>> what i remember most is his eyes. he was staring at me as i testified. dark piercing evil eyes. >> greta: rumors ran child when leslie van houghton's lawyer disappeared four months into the trial. >> he goes up to the hot springs area of ventura county to work on his argument and the court reconvenes the following monday he did not show up. >> my god, i just wonder the family. >> from what anybody could discern, a flash flood came alock and washed him away. in january of 1971 it took the jury seven days to reach a verdict. >> it was our belief that the jury could only come to one verdict, guilty. >> each defendant was convicted of every count of which they were charged. >> greta: the four were sentenced to death on march 29th, 1971. in october, tex watson was also convicted and sentenced to death.