Valentine's Day is Monday February 14

Devil in the Valley

This post won’t be easy or pleasant.

It deals with the 1972 murder of my sister Maureen at hands of serial murderer Philip Hughes. I apologize in advance to anyone who might be blindsided by this.

Two years ago, I was interviewed in a Lafayette CA recording studio. The interview was for an audio project dealing with the serial murderers (yes, plural) that preyed on women and girls in the Contra Costa County CA area in the 1970s.

In one of the photos here my lovely Libby and I are in the recording studio with Paul Holes, the retired forensics investigator from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department. I first met Paul nearly 20 years ago when he was investigating cold cases, trying to get another conviction tied to the psychopath who took Maureen from us.

Since then, Paul gained acclaim as one of the lead investigators responsible for bringing in the Golden State Killer. In retirement, Paul is now a media consultant to law enforcement, appears frequently on TV (America’s Most Wanted), he’s had at least one investigative TV show on the Oxygen Network and is about to publish his memoir.

Over the years, my family has been approached a number of times by TV producers to tell Maureen’s story. All have been flatly rejected.

The goal of this audio project is to convict my sister's killer, Philip Hughes, of at least one more crime. That’s an effort I can get behind! I believe Paul Holes, even in his spotlight as a TV personality and author in his post-law enforcement career, still has a righteous thirst for justice.

Hughes was convicted in 1980 of three murders--- my sister Maureen in 1972, Lisa Beery of Montclair (Oakland) in 1974 and Leticia Fagot of Walnut Creek in 1975. It is very likely Hughes is responsible for other unsolved murders, especially the 1970 murder of Cosette Ellison, also of Moraga.

Victims' families still attend parole hearings every few years because Hughes was convicted at a time when the toughest sentence was “life.” But “life” doesn’t mean life… it means the chance for parole every 3-5 years. At those hearings, attended by the victims’ families, we’re subjected to reliving the unthinkable acts done to our loved ones. I’d really like that to stop… and I believe mercy is due to the families of victims as much as it is considered for prisoners.

This audio series is NOT easy listening. I strongly caution any sensitive person to think twice before immersing yourself in it.

That said, for those who do listen, you will hear the story of my sister Maureen from my perspective. It’s by no means her complete life story. I know my siblings all have memories of her I don’t have. But we all agree her story needs to be told. Her story has many facets, but is ultimately faith-affirming… something that brought a measure of relief to my family years after her death at the too young age of 19.

With the State of California being super soft on crime---and getting softer all the time--- there’s a push to parole even violent offenders simply because they are now senior citizens. Releasing a psychopath from a men’s only prison into a vastly changed society would just lead to more victims.

My family still suffers from Maureen's death. I'm hoping and praying this will lead to some relief for our family and the families of all the victims of this heinous individual.

Please share this far and wide with the hope we can find useful clues and hard evidence to convict Hughes again.

Original link from 2022:

Link to “Devil in the Valley” from XG Productions

https://www.audible.com/.../A-Devil-in-the.../B09BBS4H47

Or try this 2025 LINK!

Also read:
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2011/07/18/east-bay-family-suffers-for-decades-after-daughters-murder-in-moraga/

"Love and truth will meet;
justice and peace will kiss.

Truth will spring from the earth;
justice will look down from heaven."
Psalms 85:11-12

 

Flying Colors 2021 Best-Selling Graphic Novels!

Note: Due to books selling the exact same number of copies, we stretched the list to a Top 107.
Looking at the list, it's pretty obvious Flying Colors is a very family-friendly shop with tons of all-ages graphic novels among our best-sellers.

Also, just a small bit of trivia: Flying Colors sold at least one copy of about 5000 different graphic novel titles. Yowza! That's one very long tail!
 

New & FREE! Flying Colors 2022 Calendar/Poster is here!

Visit Flying Colors Comics to pick up your FREE 2022 exclusive poster/calendar!

Designed by cartoonist Jeff Bonivert (Captain Four Color's co-creator!), this is the 16th annual calendar we've done. We think you'll dig it.

And in case you aren't local to Concord and you still would like to get one (or two), Flying Colors 2022 poster/calendar is also available by mail order!

Simply place any order from Flying Colors Shopify page ... and we'll be sure to include the poster/calendar in your order!

Order here:

https://flying-colors-comics-other-cool-stuff.myshopify.com/

SHOP CONCORD giftcards are back for Holiday Shopping!

FlyCo Faithful... start your holiday shopping engines!

SHOP CONCORD e-giftcards are available NOW.

Shop Local for the holidays! it's a great way to save at local businesses... like Flying Colors Comics!

Buy a $100 e-giftcard & get a FREE $50 e-giftcard!

Buy a $50 e-giftcard & get a FREE $25 e-giftcard!

Buy a $20 e-giftcard & get a FREE $10 e-giftcard!

Visit this site to get your SHOP CONCORD e-giftcards:

https://app.yiftee.com/gift-card/concord

Do it soon... this is a limited offer courtesy of the City of Concord!

Shopping local makes good sense... and now it can save you real dollars!

Flying Colors is 33 Years Old Today!

 How it was then... and how it is now!

Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff first opened on October 3, 1988...
33 years ago!

Our first customer was a kind gentleman named Tony who bought a few packs of baseball cards. That opening day we did all of $63 in sales (truly a soft opening!). We made up a lot of things as we went, trying to invent little systems where there were none before, trying to make friends and win customers one at a time, one day at a time... hoping we could survive long enough to "make it."

