Re: LeVan

Mr. LeVan was a fine and well-respected gentleman who had a successful business in Los Angeles. He was a horseman and bought his historic ranch in the 1960's and maintained it as a family getaway.

During the 1970's there was a period of lawlessness, drug use and illegal squatting that caused him many problems. One night, while traveling on Bowen Ranch Rd. in the vicinity of Deadman's Curve, he was rammed from behind by a person who was likely drugged or drunk. Mr. LeVan's family believed that his death was consequent to shock from the accident.

The identity of the culprit was suspected, but it is likely that San Bernardino County never even bothered to conduct an investigation. At that time, the Sheriff's department was fearful of coming into the area, and would do so only when pressured and then with extensive back-up. However, karma on Juniper Flats is often subject to acceleration, as some have learned. The suspected culprit died by natural causes seemingly consequent to his life-style within a relatively short time.

The ranch did not go into probate, as the poster has suggested. Also, it did not sell to Blankenship. An adjoining property owner eventually purchased it, but not before other colorful events transpired in regard to occupancy of the ranch.

You may recall a caretaker named Mike who had a spaniel, a VW bus, an automatic, a rifle, a shotgun and a questionable vocation. His activities on the ranch predisposed him to join those locals who had made the journey to the other side only a short time before. In his case, death was consequent to his life style, but the cause was not natural.