A ‘body’ was discovered during a fundraiser for the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation. Photo by Connie Pendleton
By Keith Pendleton
A murder investigation interrupted a local speakeasy fundraiser in support of the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation’s held at the White Barn just south of Edna.
Prior to the beginning of the festive dinner/auction a ‘murder’ occurred, and two waves of sheriff deputies responded to the incident.
The victim, Dr. Perfection, a leading plastic surgeon in Hoodwink Harbor, was mortally knifed at an abandoned boatyard next to the White Barn.
A printout list of eight suspects was handed out to Speakeasy dinner guests to enlist their help in solving the crime. Suspects included Dr. Perfection’s wife, Anita, Tad Idle, his nephew and an employee at his current practice, and Dr. Peel, Perfection’s future business partner and best friend of Anita. Also included as suspects were Jock Rockman, personal trainer to Anita Perfection, and Wanda Pierce, a gang leader operating out of the boatyard drug dealing location.
The boatyard was to be the future location of a high-end spa and plastic surgery resort operated jointly by Drs. Perfection and Peel. Investigative reporter Rony Ripolla was also implicated, having become aware of a scandal involving Dr. Perfection.
A key witness, Twee Kerr, called 911 to report the altercation but remained a party of interest as well.
Fundraiser attendees walked through the crime scene with nine pieces of physical evidence including the murder weapon. Participants also interviewed witnesses, deputies and a sheriff department crime lab specialist.
Dinner/auction guests were invited to the fundraiser with knowledge that there would be a murder mystery to solve. The murder mystery is the vehicle the SAF utilized to showcase procedures, processes and equipment the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s department uses to provide public safety and solve crimes. As well as the murder mystery and its supportive demonstration of department techniques, the evening included a silent auction of about 60 items as well as a live auction featuring more than a dozen donated gifts, services and bottles of wine or other alcoholic beverages.
The White Barn, Platinum sponsor of the SAF and the event, hosted the Speakeasy Auction and dinner. The four-course dinner was catered by Linn’s of Cambria. The Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation annual fundraiser was open to the public for the first time this year.
