In the spring of 1982, Clark Stephens, a 26-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran, was working in the remote, verdant hills of Humboldt County, California. He had taken a job on a marijuana farm in the rugged area near Alderpoint, a place that would later gain a grim reputation as "Murder Mountain." It was there that his life intersected with a transient couple, Michael "Bear" Carson and Suzan Bear Carson, who were also employed on the farm. This fateful encounter would cost Clark his life, making him the second of three known victims of the duo who would become known as the "San Francisco Witch Killers."
The Carsons, drifters steeped in a bizarre mix of drug use, mysticism, and a warped interpretation of Islam, saw themselves as "vegetarian Moslem warriors" on a holy mission. Their self-proclaimed purpose was to identify and eliminate "witches." Their fellow farmworkers regarded them as volatile anarchists who spoke of revolution and a coming apocalypse.
A dispute arose between Clark and the Carsons, reportedly over the cultivation of the marijuana crop. This disagreement, however, was filtered through the Carsons' violent and paranoid worldview. Suzan Carson declared Clark to be a "petty witch" and a "demon," accusing him of disrespect and sexual assault.
On April 24, 1982, following Suzan's directive, Michael Carson confronted Clark. He shot him to death, ending the young man's life in the isolated wilderness. In a callous attempt to conceal their crime, the couple tried to burn Clark's body. They then buried his charred remains in a shallow grave, covering them with chicken fertilizer in the woods. After the murder, the Carsons quickly vanished from the area, continuing their grim journey across California.
For two weeks, Clark Stephens was simply missing. It wasn't until his prolonged absence was noted that he was reported to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office. The investigation led deputies to the farm, where they made a horrifying discovery. It was reported that a dog was seen with what was initially thought to be a ball, but turned out to be a human skull. This led to the unearthing of Clark's buried remains. By the time authorities identified the Carsons as the prime suspects, the couple had long since fled.
The Carsons' murder spree continued until their capture in 1983 after the public killing of their third victim, Jon Hellyar, which ended in a high-speed chase. Once in custody, the couple held a bizarre five-hour press conference, confessing to the murders of Clark Stephens, Keryn Barnes, and Jon Hellyar. They showed no remorse, justifying their actions as part of their holy war against witchcraft. They claimed Clark had to be killed because he was a "demon" who was draining Suzan of her "yogic powers."
Michael and Suzan Carson were tried and convicted for three counts of first-degree murder. For the killing of Clark Stephens, they received sentences of 50 years to life. In total, they were each sentenced to 75 years to life in prison. Suzan Carson was convicted for her role in the murders, which included stabbing, shooting, and bludgeoning their victims. She has since been denied parole and remains incarcerated at the Central California Women's Facility. Michael Carson is imprisoned at Mule Creek State Prison. They have remained unrepentant for their crimes. The murder of Clark Stephens stands as a tragic chapter in a bizarre and violent saga, a stark reminder of a young man whose life was cut short by a couple's deadly delusions.
