San Francisco Witch Killers: How 9-Year-Old Jenn Carson Escaped Her Father's Deadly Cult
Michael and Suzan's descent into darkness began with a seemingly ordinary encounter at a party. What started as a whirlwind romance quickly transformed into a dangerous cult centered around delusions of witches controlling the world. Their relationship, fueled by hallucinogenic drugs and untreated mental illness, created the perfect storm for tragedy.
For Jenn Carson, this nightmare became her reality when her father fell under Suzan's influence. The couple, later known as the "San Francisco Witch Killers," embarked on a reign of terror that would claim multiple lives. Their paranoid beliefs led them to compile a list of targets they considered witches, including celebrities and even President Ronald Reagan, ultimately bringing them to the attention of federal authorities.
Key Takeaways
A toxic combination of drugs and mental illness transformed ordinary people into killers obsessed with hunting "witches."
The relationship between Michael and Suzan quickly evolved from romance into a dangerous cult with deadly consequences.
The Witch Killers' daughter Jenn had her childhood shattered when her father chose a path of violence and delusion.
Jenn Carson's Troubled Youth
A Marriage Breakdown and Dark New Influence
Jenn Carson enjoyed a carefree childhood until 1979, when her family structure crumbled. Her parents' divorce marked a critical turning point, introducing a destructive new presence into her life. When Jenn's father met Suzan Barnes, a woman ten years his senior, their connection quickly evolved into something dangerous.
Their relationship began at a party where Suzan made extraordinary claims. She renamed him Michael, declared herself psychic, and convinced him they had been lovers in a previous life. This appealed to his existing interest in radical religious beliefs, pulling him deeper into fringe ideologies.
The pair married hastily and used Suzan's entire savings to purchase hallucinogenic drugs. They relocated to California, where their unusual religious ideas transformed into something resembling a cult.
Descent into Delusional Thinking
Michael and Suzan's regular consumption of psychedelic substances fueled their growing paranoia. They developed an elaborate belief system centered around the idea that the world was secretly controlled by witches. In this twisted worldview, Suzan positioned herself as a divine prophet with the ability to identify these supposed witches.
Michael embraced his role as her "divine instrument," tasked with eliminating those she identified as threats. What might have seemed like harmless hippie philosophy masked something far more sinister—a dangerous delusion that would lead to violence.
Their first victim was Karen Barnes, a 23-year-old aspiring actress from Georgia who had recently moved to Hollywood. The young woman was drawn to their bohemian lifestyle and unconventional spiritual ideas. When Michael developed an attraction to Karen and mentioned taking her as a second wife, Suzan grew jealous and identified her as a "witch" who needed to be eliminated.
At Suzan's command, Michael attacked the sleeping Karen with a knife and frying pan, stabbing and beating her until she died—a horrific end for a young woman simply seeking her place in the world.
A Child's Desperate Wait for Salvation
For young Jenn, the situation became increasingly frightening. She continued hoping her father would regain his senses and return to the man she once knew. Unfortunately, this rescue never came. As Michael and Suzan's delusions deepened, they became convinced they were carrying out God's work.
Following Karen's murder, the couple fled northward to an illegal marijuana farm near Alderpoint, California. Michael worked security while Suzan cultivated the crops, both increasingly disconnected from reality.
Their violent spree would eventually claim at least 14 lives. They maintained a list of future targets that included celebrities and political figures—even President Ronald Reagan. The couple, now known as the "San Francisco Witch Killers," believed all their victims were witches deserving of death.
In June 1982, a search team looking for missing hikers encountered two disheveled individuals in the woods who fled, leaving behind a backpack. The contents revealed weapons, false identification, and a manifesto titled "A Cry for War" that outlined plans for nuclear war, bombings, and political assassinations.
When authorities connected the evidence to Michael, they contacted his ex-wife. Eight-year-old Jenn learned the devastating truth about her father from her mother: "Unfortunately, he got much worse and he hurt people." When Jenn asked if the hurt people were dead, her mother confirmed they were.
For Jenn, this marked the painful realization that her father was lost to her forever, trapped in a world of delusion and violence from which he would never return.
