Murder and mourning
Murder and mourning
Fear, outrage over slayings flourish in neighborhood
This story originally appeared September 2, 2003
A killer is on the loose.
Group aims to promote hope among youth with Fun Day
This story originally appeared August 26, 2003
A Fun Day Event for youth with free games, entertainment and food will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Martin Luther King Park.
Harper family murders touch city
This story originally appeared July 22, 2003
Her spirit will live on
Banding together helps
This story originally appeared July 18, 2003
Tragedies often have a way of bringing out the best in people. When an earthquake, hurricane or tornado rips apart a city, residents who never knew each other band together to rebuild homes and churches -- just like the pioneer days when farmers helped a neighbor build a new barn to replace the one that burned down.
Harper family thankful for support
This story originally appeared July 18, 2003
Members of slain local activist Earnestine Harper's family said they have full confidence in the Bakersfield Police Department to find their loved ones' killer.
Four coffins for five people create haunting image
This story originally appeared July 17, 2003
The coffins got smaller. Large, big, medium and small. Four of them.
Hope in time of tragedy
This story originally appeared July 17, 2003
Man's justice and God's vengeance will deal with whomever is responsible for the deaths of a Bakersfield family laid to rest Wednesday, said ministers during a funeral service for the slain Harper family.
Murders stir emotions
This story originally appeared July 17, 2003
Victim remembered
Brothers shares grief with family at memorial service
This story originally appeared July 17, 2003
The two men hugged. One was a son, brother and uncle to a slain family of five, and the other was the only person named as a suspect in their shooting deaths.
Thousands expected at funeral
This story originally appeared July 16, 2003
Organizers are expecting thousands of people to attend the funeral service this morning for five family members who were found slain in their central Bakersfield home last week.
Police department throwing all it's got at investigation
This story originally appeared July 15, 2003
An extraordinary commitment of Bakersfield police officers to the investigation of the Harper family killings has not had a major impact on police operations, officers reported Tuesday.
Suspect included in funeral plans
This story originally appeared July 14, 2003
Relatives of the slain Harper family said they plan to work with Vincent Brothers, the Bakersfield Police Department's only named suspect in the killings, to finalize funeral plans.
Come back when good news breaks
This story originally appeared July 13, 2003
It is almost with pride that people speak of the line of TV trucks and radio antennas strung out in front of the police station on Truxtun.
City's point man
This story originally appeared July 13, 2003
The face of Bakersfield, so far as viewers of CNN and other national news networks are concerned, is now Eric Matlock. Since the Harper family murders became national news five days ago, the Bakersfield police chief has become the city personified, voicing resolve and tenacity -- but certainly not overconfidence -- in appearances before the media encampment. By all accounts, he's done well by the city.
'We don't want to rush to judgment'
This story originally appeared July 12, 2003
Hundreds of Bakersfield residents gathered Friday night for the city's first chance to grieve the loss of a family of five found murdered Tuesday.
Family stabbed and shot
This story originally appeared July 11, 2003
The five members of the Harper family who were found slain early Tuesday morning were stabbed and shot to death, according to court papers revealed Thursday. That and other information about the murder investigation spilled out in a search warrant affidavit presented by police.
'Joanie died a sad woman,' friend says
This story originally appeared July 11, 2003
Joanie Harper spent the Saturday before she died upset.
City on nation's front page again
This story originally appeared July 10, 2003
The Harper murders are America's tragedy du jour.
Shocked community tries to come to grips
This story originally appeared July 10, 2003
A group of ministers is trying to coordinate a community effort to help the community and relatives, both affected by the deaths of the five Bakersfield family members found slain on Tuesday.
Man's marriages filled with disputes and breakups
This story originally appeared July 10, 2003
Vincent Brothers' love life was rocky.
Trial Blog
- Brothers' attorneys face contempt hearing
- Judge: Brothers deserves to die
- Jury recommends Brothers should receive the death penalty
- VERDICT IN DEATH PENALTY
- No Verdict This Week
- Jury begins deliberations in Brothers penalty phase
- Defense attorney finishes closing argument
- Defense continues closing argument
- Defense attorney begins his closing argument
- Prosecutor finishes closing argument
- More trial blog posts →
Featured Content
Photo gallery: Vincent Brothers
See a gallery of images of the man accused of murdering his wife, mother in law and three young children.
Photo gallery: The Harper family
See a gallery of the mother, grandmother and three children murdered in the summer of 2003.
Photo gallery: Murder and mourning
See a gallery of images from the day of the murder through the funerals and beyond.
Family of five slain
Read the first story on the killings from July 9, 2003.