The Onion Field Murder - REAL Crime Scene Locations 4K 

I retired from LAPD HOLLYWOOD Division in 95. As a training officer, I would take probationary officers to the site of the original stop and discuss this tragic case. Thank you for keeping the names of both officers Alive. Both of them died that night.....it just took Carle a lot longer to stop breathing. 🙏🙏

How Officer Hettinger was treated after the crime and the complete lack of empathy and support was a crime in and of itself. Thanks as always for the early premiere.

I am a retired police officer in Alabama. I own first editions of all Joesph Wambaughs books. He turned 87 years old yesterday Jan 22, according to internet sources. I purchased each book when they were published. Recently I re-read The Onion Field. I own a DVD of the movie. The Onion Field and a book written by the lead investigator on that case, Pearce Brooks, Officer Down Code Three, should be required reading in police academies. Like the previous commenter said, thank for for keeping the memory of Cambell and Hettinger alive. Thanks to The Onion Field, I never went to work without a backup gun on my person. Great work on this video.

As a former police officer from Santa Clara County, California (1978 to 1981), I have personally reviewed this case via books, films, and documentaries like this. I have often asked myself what I would have done if I had been in Hettinger's place. I do not know for sure. And neither do the critics inside and outside the LAPD. I will give these critics the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to the police culture in 1963. They are both my heroes.

I can't believe you did this story ! I too went to visit the grave of officer Campbell to show my respects . It was around the early 80's and I was a musician traveling on the road with a band . I had seen the movie in Phoenix and then later found the book in Denver . I got hooked on author Joseph Wambaugh and read almost all his books . We did a gig in the Pismo Beach area and on our day off went to L.A. While everyone else went to hang out on the Sunset Strip and Hollywood I mad e the trip over to the cemetery and left flowers on the grave . Thank you for doing this story . I'm 63 now and no longer travel . But when I was on the road I always liked to seek out the interesting things that happened close to where I had landed . I felt it was important to stand where history happened . That is why I love your channel ! Keep up the good work . Love you guys... stay safe !

I am the great grandson of Ian Campbell and i want to say thank u very much for explaining this story and getting it out there for everyone to learn about it, its good to know people still know the story

This is a famous crime, but it doesn't get talked about a lot. Thank you.

In 1979 I worked on the film "The Onion Field" as a assistant sound editor! From the book by Joseph Wambaugh! It was a difficult movie to work on due to the subject matter! How Carl Hettinger was treated was horrible! Two lives were lost that fateful day! Carl drank himself to death as this case dragged out for years never letting him find peace with the situation! He was fired from the force or should I say he was forced to resign or be brought up on charges for retail theft! There is a memorial to Ian J. Campbell on the 101 freeway by Highland Ave! Every time I pass by it I say a little prayer for Ian and Carl! And that our Police would stay safe out there and come home safely to their loved ones! This senseless murder really got to me! Especially because of my involvement on the movie! (RIP Ian, and Carl!)

What a sad story and as always Michael and Jessica, you were compassionate in presenting this to us. Always well done and I appreciate it!

Thank you for your acknowledgement of Officer Ian Campbell and the horror of his passing.

This is why LAPD Officer's cannot give up their gun. My Dad was LAPD when this happened, it really hit home.

Good job in putting this video together. Beautiful, yet eerie, scenery.

I first saw the movie many years ago as a kid. I later became a State Trooper ( since retired)and my department would discuss this incident during officer survival training. One thing i learned and was taught from this incident was to never give up your advantage. 🙏 continue to rest in peace Officer Campbell.

I like how respectful you guys are, that's why you're so unique on RU-vid 😊

I like how you said that Michael..."You kind of forget, they're real people..." That's so important, because through books and movies, they seem more of a fiction character rather than one who truly lived, loved, enjoyed life until it was cut short. I have great respect to our police officers. I remember years back, my grandmother and I got into a small accident with our car (nothing big) and dented the front corner up a little. We took it to the police station in the area where we lived and an officer looked at it. I bring this up, because that same officer (didn't know his name) that had spoken to us was killed/murdered months later.....he was stabbed in the leg and I guess the knife had hit a major artery?? I only knew it was him because they showed a photo of him in the local paper after his death, and I recognized him immediately as the one who'd spoken with us. This was a great video/story Thank you Michael and Jessica HAPPY HALLOWEEN🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

I had not heard of this true crime story. Very interesting and tragic. Told expertly and respectful as usual by you both. A very great tribute to Ian Campbell.

michael and jessica--- your channel is the best of the best for true crime and for gravesite walkthroughs- the reason being is how thoroughly you research everything and also that u actually take us to the scenes whether they be crime scenes, life scenes or gravesites! you are my favorite channel!!! the best of the best!!! 🖤🖤🖤 wishing u continued success for your amazing channel!!!