And here we are... 12,052 days since October 3 1988!  
We've tried our best to make Flying Colors live up to our original mission to be "the one comic shop for the entire family." Little did I know that so many of you have become like family to us. That's a beautiful thing!

Heaping mounds of gratitude to my Libby who has been as integral to the success of Flying Colors as anyone, even though she prefers me to be the public face of Flying Colors. I was the comics geek, after all. 

Our three fantastic daughters, Michelle, Jenny and Cindy, have all worked in the shop over the years and helped spread the word about Flying Colors to their ever-expanding circle of friends. Big big hugs and thanks to these wonderful women!

 

And then there's our FlyCo Retailing Brigade (with thanks to cartoonist Jeff Bonivert for originally naming the group... plus designing and co-creating our Flying Colors' superhero mascot, Captain Four Color!

In order from 1988 to present, I wish to thank each and every one of our frankly fabulous FlyCo Retailing Brigadeers:

Anne, Mark, Teri, Tom, Steve, Scott, Scott, Sam, Doug, Gavin, Jason, Marleigha, Alan, Cara Mia, Quinn, Shaw, Matt, Ken, Colin, Chris M, Adrian, Jerry, Erin, Paul, Chris J, Maria, Jan, Robert, Mike A , Mike E, Adam, Melissa, Taylor, Brian H, Brian, Cindy, Adric, Jenny, Robert, Andrew, Ed, Marty, Jazmine, Leticia, Melissa, Susie, Aaron, Kenni, Casey, Anna, Eryn, Spencer, Dylan, Chad, Andrew, Aidan, Cyrus!

Finally, let's face the facts.
A business without customers just doesn't last. So I want to genuinely thank you all, past and present, who have trusted us with your business over all these years. You are all FlyCo Faithful... and I am FlyCoJoe, your grateful Local Comic Shop owner.

And I hope we'll be around for many more years of Slinging Comics to Concord, to Contra Costa County and to the Cosmos!

Bless you all, each and every one!  

Peace 'n' Comics!

Joe "FlyCoJoe" Field

Captain Four Color invites you to...

Make your week a lot cooler with a visit to
Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff!


Please follow Flying Colors and FlyCoJoe on social media:
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM

Flying Colors on Shopify!

Just a quick reminder:

Flying Colors Comics has a Shopify page featuring a limited number of our exclusive items.

As the holiday season gets closer, this could be an easy way to get and give Flying Colors gift cards, postcards, and exclusive FlyCo comics.

Bookmark this page and watch for new additions!

https://flying-colors-comics-other-cool-stuff.myshopify.com/collections/specials

Thank you!

Huge thanks to everyone who made it out to Flying Colors for Free Comic Book Day!

We hope you found some new favorite comics you'll want more of in the weeks and months ahead!

Special thanks to the ever awesome FlyCo Retailing Brigade --- our current staff and staff alumni coming back to celebrate comics' biggest day with us!

In the photo here from left:
Jon, Aidan, Mike, Jenny, FlyCoJoe & Libby, Casey, Leticia, Cyrus, Dylan, Chad and Marty!

More big thanks to our FCBD Special Guests --- artists Brandon McKinney, John Hageman and Mel Smith!

More good times are always on the way at Flying Colors Comics!

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY event info!

We invite you to be here Saturday August 14 for the 20th Annual FREE Comic Book Day at Flying Colors!

Our Special Guests from 10 Ton Press are publisher Mel Smith (Rock n Roll Biographies), cartoonist John Hageman (Charley & Humphrey) and artist/animator Brandon McKinney (Red Dawn).

Our guests will be with us from at least 11AM - 2PM (who knows how much later?).

Along with our current staff, we'll be welcoming back some of our Flying Colors Retailing Brigade alumni to help make the day fun and run even more smoothly.

PLEASE READ!

Hopefully Helpful Hints for FCBD at Flying Colors



* HOT! Saturday August 14 the weather forecast is for temps into the high 90s. Please be prepared for that with sunscreen and water.

* KEEP IT MOVING! We'll do our best to keep the line moving as quickly as possible, but we also must limit how many people are in the shop at any given time. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep things moving.

* KEEP CLEAR! While in line, please keep the entrances and exits of other shops in Oak Grove Plaza clear and accessible.

* FOOD & BEVERAGES! Consider having lunch or a beverage at one of these Oak Grove Plaza spots: Ozora Sushi, Chipotle, Mona's Burgers & Shakes, Jimmy John's, Round Table Pizza, Peet's Coffee, Captain's Chest. (Please note: Flying Colors will not be serving any snacks or beverages)

* MASK UP! Remember to bring your mask! Masks are required inside Flying Colors. We may not have any spare masks, so please bring your own! You will not be allowed in the shop without a mask. (We hate being the Mask Police. *sigh*)

* LIMIT! Each attendee at Flying Colors on FCBD will be able to choose three different FCBD comics. In addition, you can get one copy of the 10 Ton Press FCBD special edition comic available ONLY at the guest table.

* ONE TIME ONLY! To give more people a chance to get their free comics more quickly, we kindly ask you to only go through the line once!

* VISIT YOUR LIBRARY! More free comics will be available at Contra Costa County Library events the week of August 16. For more info, visit this link.