On August 7, 1977, a tragic and brutal crime occurred in Gaston, Oregon, resulting in the execution-style murders of Margo Compton, her 6-year-old twin daughters, Sylvia and Sandra, and her boyfriend's 19-year-old son, Gary Seslar. Margo Compton, a 24-year-old mother, had previously testified against several members of the Hells Angels in a prostitution trial in San Francisco, making her a target for retaliation by the notorious motorcycle gang.
The investigation into these murders was
led by Detective Sergeant Mike Graham, who dedicated nearly two decades to uncovering the truth behind these killings. A significant break in the case came when Michael Thompson, a leader of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, provided crucial information to Graham. Thompson, who was incarcerated at Folsom State Penitentiary, had declined a business proposition from Odis 'Buck' Garrett, a leader of the Hells Angels Vallejo chapter, due to rumors that Garrett was involved in the murders. However, Garrett eventually confessed to Thompson that he had ordered the killings, and the triggerman was identified as Robert G. 'Bugeye' McClure, a Hells Angels 'hang-around'.
The details of the crime were particularly chilling. The victims were found to have been brutally murdered, with the twin girls dying while clutching their teddy bears. One of the girls was even found holding a toy from a Cracker Jack box when she was fatally shot in the head. This gruesome evidence underscored the ruthless nature of the crime and the motivations behind it, which were rooted in the Hells Angels' desire for revenge against Margo Compton for her testimony against them.
The suspects in this case were eventually brought to justice. Robert G. 'Bugeye' McClure, the man who carried out the executions, was convicted of the murders in his 1994 trial. He was sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison. Odis 'Buck' Garrett, who had ordered the killings, was also convicted a year later and received the same sentence of four consecutive life terms in prison.
The case highlights the extensive and relentless efforts of Detective Sergeant Mike Graham, who pursued justice for nearly two decades, and the critical role of Michael Thompson's testimony in connecting the murders to the Hells Angels. The tragic event and its aftermath serve as a stark reminder of the violent consequences of gang retaliation and the importance of persistent investigative work in bringing perpetrators to justice.