The San Francisco Witch Killers
The Shocking Courthouse Display
The nation watched in disbelief as the infamous "Witch Killer" couple brazenly kissed during their court appearance, displaying their disturbing affection before the American public. This shocking behavior highlighted the unusual bond between the pair who had terrorized communities with their delusional killing spree. The couple's public display of affection stood in stark contrast to the horrific nature of their crimes, further underscoring the psychological abnormality that drove their actions.
Famous Targets on Their Murder List
The couple's murderous plans extended far beyond their immediate victims. Investigators discovered a chilling manifesto titled "A Cry for War" that contained a detailed hit list targeting numerous celebrities and public figures. Most alarmingly, President Ronald Reagan's name appeared prominently on this list of so-called "witches." The document revealed their intentions for political assassinations, nuclear war, and targeted bombings—all part of their deranged mission to eliminate those they believed were witches.
When authorities examined the backpack the couple had dropped while fleeing from a rescue team, they found:
A firearm
Multiple fake identification documents
Their manifesto detailing their plans
The list of celebrity targets
The Evolution of a National Threat
What began as a local murder case quickly escalated into a matter of national security when authorities discovered the scope of the couple's plans. The severity of the threat prompted immediate involvement from the Secret Service once they realized the President was a potential target.
The dangerous partnership began when Michael Bear met Suzan Barnes, a wealthy socialite with a troubled past. Their relationship formed around shared delusions fueled by heavy psychedelic drug use. Suzan positioned herself as a "prophet" with the ability to identify witches, while Michael became her executioner.
Their first victim was a 23-year-old aspiring actress named Karen Barnes, who had become involved with their cult-like group. When Michael expressed interest in Karen, Suzan's jealousy triggered violence. She convinced Michael that Karen was a witch who needed to be eliminated, leading him to brutally murder the young woman while she slept.
After this initial killing, the couple fled northward to an illegal marijuana farm near Alderpoint, California. Their capture began when a rescue team searching for missing hikers encountered two disheveled individuals in the woods who fled, leaving behind the backpack containing evidence of their crimes and future plans.
The Descent into Fanaticism
Uncovering a Hidden Presence in California's Wilderness
On June 12, 1982, a search party ventured into the forests near Alderpoint, California, looking for missing hikers. Their mission took an unexpected turn when they encountered two disheveled individuals acting erratically in the woods. The strange pair, dressed in tattered clothing with unkempt hair, began screaming and running in different directions upon seeing the rescue team.
As the bizarre figures fled, they dropped a backpack—an oversight that would ultimately expose their disturbing activities. One of the rescue team members noticed the abandoned item and decided to investigate its contents.
Disturbing Documents and Weaponry Revealed
When opened, the backpack contained alarming items: a firearm, fraudulent identification documents, and a manifesto titled "A Cry for War." This document outlined plans for nuclear conflict, bombing campaigns, and political assassinations, revealing the dangerous mindset of its owners. The manifesto detailed an elaborate scheme to eliminate individuals they had labeled as "witches."
The list of targets primarily consisted of celebrities and public figures, with one name standing out prominently at the bottom—Ronald Wilson Reagan, then President of the United States. This discovery transformed what appeared to be a chance encounter in the woods into a matter of national security.
The individuals were later identified as Michael Bear (formerly known by another name) and his wife Suzan Barnes, who had developed a dangerous delusion about hunting "witches" after heavy use of psychedelic drugs.
Federal Authorities Launch Investigation
The discovery of a potential threat against the President prompted immediate action from the Secret Service. Agents began investigating the couple, who were already suspected in multiple killings across the region.
Their investigation led them to the home of Bear's ex-wife and young daughter, Jenn, who was only eight years old at the time. "Men in black literally showed up at our door," Jenn later recalled, overhearing enough to know her father was in serious trouble.
The agents' arrival forced Jenn's mother to have an incredibly difficult conversation with her daughter. She explained that Jenn's father had become very ill and had hurt people. When Jenn asked if the hurt people were dead, her mother confirmed the devastating truth.
