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Cameron’s hell was just about to begin. For the most part, Janice herself had been manipulated into this nightmare of a marriage. She’d been tortured, brainwashed, and degraded repeatedly over the years by Cameron. According to her own account, she had tried to save the marriage through denial and compartmentalization.
But then, Cameron talked about marrying Colleen and having multiple women serve him. This, along with her instinct to protect her growing daughters, finally overpowered her fear and made her turn in her husband. The prosecuting attorneys needed Janice’s help. So, in return for her testimony, she was granted immunity.
She then gave a detailed account of Marie’s abduction and murder. Cameron had abducted Marie from Chico, California. According to Janice, Marie was walking home when she and Cameron picked her up. They took her to their home where she suffered a similar ordeal to Colleen’s, but just a day later, Cameron instead shot her in the abdomen with a pellet gun and then strangled her to death.
Her body was then wrapped in blankets and she was buried in a shallow grave near Lassen Volcanic National Park. However, even with Janice’s detailed testimony, the police could not locate Marie’s remains. Janice also told law enforcement how Cameron had brainwashed her and Colleen to keep them under his control.
She provided more evidence, including details of how she had helped him to get rid of the evidence. When the detectives began formulating their case against Cameron, they questioned his neighbors. Most of them insisted that Cameron was a nice, normal, and good-tempered guy. After all, he was exceptionally good at deceiving people.
Detective Shamblin also went to Riverside to question Colleen individually, where she supported Janice’s version of events. Inside Cameron’s trailer, law enforcement found hooks mounted on the ceiling, restraints, and other implements of torture. It was undeniable proof of what had happened inside of the trailer.
Still, it wasn’t quite enough to guarantee a conviction. But then, Detective Shamblin discovered two rolls of undeveloped film hidden in the trailer. When processed by the FBI, these rolls contained everything needed for a devastating case against Cameron. The law enforcement officials now had images of the torture act, the contract, and even Colleen getting assaulted.
And now, the case was airtight. On November 18th, 1984, Cameron was arrested and booked on kidnapping, SA, and other similar charges. His arrest immediately gained massive media attention and became a high-profile case. His defense attorney, Roland Lewis Pappendick, argued that Colleen had stayed with him voluntarily and that Janice had fabricated her story out of resentment towards Colleen.
Unfortunately, Colleen’s initial silence, along with Janice’s inconsistent testimony during the preliminary hearing, gave the defense’s argument some traction. The marks on Colleen’s body were proof of her ordeal. And the judge ruled that the evidence against Cameron was more than sufficient to proceed to trial. Attorney Pappendick tried to negotiate a plea deal, claiming that the acts had been consensual.
There was also concern among county officials about the potential cost of a lengthy trial as cases involving psychological coercion and brainwashing are notoriously difficult to prove. But Deputy District Attorney Christine McGuire was determined to hold Cameron accountable for the years of cruelty and torment he had inflicted.
Cameron’s trial began on September 24th, 1985 at the San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood City, presided over by Judge Clarence B. Knight. After 5 weeks of testimony, the defense rested on October 25th. The the jury was appalled by Cameron’s lack of remorse. But they also found Colleen’s choice not to turn in her captor immediately after her escape to also be puzzling.
Television journalist Greg LaForge, who covered the trial, said, “The real question was reasonable doubt. Was the jury going to buy it? Were they skeptical of this young girl?” The next few days, the jury overlooked evidence and debated about the case. Finally, on Halloween Day, 1985, the verdict was announced.
Cameron was found guilty on 10 felony counts, including kidnapping, SA, and multiple related offenses. November 22nd, Cameron was officially sentenced for his crimes. In the end, he was sentenced to consecutive prison terms totaling 104 years. Unfortunately, he was not charged with the murder of Marie Elizabeth Spannhake as her body was never found.
Cameron was initially not eligible for parole until 2023. But under California’s elderly parole program, his hearing was moved up by 7 years to 2015. However, during his parole hearing on April 16th, 2015, the board denied his release and deemed him to be a serious risk to society. The board scheduled his next parole hearing for 2030.