk that the six men were involved in all the crimes of the July 24th spree. Sergeant Larry Kalelstad of the LPD Venice Division confirmed investigators were looking into this, saying, per the LA Times, we're looking into the strong possibility that these crimes are connected. And I don't know how you couldn't look into the possibility. You'd have to. Right?

[Mike Gibson]

You would have to.

[Mike Ferguson]

However, on July 30, Lt. Paul Burks of the LAPD's Venice Division said the six young men weren't connected to any of the murders. Investigators had also determined that different weapons were used in the Gloria Witt and Colby and Kierning shootings. Meaning they were most likely coincidental and not connected.

[Mike Gibson]

So now we have different suspects out there.

[Mike Ferguson]

Possibly. Possibly. Now, I don't think the mere fact that different weapons were used necessarily means they. They can't be connected.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, I mean, they could have had multiple weapons and chose which ones they were going to use for that event.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah, I mean, I think that's entirely possible. Three of the six defendants had been charged with a total of 20 counts involving three robberies in the month of July. One of those robberies was the robbery on Landfair Avenue where witness supplied a license number. Those charged were 19 year old Daniel Williams, 22 year old Terrence Powell and 19 year old Michael Jones. Two others had been released and one was held on parole violations. So they came out and said that none of these men were connected to the murders. I don't know what they based that on because it wasn't in the research, but pretty hard not to say that at least some of them were connected to the landfare robbery. I mean, somebody actually got the license plate number right.

[Mike Gibson]

They were in the area.

[Mike Ferguson]

In September 1975, the three episodes of the show Phyllis starring Barbara aired on TV in a filmed tribute. Co star Cloris Leachman called Barbara one of the most joyful and giving people I have ever known. The tribute was supposed to be shown prior to the start of the series, but it was vetoed by cbs. An unnamed official said it was felt simply that the film was inappropriate and that airing the three episodes in which Barbara Colby appeared was enough.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, we're just show the three episodes that she was in. That's good enough.

[Mike Ferguson]

And not say anything about the fact that she was murdered. Seems very strange.

[Mike Gibson]

It does to me.

[Mike Ferguson]

I mean, who would be upset with a short video of Cloris Leachman saying what a wonderful person this woman was? Yeah.

[Mike Gibson]

I think it also helps down the road if the show becomes a hit, it's easier to explain why the new actress is going to be on episode four.

[Mike Ferguson]

And Barbara was replaced by actress Liz Torres. The show ran for two seasons before it was canceled. Barbara's final appearance to be released was the television movie The Ashes of Mrs. Reasoner, which aired in January 1976. And that's always strange. Right. We know that, you know, movies and a lot of things are taped well in advance. Right. So for somebody to pass away and then for something that they made to come out six months later, a year later. Yeah, it's strange, but I mean, that's just how it works.

[Mike Gibson]

I think. I think we've all seen those movies where we knew the person was no longer alive, you know, but it still, you know, still had to be released.

[Mike Ferguson]

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[Mike Ferguson]

On September 5, 1975, authorities arrested five people, four teens and one adult in connection with the murder of Gloria Witt. They were also believed to be involved in the robbery of the two couples at a West LA home, but they weren't suspected of any involvement in the murders of Barbara Colby and James Kiernan. The defendants were later identified as 23 year old Raymond MacKay, 18 year old Maurice Dockett, Maurice's 17 year old brother Carl, 17 year old Mark Bowden and 16 year old Everett Brunfield. They were arrested the week prior on suspicion of discharging a weapon into an inhabited dwelling. They were released, but officers confiscated several weapons in a silver sacramental religious cup from one of their homes. The silver cup had the name Hyman Walter engraved on it. As mentioned, Hyman Walter was a victim of the July 24 crime spree. He and his wife were robbed just 20 minutes after Gloria Witt was murdered. Additionally, a shotgun recovered from the home had what was called peculiar shells, similar to the unusual type of cartridge used to kill Gloria.