Before his relationship with Suzan Barnes, Michael had been a different person. The drastic change in his personality and descent into violence highlighted the dangerous influence Suzan had exerted over him as they formed what amounted to a small but deadly cult centered around their shared delusions.
Personal Toll on Jennifer Carson
A Child's Devastating Discovery
Jennifer Carson enjoyed a typical childhood until 1979 when her parents divorced and her father began a new relationship. At just eight years old, Jennifer's world collapsed when men from government agencies arrived at her home. Her mother gently explained the unthinkable truth: her father had hurt people who were now dead. Despite her young age, Jennifer immediately grasped the gravity of the situation, asking directly if the people were dead. This moment marked an irreversible turning point in her understanding of her father.
Jennifer struggled to reconcile her fond memories with the horrifying reality her father had become. The innocent relationship she once cherished was forever shattered as she processed that her father had participated in multiple killings. Her childhood innocence abruptly ended as she faced a truth no child should ever have to confront.
Life Before and After Meeting Suzan
Jennifer describes her relationship with her father in two distinct chapters: before Suzan and after Suzan. Before meeting Suzan Barnes, Jennifer's father provided a relatively normal life. However, everything changed dramatically after he attended a party and met Suzan, a wealthy divorcée ten years his senior who claimed psychic abilities and convinced him they had been lovers in a past life.
The transformation was swift and alarming. Suzan renamed Jennifer's father "Michael" and pulled him deeper into radical religious beliefs. The couple spent Suzan's entire savings on hallucinogenic drugs, moving to California to establish what essentially functioned as a cult. Jennifer watched helplessly as her father became increasingly delusional under Suzan's influence, eventually believing they were divinely tasked with identifying and eliminating "witches."
Jennifer found herself trapped between two worlds: the memory of her father before, and the dangerous stranger he became after falling under Suzan's control. His susceptibility to Suzan's paranoid worldview resulted in him becoming an instrument of violence, fundamentally changing Jennifer's life path and forcing her to confront disturbing realities at an age when most children worry only about schoolwork and friendships.
Suzan Barnes' Transformation into Darkness
From Privileged Background to Cult Leadership
Suzan Barnes began life as the daughter of a newspaper executive, enjoying a privileged existence as a wealthy socialite in the 1960s. Growing bored with her comfortable life, she began living a double life that contrasted sharply with her public persona. Her marriage to a wealthy man provided her with financial security, but she secretly engaged in inappropriate relationships with underage boys—reportedly claiming to have been intimate with 150 of her son's classmates.
Her life took a more dangerous turn when she began using psychedelic drugs with these teenage partners. The drug use triggered severe mental health issues that had previously been dormant. After taking LSD for the first time, Suzan experienced vivid visual hallucinations, including seeing triangles painted throughout her house—a serious symptom consistent with schizophrenia.
When her husband discovered her secret activities, he promptly divorced her and gained custody of their two children. Suzan remained unconcerned, confident in finding a new partner. At a party hosted in her home, she met her future husband, whom she immediately renamed "Michael" and claimed they had been lovers in a past life. This relationship would become the foundation for a dangerous cult centered around hunting what they called "witches."
Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Lead to Violence
The combination of untreated mental illness and continued drug use created a dangerous spiral for Suzan and Michael. After marrying quickly, they spent Suzan's entire life savings on hallucinogenic drugs and relocated to California. There, they established what essentially functioned as a cult based on their extreme religious beliefs.
Their first follower was Karen Barnes, a 23-year-old aspiring actress from Georgia who had recently moved to Hollywood. With her bohemian sensibilities, Karen was drawn to their eccentric spiritual teachings but likely didn't understand the true darkness of their beliefs. The core of their ideology was the conviction that witches secretly ruled the world, with Suzan possessing the unique ability to identify these witches and Michael serving as her divine instrument of execution.
Tragedy struck when Michael developed an attraction to Karen and expressed interest in taking her as a second wife. Consumed by jealousy, Suzan declared Karen a witch who needed to be eliminated. Following his "prophet's" command, Michael attacked the sleeping young woman with a knife and frying pan, brutally murdering her. After this killing, the couple fled northward to an illegal marijuana farm near Alderpoint, where Suzan cultivated the crops while Michael provided security. This remote location became their hideout as they continued down a path of violence that would eventually lead to multiple murders, a manifesto targeting political figures, and their identification as the notorious "San Francisco Witch Killers."
