Betty Van Patter's mysterious disappearance and subsequent murder in 1974 sheds light on the complex dynamics within the Black Panther Party. A dedicated bookkeeper, she raised concerns about financial irregularities within the party, which ultimately led to her firing by Elaine Brown. Witnesses reported her last seen at local bars linked to party activities. Her body was discovered weeks later in San Francisco Bay, highlighting the deep entanglement of her story with the tumultuous history of the era and the challenges faced by the Black Panther Party.
"Betty Van Patter was an idealistic supporter of the Black Panther Party who witnessed irregularities in cash handling and warned leadership about potential legal repercussions."
"Van Patter’s vanishing led to a long-standing mystery intertwined with the turbulent history of the Black Panther Party, whose activities during that era were fraught with danger."
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