[Mike Gibson]

I mean I think it's some good evidence for the prosecutor.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. Pretty hard not to think that these people who were arrested murdered Gloria Witt and then 20 minutes later committed this other robbery where they stole this cup that obviously belonged to Hyman Walter.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

You know, I don't like to give criminals tips or anything, but if you are going to rob somebody, maybe don't take something that has the victim's name engraved on it.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, probably not the smartest thing to take something that has the individual's name written on it.

[Mike Ferguson]

Well, it's an easy way to get caught right now. I'm sure people think, well, I've got it in my house. Why would the police ever be in my house? Who's going to know? In an interview with the LA Times, Maurice recounted how he and three friends loaded up in a van and drove to Santa Monica that night. They planned to rob wealthy people and flee like they had done in the past. Maurice attended Crenshaw High School, where he was a basketball and football star. News of his arrest was shocking to the community. Everyone involved in the Gloria Wick case was later found guilty of or pleaded guilty to first or second degree murder. Maurice Dockett served four years and eight months in prison. After getting out, he became a volunteer assistant coach for Crenshaw High's basketball team. In his 1985 interview with the LA Times, he maintained that he was not the one who killed Gloria. And that could be true. My other thought is what would be in it for him at that point to actually admit that he was the shooter? Now, they couldn't do anything to him. He'd already served his time. But if you're trying to be a volunteer basketball coach or do anything in life, probably best not to admit something like that.

[Mike Gibson]

I think you keep that buried.

[Mike Ferguson]

But when it came to the murders of Barbara Colby and James Kiernan, months passed with no leads. Hollywood was further terrorized when actor Sal Mineo was stabbed to death in early 1976. Mineo was best known for his role as John Plato Crawford in the film Rebel Without a Cause, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the age of 17. Young, young, but a really good movie. At 10pm on February 12, 1976, Mineo returned home from a rehearsal for the play. P.S. your cat is dead. He parked his car below his apartment and was stabbed once in the heart by a mugger. He was found in the alley by his neighbor who heard his cries. The neighbor helped him to his feet, but Mineo walked just a few steps before he collapsed, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Lionel Ray Williams was later convicted and sentenced to 51 years in prison for his murder. Investigators concluded that it was a random crime, and Williams did not know who

[Mike Gibson]

the victim was, just stabbed the guy because he wanted to rob him.

[Mike Ferguson]

Which, you know, let's face it, it does happen.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

But In May of 1976, Mineo's murder was stolen. Salt producer Oliver Haley organized a $25,000 reward for the three unsolved cases. He told the San Antonio Star in May 1976, we have to face the fact that these crimes may never be solved. The biggest stars are as vulnerable as anybody else. The Sharon Tate case showed that. And for me, Gibbs, what's interesting about, you know, actors and actresses and even big ones, you know, in years past, they didn't have the same type of security that a Brad Pitt or, you know, a Leonardo DiCaprio would have today.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, I mean, it's all changed over time, for sure.

[Mike Ferguson]

You know, think back about the. The murder of Rebecca Schaeffer. And she was on this pretty big TV show.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

For a number of years, but yet she's living in a pretty modest apartment that, you know, wouldn't be that hard to get into.

[Mike Gibson]

And we covered that case on tkat.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. Yeah. A long time ago. And there. There have been a lot of other, you know, celebrities. No, Sharon Tate, I mean, that. That's. The guy said it. It's not like they had some big security team.

[Mike Gibson]

No.

[Mike Ferguson]

Guarding these people or anything like that. Police were still waiting to interview the youths who were arrested or the Utes.

[Mike Gibson]

Say, are you in that movie with Joe Pesci? Joe Pesci, Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah, the Utes, as Joe Pesci would say. LAPD Detective Michael Maloney, who had been working the Colby and Kiernan case, admitted to the star. We know nothing. We've interviewed hundreds of people. Hundreds. We're still hoping, and I would think that the murder of, you know, a celebrity would draw a lot of attention. I'm not saying it should compared to any other murder case. I just have a feeling that it does.

[Mike Gibson]

It does.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. And probably more resources would be know, put towards solving it.

[Mike Gibson]

I mean, it's going to be in the news more. So obviously the mayor, places like that, they don't want have all this negative news out there. So they are going to push on the police department and others to get something solved here.