Michael Bear's Descent into Darkness
Michael's Path Toward Extreme Ideologies
Michael Bear led a relatively normal life before his first marriage dissolved in 1979. His daughter Jenn remembers this period fondly, marking it as a time of relative stability and normalcy. However, Michael had always harbored interests in unconventional spiritual concepts and radical religious beliefs, which would later become central to his identity.
These interests remained mostly harmless until his divorce created an emotional vulnerability. As his marriage collapsed, Michael's attraction to fringe ideologies intensified. He began exploring increasingly extreme religious concepts, seeking meaning in alternative spirituality.
The psychological profile of individuals drawn to such radical beliefs often reveals a desire for certainty in an uncertain world. In Michael's case, his growing isolation after the divorce likely amplified his need for a comprehensive worldview that could explain his suffering and provide direction.
The Life-Changing Encounter with Suzan
At a social gathering in the early 1980s, Michael met Suzan Barnes, a wealthy socialite ten years his senior with a troubled history. This meeting would irrevocably alter the course of his life and lead to tragic consequences for many.
Suzan immediately established dominance in their relationship, even renaming him "Michael" and claiming psychic abilities. She convinced him they had been lovers in a previous life, creating an intense bond that transcended rational thinking. For Michael, this mystical connection filled the emotional void left by his divorce.
The couple quickly married and spent Suzan's considerable fortune on hallucinogenic drugs. These substances, combined with Suzan's untreated schizophrenia and Michael's increasing receptivity to extreme ideas, created a dangerous cocktail of delusion and paranoia.
They relocated to California and developed what resembled a cult centered around a disturbing core belief: the world was secretly controlled by "witches" whom they were divinely appointed to identify and eliminate. In this twisted dynamic, Suzan positioned herself as the prophet who could identify these "witches," while Michael became her willing executioner.
Their first victim was Karen Barnes, a 23-year-old aspiring actress who had been drawn into their circle. When Michael showed interest in the young woman, Suzan's jealousy triggered their murderous pattern. She declared Karen a "witch," and Michael, now completely under her influence, killed the young woman while she slept.
This horrific act marked the beginning of their killing spree, which would eventually claim at least 14 victims and lead to their targeting of high-profile individuals, including President Ronald Reagan.
The Journey Through Darkness
Karen Barnes' Final Days
Karen Barnes was a vibrant 23-year-old actress from Georgia who had recently moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of making it on the big screen. With her bohemian spirit and interest in alternative lifestyles, she became fascinated by Michael and Suzan's cult-like group.
What began as an innocent exploration into spiritual teachings quickly turned sinister. Michael developed a strong attraction to Karen and expressed interest in taking her as his second wife. This romantic interest sparked intense jealousy in Suzan, who saw Karen as a threat to her relationship.
Tragically, Suzan manipulated Michael by declaring Karen was a witch who needed to be eliminated. Without hesitation, Michael armed himself with a kitchen knife and frying pan. While Karen slept peacefully, he attacked her – stabbing and bludgeoning her face until she no longer moved.
Remote Hideaway Among Cannabis Plants
Following Karen's murder, Michael and Suzan fled northward to escape detection. They sought refuge at an illegal marijuana farm near the small town of Alderpoint in Northern California.
The couple established distinct roles at this hidden location:
Suzan: Responsible for cultivating marijuana plants
Michael: Handled security operations
Their life at the remote farm allowed them to continue their delusional existence away from society's watchful eyes. The isolation only deepened their paranoia and reinforced their disturbing beliefs about witches infiltrating the world.
For months, they remained hidden in this secluded environment. The rural setting provided both cover for their criminal activities and space to develop increasingly dangerous plans. Their manifesto "A Cry for War" was likely drafted during this period, revealing their deteriorating mental state and violent intentions.
The marijuana farm became not just a hideout but a headquarters for planning future attacks, including assassination plots targeting celebrities and even the President of the United States.