I'm a true crime junkie and I've never heard of this case. Thank you for sharing the story.

March 9, 1963 was my 13th birthday. RIP Officer Ian Campbell.

I can honestly say james Woods and Ted danson played their roles in the movie brilliantly

Police author Joseph Wambaugh inspired me to be a policeman over 40 years ago. Read the book years before beginning my career.

Thank you for retelling this story and the respect towards the officers involved!

True that Officer Campbell was the only one murdered, but there were many victims. Especially Officer Karl Hettinger. What they did to that man was brutal and unacceptable. Granted it was before we knew about PTSD, but still he was treated very poorly. Yes the officers made mistakes, but nothing deserving what happened in the aftermath. Fortunately this incident led to better training and better help for officers who go through traumatic events like this one was. I say this as a retired LEO. Great video. Well done.

Good thing you came in the spring / winter in June that place is 110 !! Grew up in Bakersfield in the late 70’s80’s and know the story well sad thing is most people don’t Thank you for a very good documentary of this sad story

Hettinger resigned after shoplifting a relatively inexpensive item. He was suffering from PTSD from not only the killing but the subsequent Trials.

I like that you're letting your hair grow out it looks nice. I remember when the movie came out it was the talk everywhere

I watch your channel every night at work getting through my shift and I’m from Bakersfield. This is absolutely awesome thank you!!

Excellent video. Back in 1976, in high school, we used to have police officers, firemen, and different occupations, so we could go into those jobs and get an idea of the benefits of working with the public. We went to that location as part of a classroom assignment, and some detectives that worked on the onion fields original case were there ( I was just a teenager and didn't really absorb the historical moment that was being there with the original police detectives that worked on the case) they took us to each location and I remember one of the police detective tears as he was telling us the story.

I was born in 1965 in Bakersfield. I hadn't heard of the terrible crime till I was in my 20's. Thank you for covering this. ❤

I had never heard about this, tragic story. Officer Hettinger should never have been blamed, what he had to live with after that horrible shooting, is devastating. I hope those 2 dirtbags were sent to jail for life. I hope that Officer Campbell is resting in peace and is remembered.

Thank You Michael and Jessica. I was 9 when this happened. 😢 I read the book and saw the movie. Very powerful. Extremely sad how the LAPD treated Karl.

Thank you for sharing photos for placement and environment references. Stories with pictures from history are important when telling a story. It adds details that words alone can't privide.

Never saw the movie! Now I want to see it 😮. Excellent topic today. Very interesting. You guys are the best. Thanks 😊

Your videos are addictive thanks for sharing the stories that might not be known

This story was a LONG TIME coming. Thank you. The story of those cops is a provocative mind bender.

You and Jessica always do a fine job, characterized by your compassion and striving to be factual. It’s also straight-to-the-point content, without embellishment or hype. Good work. I like your videos and it’s quite moving to see the actual places where humans faced such terrible odds. Thank you.

micheal and jessica love this true crime locations very intresting but sad as well thanks for the grimms walking us through history god bless the grimms

A great vlog. I recall in the early 1980’s while I was attending the police reserve academy in Pico Rivera CA that the class discussed this case. Gun defense & safety. Never ever give up your gun. Even after all those years it was still talked about. Peace Out.

Outstanding documentation of this event. I live in Bakersfield. Karl became a Kern County Supervisor. My dad worked with him and would tell my brother and I about the story when growing up. There are great photos and artifacts from this event at the LAPD Museum on the second floor. That place is amazing. It even has the white Chevy 4 door from the Hollywood Shootout.

❤Dear Grimm. Sad feeling to the locations. Thank you for the movie trailer. My cousin was a police officer in Los Angeles. He passed away recenly.. L❤ve you❤

Who needs to add to the air miles when there's Grimmlife adventures in the palm of your hand.. 🌎🖐📱💚🖤

Thanks for keeping these stories alive. !!! Very well Done!!!

Thanks for telling this story my frien, it's unbelieveble what people can do to each other

Glad you made it back state side safe and sound.

