The Ewell Family Murders
Sunday, April 19, 1992 was a mild, partly sunny day in Sunnyside, California, a perfect Easter Sunday afternoon. Sunnyside, just over five miles from bustling Fresno — the most populated city in the Central Valley and fifth largest in the state —was a small bedroom community in the San Joaquin Valley, comprised mostly of Caucasians.
Dale Ewell had been born in Ohio during the Depression, a hard worker who knew the value of a dollar. Perhaps his upbringing in a family that endured the Depression fueled his drive and fire but Dale became a successful and wealthy businessman, following a stint in the Air Force. He was president and owner of Western Piper Sales, Inc., a company that sold small aircraft. He used some of the profits from Western Piper to invest in several farms, further bulking up his financial portfolio. He had married the former Glee Mitchell and the two became parents to Tiffany in 1967 and Dana in 1971. His success allowed the Ewells a comfortable family home in Sunnyside, a beach house in Pajaro Dunes, luxury vehicles and designer clothing.
Dale, his wife Glee and their daughter Tiffany had spent that Easter weekend at the beach house. Glee and Tiffany had returned directly to Sunnyside by car, while Dale chose to…