ABSTRACT
Ray, in a dark suit and tie, sat at the defendant’s table as Judge A. Scott opened the Betts
v. Robinson paternity trial in Los Angeles Superior Court. Questioned by Kaplanis, San-
dra Jean Betts told her sad story of dreams and broken promises. Sandra’s mother came
out from Ohio to testify that Ray had told her on the phone that Sandra Jean was car-
rying his baby. Kaplanis even brought three-month-old Sheila into court and had her
held near Ray’s face for the jury to look for a resemblance. Through the long hours of
the six-day trial Ray sat and listened, his face expressionless and his body so still that
reporters wondered if he slept. On the stand, he admitted that he and Sandra Jean had
been intimate, and that he had spoken to her mother. Had he ever told Sandra Jean he
loved her? Kaplanis asked. “I could very well have told her that,” said Ray. “I had just
met her.”
