Can you imagine challenging Charles Manson like that? asked Ron Middlekauff, a KCRA photographer and longtime friend of Boyd. I talked to Mike about his Manson interview, and it was incredible. At one point, (guards) brought in Mansons dinner, and Manson says, Let this guy eat it. And then Mike brings out the Manson book (Helter Skelter), and Manson grabs it away from him and autographs it. But his biggest scoop came in 1988, when KCRA chartered a jet to fly Boyd down to southern California to interviewnotorious F Street murderer Dorothea Puente. There were no other commercial flights scheduled that night, so some Sacramento deputies asked if they could tag along.The deputies ended up bringing Puente back to Sacramento with them on that privateplane and Mike interviewed her exclusively. Adding insult to injury, the competition had no idea what was unfolding. Rival reporters learned Puente was back in Sacramento and that Boyd had the exclusive interview with her, by watching it all on televisions in the Sacramento airport boarding area the next morning, as they were waiting for the first flight out to L.A.
One of the greatest compliments another reporter could ever receive was besting Boyd on a story, and having him come up to you the next day and say You kicked my butt. Co-workers and competitors alike will miss that fire and drive, as well as countless other qualities that put Boyd on top, forever.