James Clifford Carson

Case overview

James Clifford Carson (also known as Michael Bear Carson) and Susan Barnes Carson were serial killers active in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1980s. They were involved in the counter-culture movement and shared a missionary philosophy to exterminate individuals they believed to be “witches”. They reportedly kept a list of targeted individuals that included celebrities and political figures such as Johnny Carson and then-president Ronald Reagan.

After their arrest in 1983, they held a news conference confessing to murders including the killings of Karen Barnes, Clark Stephens, and John Hillyar. The confessions included that the couple claimed to be killing witches, homosexuals, and abortionists “in the name of Allah”.

Timeline

• 1983 — James Clifford Carson and Susan Barnes Carson were arrested and held a news conference confessing to murders including the murders of Karen Barnes, Clark Stephens, and John Hillyar.
• 12 June 1984 — James Clifford Carson and Susan Barnes Carson were convicted of one murder and sentenced to serve twenty five years to life in prison.
• Later — James Clifford Carson and Susan Barnes Carson were convicted of two other murders and given 50 years to life.
• 1984 — Their final sentence was 75 years to life.

The offence

James Clifford Carson (as Michael Bear Carson) and Susan Barnes Carson killed people they believed were “witches.” They reportedly killed individuals by smashing their skulls, stabbing, and shooting. At their trial, they claimed self-defense in ending spells put on them and in doing the world a favor by ridding it of evil.

The account also described that the couple were convinced that some old friends and acquaintances and regular visitors to their pot farm were witches bent on doing the world evil. They killed three people.

They reportedly claimed no evidence of sexual motive or profit was present.

Investigation

After their arrest in 1983, they held a news conference confessing to murders including those of Karen Barnes, Clark Stephens, and John Hillyar.

Michael Bear Carson made the following statement during a press conference:

"Good is created and evil is a like a powerful parasite," said Michael during a press conference. "It can only copy or feed off of the light."

They also claimed to be killing witches, homosexuals, and abortionists “in the name of Allah.”

Arrest

James Clifford Carson and Susan Barnes Carson were arrested in 1983.

Trial

On 12 June 1984, the Carsons were convicted of one murder and sentenced to serve twenty five years to life in prison.

Later, they were convicted of two other murders and given 50 years to life.

Sentencing

Their final sentence was 75 years to life in prison in 1984.

People involved

Defendants

• James Clifford Carson (also known as Michael Bear Carson)
• Susan Barnes Carson (also referred to as Suzan in the accounts)

Victims

• Karen Barnes — stabbed to death in her home in Haight-Ashbury.
• Clark Stephens — murdered and mutilated in Humboldt County.
• John Hillyar — murdered while hitchhiking in the Napa Valley.

Other named individuals (not described as defendants)

• Johnny Carson
• Ronald Reagan
• Eric Menendez — mentioned in an interview about prison visitation.
• Jenn Carson — the daughter of Michael Carson, who spoke in a 2006 interview.

Other details

The accounts described that Jenn Carson was born and described family events and later spoke publicly about her father.

In a 3TV interview, Jenn Carson said:

"I was totally a daddy's girl," she said.
"My father was brilliant," Jenn said. "He had a master's degree and a degree in Chinese studies."
"My mom just saw this person who she loved dearly changing before her eyes," Jenn said.
"I think she realized he was headed for an explosion. One night we just packed the car and disappeared."
"Suzan had been recently divorced. With two teenage kids, she had lived a very normal country club Scottsdale life," Jenn said.
"When I was 7, the murder spree started," Jenn said. "And he was convicted when I was 9."
"She said, ‘Daddy’s gotten a lot worse and he is very, very sick and he hurt a bunch of people and they are not alive anymore,'" Jenn said.

Jenn Carson described Karen Barnes as the first victim and said:

"He killed her by bashing her over the head with a frying pan. And then stabbing her multiple times," Jenn said.
"How could the hands that changed my diaper stab a young woman to death?"
Barnes was stabbed more than 15 times.

Jenn Carson described police finding Karen Barnes in a pool of blood in the kitchen of her San Francisco apartment.

Jenn Carson also described what the Carsons claimed and said:

"I was hiding it and it was destroying me," Jenn said.

Jenn Carson said she decided to look into her father’s eyes:

"When she was 19, Jenn decided she had to look into her father's eyes at least once."

She said that at the time Michael was housed at Folsom Prison in the so-called celebrity wing:

"It was like looking into the eyes of someone with no soul," she said.

Jenn Carson described an interaction during visitation involving Eric Menendez and said:

"Eric Menendez gets up from the person he was visiting," Jenn said.
"And he comes and says ’hi’ to my father. And then says ‘hi’ to me and he winks at me. And I'm like, am I in the twilight zone?"

Jenn Carson said:

"The definition of evil is hurting someone else for pleasure," she said.
"And I think that once you've crossed that line there is no going back."

Jenn Carson described her later life and said:

"All children can get through any experience and then transcend that experience," Jenn said.

Jenn Carson said she got her master’s in counseling and worked with kids who had emotional and mental health needs:

Jenn got her master's in counseling and now dedicates her life to working with kids who have emotional and mental health needs.

In the same interview, Jenn Carson discussed time and imprisonment:

"Michael, 54, was recently transferred to a prison in L.A. County."
"Both he and Suzan will spend the rest of their life behind bars."

Accounts also described that Susan had a vision while on hallucinogenic drugs to change names to Suzan and Michael Bear and declare allegiance to the Muslim faith. The accounts described that the couple became convinced that “witches” were bent on doing the world evil and that they took hallucinogenic drugs regularly.

A book was also described as covering the Carsons. The book description included that the Carsons were “so-called San Francisco ‘Witch’ killers” and that they “saw themselves as Hassassins, tools of Allah.” It also described them as pot dealers and smokers who were high on their own insanity and that they “preach their own version of Islam,” living out of dumpsters and making their home in abandoned cabins.