Mind Games Murder in Santa Cruz
Feb 24, 2026
A true crime dive into a 1986 Santa Cruz homicide that left one person dead and a famed psychology pioneer accused. The story traces tangled relationships, contentious physical evidence, and dramatic courtroom moments. It also examines claims that a controversial persuasion method influenced jurors and public perception.
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The Night Corrine Christensen Died
- Corrine Christensen was found dead from a single gunshot to the face in her home on November 3, 1986.
- At the scene James Marino said Richard Bandler did it, and police later recovered a .357 Magnum that turned out to be Bandler's gun and clothing with Corrine's blood in Bandler's house.
Evidence That Made The Case Appear Open And Shut
- The physical evidence initially looked damning: the murder weapon was Bandler's and police found Bandler's clothes with Corrine's blood and brain tissue.
- A tape of Bandler threatening to "blow Corrine's brains out" the night before further intensified suspicion against him.
The Taped Interrogation The Night Before
- Bandler recorded an interrogation of Corrine where he threatened to shoot her while trying to get her to confess about Marino's beating.
- Hours later Marino and Bandler returned and Corrine was killed, linking the earlier taped threat to the timing of the murder.