Such excellent story telling. This is a sad one and thinking Onions don't grow that tall so not a lot of cover for one fleeing for their life. R.I. P. Officer Campbell. ❤

You guys should read (if you haven’t) Murder in Little Egypt. It is about a small town doctor that murdered his kids for insurance money. Half of the book takes place in southern Illinois and half takes place in St. Louis. I grew up in southern Illinois, this doctor and his family were my dad’s next door neighbor and babysat him. In my adult life I live in STL. It is surreal knowing the places back home and here in STL where these murders took place

I saw the movie as a youngster. James Woods frightened the hell out of me.

Good morning from Gatlinburg TN! Can't wait to watch Tonight 🎃🎃

Wow, first off, where he is buried is so peaceful feeling, I remember watching Ted Danson in CSI and to think he ended up playing a murder victim who was a cop. Such a sad story RIP to Officer Campbell and can’t imagine how his partner felt, upon being dealt the blame when he had to run for his life those 4 miles…. I cannot even imagine. Such a beautiful place being the site of something horrific. Thank you guys for sharing this adventure and story with us ❤

Love learning about older true crime. Excellent video Michael and Jessica 👏🏼🎃👻☠️

My dad was a big Joseph Wambaugh fan and I followed suit. He always said that murder was heartbreaking and that one of the perpetrators was able to use the system to avoid punishment was "sick."

Nice, thanks for featuring my cousins book. It was cool seeing the actual places where the murders took place. I absolutely love anything to do with history. Thanks so much.

The shot coming to the farm house entrance is something else!! Super pretty with the mountains, palms and sunshine

I love your content, very interesting. I would love it if you could consider doing a video on the Keddie Murders. My family use to go up there from San Diego just to play in the snow. Keep up the good work.

Poor guy had PTSD and they didn't even have that diagnosis yet, let alone know how to treat :(

Keep up the Great Work Grimm. Look forward to the next one..

your TRUE CRIME vids are probably the most well done i've ever seen so far, your brand never fails.."HAPPY HALLOWEEN", and welcome back to the states!

Those mountains are the Tehachapi mountains! 35 minutes up the 58 you woulda been in my neck of the woods! There are some creepy pioneer cemetaries in Caliente and Tehachapi

VERY well done, Michael & Jessica. Another little fact: the lesson from this horrible tale of Campbell and Hettinger is taught to every LAPD recruit. New strategies and procedures were implemented, as a result of this case including how officers approach vehicles, position themselves, communicate and keep control of their guns. It’s not uncommon for a veteran officer to drive a rookie to the intersection where Campbell and Hettinger were kidnapped. Gregory Powell died of prostate cancer in prison in 2012. Jimmy Lee Smith was actually paroled but continued to have run-ins with the law...he died in 2007 - while imprisoned for a parole violation.

Wow... That is a good call... Best Ever...❤

I read this novel decades ago written by Joseph Waumbaugh, a former police officer.

This was the first movie that I ever saw James Woods in, and for years after that I had a creepy feeling about him. I guess that's because he's a great actor!!!

This took place just outside of Arvin CA, my home town about 20 miles from where I used to live. This happened about a year before I was born. My daddy used to work irrigating/watering those grape vines.

Excellent! I've been waiting for this 😊

Can’t wait to get home and watch!!! I don’t know why your videos haven’t been popping up. I’m subscribed. Shoot! I’m going to go catch up on all the videos I missed!!!! 🤦🏽‍♀️

I've never heard about this before. I was surprised when you said March 9, because that's my and my dad's birthday (he would have turned 10 at the time, and I wasn't even born until 1979).

I miss those trailers where they had the gruff voiceover artist lending atmosphere and threat to the story

Thanks for taking the time to find the location of the shooting. The video was very interesting. In 2006 I was working out of LAPD's Central Station, the station that covers Skid Row. We were told in roll call that Jimmy Lee Smith, who was paroled in the 80s, but had been in and out of jail several times for parole violations, was back out of jail on parole, had violated his parole again, and was somewhere amongst the thousands of homeless in Skid Row. There was a warrant for his arrest and it was the goal of every officer in Central Division to find Smith to ensure he would be sent back to jail. We were told he was in poor health so if found he'd probably never taste freedom again. Sometime later an officer name Nichols found Smith. A couple of months later Smith died in prison, like he was supposed to, and not a free man.

Happy New Years ghouls 🎊 This was an interesting and very informative. I feel so sad for Officer Campbell's family. Officer Hettinger was treated so poorly. He had to live with that for his entire. Thank you for this upload. It's heartbreaking and evil at the same time. 🕊️❤️🙏

Victim #2 was Officer Hettinger. After this happened he was put back on duty on Monday evening. No time off. No documented counseling whatsoever. He was made to go to all the roll calls in each LAPD Division and retell the story of how he gave up his gun and how his partner was killed. The LAPD deserves the blame for what happened to Karl Hettinger. Hettinger never really recovered and purposely got caught shoplifting so he could get fired. It was an obvious cry for help that went unheard. He eventually became a Kern County Supervisor. He died in 1994.