[Mike Ferguson]

Well, you know, Hollywood, Louisiana, they're kind of famous for stars. They're famous for famous people.

[Mike Gibson]

There you go.

[Mike Ferguson]

Maloney said police were still waiting to interview the youths who were arrested shortly after the murders, adding, we had an anonymous tip that they might be the same people, but while they're facing other charges, we can't even interview them. And that seems to be a real challenge.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, you want to interview them?

[Mike Ferguson]

Sadly, five decades have passed and the murders of Barbara Colby and James Kiernan remain unsolved. In 2026, Paul Vernon, a retired LAPD captain, told Annie, the biggest challenge is that investigators never identified a motive. Motive often is what takes you to your suspect, and we've heard that time and time again through, you know, a lot of different cases that we've done. I think it's highlighted a lot of times in the unsolved cases because without developing a motive, where do you go? What road do you go down? Who do you talk to?

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, I mean, you have to look at the victims and say, okay, is the suspect somebody, I got a jealous spouse or partner. Is it? I mean, they're in the entertainment industry. Is somebody upset because they took a role from them? Is it somebody that thinks if you knock this person off, I might get their role or just a random robbery gone bad?

[Mike Ferguson]

Vernon added, when detectives see a shooting with no robbery and no apparent dispute, they consider several possibilities. A targeted attack, mistaken identity, or just random violence. In this case, none of those theories could be confirmed. Investigators also never established whether Barbara was the intended victim. Vernon said, I know that she was shot through the arm and then it went through her chest and hit her lungs that she bled out in the lungs. I don't know if her arm was down beside her like she was turning away, or if her arm was up in a self defense mode as she got shot. He noted that the crime occurred in the Palms neighborhood in the 1970s. The neighborhood consisted of cheap apartments occupied by young actors. It was not considered a major gang area. Vernon's best guess was either a robbery that they chickened out on or a mistaken identity. Retired sergeant Tim Loomis of the Oxnard PD also shared his theory with A E. He said to me, it's a contract killing. I've been to more than my fair share of drive bys and they're not very neat about it. They just tend to show up, shoot everything in sight and then keep on driving. He described the Colby and Kiernan murders as so methodical. Drive up, walk up, bam. One shot each, turn around, get in the car and drive off. That's a cold blooded act. I would be hard pressed to look at this as anything other than this being a professional killing. Whoever hired them knew they would complete the job and they would get it done and they would be as discreet as possible.

[Mike Gibson]

So the question is, if it's a professional hit, was it for both of them or one of them and the other one was just collateral damage?

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah. Again, they, they just don't know. But it does go back to me kind of thinking it seems strange that people would think of this as a drive by. When these two guys get out of the vehicle, walk up to the two individuals, presumably say, you know, whatever, put your hands up, and then they shoot them. You would think if they wanted to, they could have just sprayed bullets from the inside of the van.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah. Why get out?

[Mike Ferguson]

In regards to the killers, he speculated these two cats knew they could trust each other. Whoever the two were, they've done this before together. And that's kind of an interesting point because, you know, you, do you think about that if you're going to be a member of a group, whether it's two people, six people, who's going to, to kill two individuals, man, doesn't there have to be some trust there that the other person's not going to squeal on you? At the very least, it's almost like

[Mike Gibson]

a professional hit crew.

[Mike Ferguson]

He noted there's somebody out there that knows it's whether or not that person feels guilty enough, sad enough, or says, I can't carry this with me anymore. And I think that true about a lot of unsolved cases. I do believe that in many of these that we do, there is at least one other person, if not multiple people who know what happened, know who the murderer or murderers are, but they have a vested interest not to disclose that information. So what would it take for them to disclose it? You know, they'd have to have a falling out or, you know, be upset with these individuals or just start to feel guilty. And for a lot of people, I don't know that the guilt sets in.

[Mike Gibson]

And I think at this point, knowing that the case is what, 40, 50 years old? 50 years old, that the person that or the people that did this probably must be close to their 70s, at least.

[Mike Ferguson]

Probably in their 70s at this point.

