Claudia Leigh Smith

(aka Linda Baldwin, Collie Sinclair, Beth Tracy, Sherry Andrews, Claudia Andrews)

Claudia Leigh Smith

Claudia Smith was born on August 11, 1950 in Kansas and relocated to Los Angeles California. According to arrest records she lived in the Simi Valley area.

Claudia was arrested with other Family members at the Barker Ranch in Death Valley, California during October of 1969. It is believed she was likely with the group for a short period of time. She was present at 28 Clubhouse Avenue and witnessed the controversial suicide and suspected murder of John “Zero” Haught.

After Zero’s death, Claudia married Bill Vance, who was involved in the murder of Shorty Shea. Los Angeles Police Department records indicate that she attempted to bail out Nancy Pitman at some point.

Claudia lived with Vance and Patricia Baldwin (AKA Madeline Cottage) in northern Missouri until 1972, when they were detected by authorities and fled. There whereabouts afterward are largely unknown, although court records indicate Smith returned to Missouri where she resides.

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