Have to admit know where to invest extra money for good camera and learned how to use it properly. I can point out the great disparity between Grimlife images and other Yoytubers. This episode is by far the most beautifully filmed, hauntingly sombre music and respectfully told. Keep it going...hit a mil subscribers

Hi Grimms! This was a dreadful case. Thanks for doing this one.

I had never heard of this murder till now. but since watching your video I’ve done my research and watched the movie and was glued to the seat watching it. Very sad that it happened for real.

Check out that beautiful 50s chevy truck behind Michael, that a great shot. Now I must watch " The Onion Field ' looks like a great classic film.

Thanks for taking us along, Michael and Jessica. Wambaugh wrote some of the best TC novels ever. BTW...I love you guys' choices of attire in this vlog. Safe travels.-Joe from Joplin MO

Never heard of this one, never heard of the movie either. Another great video as always.

So cool matching up the exact grooves In those mountains in the background to the mountains in that picture from the movie

R.i.p David soul another legend gone to soon 😢😢

Fascinating and tragic. And the killers lived long lives! You had an exceptionally beautiful day to visit the location of the onion field. I pray that both officers now rest in peace. Thank you for posting this video.

Another good one and happy new year

I heard of this crime when i was a kid the book was in the library i always assumed both Officers were killed i never knew there was a survivor what a sad story i can’t even imagine the utter fear they had that night driving all those miles in a car with two maniacs to a place in the middle of nowhere Rest In Peace Officer Campbell and Officer Hettinger.

My first encounter with your channel! Very well put together, what a truly sad story.

Great video

Times have changed from 1963. If a situation occurred like this now, the officer(s) involved , have access to tons of supports, which includes tons of counselling . Such a sad story . 😢😢😢 I’m thinking if I was in that situation, I wouldn’t give up my gun. I’d try to take the criminals out . Easy for me to say this . Based on my bad experience of being mugged when I was younger . I fought back against my attacker . And to this day I have the scars underneath my right hand , where I grabbed the blade of his knife .

A excellent job ! I never heard of this story! Ty so very much! Luv&Peace .Michael,Jessica! Appreciate these amazing stories! Cheers!❤✌🏼💫

This story has always haunted me. I was born and raised in Bakersfield, and this happened when I was one month old. Of course, I wasn't aware of until years later, probably after watching the movie, but it's always been such a sad story. I've always wanted to see the actual locations, as I have driven past those roads hundreds of times, and thanks to your video, I was able to see them. Thanks so much for doing this video!

LOVE YOU BOTH.....I WAS WAITING FOR YOUR VIDEO GUYS ....I NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS ONE THANK YOU FOR EDUCATING US....

Wow,! I never heard of this crime, so sad! I love how you guys take the time to visit each place to line everything up! Thanks for Sharing!

The Onion field a Joseph wamba novel. LAPD's finest turned author. Thanks for the due diligence. ✔️👍 this changed the rules forever. Never surrender your weapon. 💯🤦‍♂️👮‍♂️

What’s up Michael and Jessica Happy Friday guys Ive never heard of the Onion field murder looking forward to this one 😊

Thank you Michael and Jessica. Oh so sad after all these years. Hettinger did what he did at the time, fancy treating him like that. They blamed him because they wanted to blame someone for losing their colleague. Your videos are very informative and dealt with kindness and I Thankyou both.Until next time. 😢

I have never heard of this tragic true crime story, Rip Officer Campbell 🙏 ❤

Absolutely beautiful scenery. I’m glad you covered this story. Stay safe out there.

The movie was great, I saw it back in the 80's

Read the book when I was a teen. It always stuck with me, the way Wambaugh treated the story.

This is so much better than these monotone videos without their own vids. Props man keep doing this!!

My fav videos of yours are real crime scene locations.

The Onion Field was written by Joseph Wambaugh (excellent book), and the film of the same name starring memorable performances by Franklyn Seales, James Woods, John Savage, Ted Danson (in his film debut) of 1979. I remember reading the book (1973) when I was 14 , and watched the film when I was 15, I was shocked to the core, that this occurred, being from the UK. The violence, and the subsequent court appearances, appeals etc, were stranger than fiction

Your camera work and production quality is superb

Such an awesome video. My wife and I love true crime. Thank-you for the journey. Happy Halloween 🎃