The Ghosts Of El Segundo

Cold-Blooded Crime Haunts Investigators For Half A Century

(CBS)  Mason pleaded guilty to murdering officers Phillips and Curtis, and he tried to make amends before being sentenced to life in prison: "It's impossible to express to so many people how sorry I am. I do not understand why I did this. It does not fit in my life. It is not the person I know. I detest these crimes."

"He was remorseful," says Levine. "But I think he was more sad and more sorry for having been caught."

Mason will now spend what's left of the rest of his life in prison. But one question still remains: Why did he do it?

Why did Mason, after just getting out of prison for burglary, end up in California with a gun?

"I didn’t have a family life. I didn’t have any place to go, and things were not going well for me, so I took off to California," says Mason. "I bought a gun at Shreveport with the intention of using it simply as a deterrent in so far as I was hitchhiking."

When asked why he attacked the teenagers and raped a 15-year-old girl, Mason said he really didn't remember. But as for as why he killed two cops in cold blood, Mason's answer was shockingly simple: "I thought, 'If I don't get them, they're gonna get me.' So when the officer turned away from me, I shot both officers, got back in the car and drove away."

It was a simple answer for an incredibly senseless crime, but there was great comfort in knowing that after 46 years, these victims were never forgotten. The investigators were presented with pocket watches from the families of the slain officers. The message on the watch says, "Thank you seems so small."

"We carry these with us everywhere we go," says Lowe. "It's just a reminder of this great case and how it came together, and these great families that we feel such a part of now."

In the end, what it took to solve the case wasn't one clue or one break, but generations of police officers who were determined to protect their own.

"I didn't think I'd ever live to see it," says Speaks. "It'll live with me the rest of my days," says Porter.

Adds Levine: "I hope we brought them some measure of comfort, knowing that we got the guy."

The town of El Segundo hasn't changed much since that fateful night in 1957, but one thing has changed. The wounds that were suffered almost 50 years ago have finally begun to heal.

"I'm not his victim anymore. My son is not his victim anymore," says Curtis' wife, Jean. "I'm so grateful, and I had to wait this long. It's worth the wait."

---

Gerald Mason will be eligible for parole in 2010. He will be 76.

The state of California has vowed that he will never be released.

[maaags]

I was also curious about this near the end of the broadcast......"I''m not his victim anymore. My son is not his victim anymore," says Curtis'' wife, Jean. "I''m so grateful, and I had to wait this long. It''s worth the wait."

There is no mention of the daughter. Was there possibly an earlier tragedy.

I also noticed there were no interviews with the other widow. Mrs. Richard Phillips.

[loribeth8]

It is all tragic because he seemingly went on to live what we know as a crime free life. But he RAPED a 15 year old girl and murdered 2 innocent men. There is not mention of the girl as a victim of this man who had to live with the torment of this attack for the rest of her life. I am wondering what happened to this young girl and if she is aware that her attacker was caught? Can you imagine...if she is alive, it was over 40 years before she knew her attacker was brought to justice. He may have lived a good life; good people can commit a bad crime. But they are still accountable for these choices.

[thisandthat1]

You know, even though the families are relieved and gave the Investigators watches, etc ... no offense intended, but these Investigators didn''t solve this crime! They had worked it for 45 years and came up with nothing. The person who actually solved the crime, or at least made it possible to solve it, was the woman who stepped up and called and said her Uncle had been bragging about killing two police officers. So, the killer was dropped in their lap .. then they did some leg work to prove it. It''s great that it was solved, but let''s be honest ... the police didn''t solve anything.

[xpassages]

I worked with Curtis some years back in Hawthorne and am sad to hear of his passing. He was a very nice guy.

[rbr1947]

That just goes to show you that you can''t escape the long arm of the law. Justice served.

[rbr1947]

That just goes to show you that you can''t escape the long arm of the law. Justice served.

[dm1946]

Yes I would also know what happened to Keith Curtis.

The families of this terrible crime needed to see this man pay for what he did. Just because he is 71 and it had been 46 years has no bearing on his having to pay for killing their fathers and husbands.I''m just sorry he didn''t have additional time for the rape. If you watch no other real live show other than 48 hours, you will still see that all cases cost many thousands of dollars and man hours to solve having nothing to do with the crime being against a police officer. Unfortunately everyone is greedy these days in the name of "justice". I have no special attachment to law enforcement but I do to doing the right thing. He will still pay the highest cost when he dies. After all he did have a good life and would still be living that nice life had someone not spent the time to catch him. How many killers are still out there running free?

[salimahrd]

Very sad story. Does anybody know what happened to Keith Curtis? I was shocked to see he just passed away. Life is so fragile...so much loss and pain in this world.

[promise100]

I don''t think it is a waste of money to jail this man at all. The two men he killed never had the chance to enjoy their lives with their families, have a nice life and a comfortable retirement. Why should he get away with murder (not to mention rape) for longer than he did because he is old and has gotten away with it this long. Where is spends eternity is between him and God but I''m glad he is going to pay some sort of price here.
I also saw that about Keith Curtis. I was wondering what happened to him also???

[demika1]

Thank God he was caught & prosecuted for his horrible crimes that he committed no matter his age. He should be forgiven, but not forgotten just like the innocent victims. He''s lived a good life & never paid for his crimes in the eyes of the law & victims family, but now he will.

Also, I''m interested to know what happened to Keith Curtis. I feel sorry for his mother.

[demika1]

Thank God he was caught & prosecuted for his horrible crimes that he committed no matter his age. He should be forgiven, but not forgotten just like the innocent victims. He''s lived a good life & never paid for his crimes in the eyes of the law & victims family, but now he will.

Also, I''m interested to know what happened to Keith Curtis. I feel sorry for his mother.

[bearnchris]

Yes, I know it brought closure to Keith and his family. Keith unfortunately lost his battle with Cancer in Dec. of 2007.

[kabutler2]

Question: How much time and money would have been spent on this case if Mr. Mason had not killed cops?
Answer: None

[bcsterps]

I noticed at the end of the show they show that Keith Curtis (son of one of the officers that was killed) had passed away. I wonder if anyone knows how he died.

[bearnchris]

Yes - Keith Curtis lost his battle with Pancreatic Cancer in Dec. of 2007. He was a great friend and neighbor.

[kentong33]

What a waste of our money to put a man that is 71 years old in prison. He has obviously know he did the wrong thing and had 46 years to think about it. what good is it going to do to put him in jail? The people that are part of this that say he shoudl burn and wont forgive him are the ones that are going to suffer in the end by not forgiving him. forgive and forget is what GOD says.