STOCKTON (CBS13) — A state Assemblywoman wrote a letter to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on Thursday expressing frustration in the lack of action regarding a search of victims from the “Speed Freak Killers.”
In a letter addressed to CDCR Secretary Matt Cate, Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani called on Cate’s department to work with law enforcement agencies to resume searching for victims of a killing spree carried out by Wesley Shermantine and Loren Herzog in the 1980s and ’90s.
Shermantine has recently said he knows of victims’ whereabouts and will lead investigators to them. Herzog committed suicide Jan. 16 after learning from bounty hunter Leonard Padilla that Shermantine was speaking with investigators about victims’ locations.
Padilla speculated that Herzog was distraught about the possibility of going back to prison and took his own life instead.
Herzog was out on parole after much of his case was overturned on appeals. Shermantime remains on death row at San Quentin after being convicted in 2001 of killing four women but he has indicated there are many more victims.
San Joaquin County Sheriff Steve Moore announced last week that his department, along with the Calaveras County sheriff’s and San Joaquin County district attorney’s office, would request that CDCR assist them on resuming searches with information from Shermantine but provided no specifics on when that might happen. On Thursday, San Joaquin County sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Les Garcia said there was no update on search efforts.
On Friday, CDCR released a statement to CBS13 saying, “We are cooperating with local law enforcement agencies, and will not discuss anything that will jeopardize an active, ongoing investigation.”
Galgiani, whose 17th District includes areas where victims are from, said in her letter to CDCR that she’s “chagrined by the lack of action. If you are unable to move forward, please advise me what law enforcement agency I can contact that can.”
Shermantine himself has expressed frustration by the lack of action. He maintains he never killed anyone and only helped his longtime friend Herzog dispose of the bodies. He wrote a letter to The Record newspaper of Stockton that prompted a new search Thursday in Calaveras County led by Padilla but not attended by law enforcement officials. Nothing was found.



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5 Comments
Shocker!!!!! Padilla lead a search and found nothing!….LOL
January 27, 2012 at 1:24 pm | | Report comment
2012 we should have a truth shot that would make monsters like this tell the truth. Drugs for every thing except a drug that could get to the truth regarding serial murdering horrors. Padillas call to a murdering released killer caused the parolee to kill himself. Thank God for that, good riddance, now tell the public how to get rid of the parole board that released him from prison. Law enforcement is making a fool of itself for not searching for victims immediately probably to “good” to pick up a shoval, beneath them to dig. Hire some diggers for crying out loud and show”THEM” where to dig. With so many out of work it won’t be hard to find a digger.
January 27, 2012 at 2:22 pm | | Report comment
Twist his arm behind his back until he is screaming in pain and do not stop until he tells where they are and if he lied break the arm and start on the other one.
January 27, 2012 at 2:27 pm | | Report comment
There is a truth shot its called truth serum that came out in 1930,theres also a number of other truth shots they could administer to dear ol wesley they come in a verity of sizes all the way from 22 up to 50 cal.
January 28, 2012 at 7:53 am | | Report comment
RE: Assembly Woman Frustrated by Lack of Action is Search for Victims
First, let us address Wesley Shermantines’ Miranda Rights.
Sheriff Steve Moore claims that his department cannot get involved with the investigation because it violated Shermantines’ Miranda Rights. That was true for the year of 2010.
Presently, Shermantine is speaking out voluntarily. He went so far as too write openly to the Stockton Record, a public newspaper. Nice excuse Sheriff Moore, but the fact is that Shermantine is willing too speak to whomever and wherever to be heard. Therefore, Miranda is Moot.
Moot is defined as open too question: DEBATABLE.
Regardless of these facts, the people still believe that Sheriff Moore, are fearless leader could have done something to help in this investigation. Something like, write a letter or serve some cookies, something is better that nothing. The people salute Assembly Woman Cathleen Galgiani for representing the people in her district. Sheriff Galgiani sound good too me. What do you think?
GOLDFINGER
January 31, 2012 at 11:03 pm | | Report comment