Three Arrested in Murder at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival After Committing Another Murder

hardly-strictly-bluegrass-murder

Three suspects have been arrested in Portland, OR in the murder of 23-year-old Canadian backpacker Audrey Carey who was found dead in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park during the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival the first weekend of October. The Quebec native was discovered Saturday October 3rd near the Golden Gate Park Golf Course at about 9:15 a.m. by a passerby, who immediately notified the San Francisco Police Department.

The death of Audrey Carey was ruled a homicide, and was originally reported by the medical examiner to have occurred by blunt force trauma to the head. However upon further inspection, medical examiners say Audrey Carey was shot in the back of the head. Audrey was traveling alone at the time of the homicide.

Audrey Carey
Audrey Carey

In a strange twist, possessions belonging to Audrey Carey were found in the vehicle of another murder victim named Steve Carter—a popular tantra teacher who was shot and killed in Fairfax, just north of San Francisco, while in a park walking his dog Coco on Monday, October 5th, two days after the Audrey Carey murder. The dog was also shot in the attack. The suspects then apparently stole Steve Carter’s vehicle and drove it to Portland, OR where they were apprehended.

Sean Michael Angold, 24, Morrison Haze Lampley, 23, and Lila Scott Alligood, 18 have all waived their right to an extradition hearing, and will be transported first to Marin County, and then to San Francisco to face murder charges. None of the suspects are said to have permanent addresses or significant paper trails. Only one of the suspects, Morrison Lampley, has a criminal record.

San Francisco police said they began working closely with Marin County investigators in the murder of Audrey Carey after they saw the similarities between the two cases. Investigators are also looking into the possibility that other crimes could have been committed by the three suspects. Another Hardly Strictly attendee and female backpacker was attacked, hit in the head, and rendered unconscious by two assailants who stole her backpack, wallet and keys as she left the festival around 8:30 p.m. Friday (8-2).

The incidents underscore the safety concerns of holding the annual festival in Golden Gate Park where many transients are known to dwell, while the free nature of the event makes it difficult for organizers to control who attends the festival.

© 2023 Saving Country Music