[Mike Gibson]

If they haven't came clean, I don't know if they, if they would.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah, I agree with you. You know, if the guilt hasn't hit you by now, it's probably not going to.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

Now what I would say is that as these people get older, maybe the likelihood of some type of deathbed confession goes up. That's possible because they know they're not going to face any repercussions because they're about to die.

[Mike Gibson]

But they're professional hit people. I mean, that list could be pretty long.

[Mike Ferguson]

Oh, it could be, yeah. Yeah. The Colby murder investigation is still open, and police welcome information. Anonymous tip lines include the LAPD at 877-527-3247, the LAPD's Cold Case Homicide Special Section at 213-486-6-810, and Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. So, as we wrap this one up, Gibbs, it's a strange one for me because you have all this activity on this one night. Much of it seems to be very similar. There are some differences, though. And to me, it seems like you have this, like, kind of roving gang of criminals out to rob people. And maybe that was true with, you know, Barbara and James as well, but something went wrong, and these people got scared that, you know, maybe they saw a car or, you know, it could be a bunch of different things, and ended up shooting the victims and just leaving. But there are also enough differences between the murders and some of the other robberies and the sexual assaults that it is possible that some of these are just not connected at all.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah. It could just be coincidence.

[Mike Ferguson]

Or coincidence. Yeah, either way.

[Mike Gibson]

Either way.

[Mike Ferguson]

But it's sad, right? Because, you know, we talked about Barbara. I think she was loved by many people, but I also think a lot of people really respected her. They respected her work, her work ethic. And like we said, Right. It seemed like she had just gotten her big break after years and years of putting in her dues to be killed after filming only three episodes. Now, you could say, well, the series was canceled after two years, but would it have been if she had been on it?

[Mike Gibson]

Well, that's true. We never know.

[Mike Ferguson]

We don't know that. But either way, it's tragic. And then you can't forget about James as well. I don't know. I don't have the warm and fuzzy feeling that I do in some cases that this is going to be solved. We have no record of any type of DNA that could potentially, you know, solve the case.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah. I mean, they didn't mention casings or slugs or anything.

[Mike Ferguson]

And, you know, when the police come out and say, yeah, we just don't really have anything, it just doesn't give you the warm and fuzzy.

[Mike Gibson]

Right.

[Mike Ferguson]

But who knows? We have seen some cases that we just never thought would be solved. Solved with Some technology that we didn't even know about. Yeah, that's true. You know, you never say never. That's for sure. But that's it for our episode on the murder of actress Barbara Colby. We got a voicemail. You want to check that out?

[Mike Gibson]

Let's hear it.

[Listener Elizabeth]

Hi, Mike and Gibby. This is Elizabeth from New York calling. I love your show. I listen to true crime all the time and true crime all the time, unsolved. I'm listening to the lisk cases, and you guys just brought up the Levi's 501s and the button flies. And I completely spit out my water because I always have that same thought whenever I go shopping with my mom and I try on jeans and there's a button fly. We look at each other and we go knock the button fly because it's just such a nuisance. And I completely agree. That zipper is better. Love your show. You guys are the best. I'm Teegan. Both of you. I love to listen to you guys. You know, at the end of my day, your voice is just so comforting to me. And you guys just feel like, you know, just such good storytellers. And you guys make me feel so happy just listening to you guys banter and tell these great stories and. Yeah, just keep it up. Love your show. Bye. Bye.

[Mike Ferguson]

All right, thanks for the voicemail. You know, there is one person who I think would argue in favor of the button fly, and that's Ben Stiller's character from There's a Something about Mary.

[Mike Gibson]

Oh, yeah, yeah. He. He. He would take sides with more buttons, please.

[Mike Ferguson]

Less zippers. How in the hell did you get the beans above the Frank?

[Mike Gibson]

That's a mystery right there.

[Mike Ferguson]

But we appreciate the voicemail very much.

[Mike Gibson]

We do.

[Mike Ferguson]

All right, that's it, buddy. For another episode of True Crime. All the time unsolved. So for Mike and Gibby, stay safe and keep your own time. T.

[Mike Gibson]

Sa.

[Mike Ferguson]

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