http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/philip-vannater-a-lead-investigator-in-oj-sim pson-case-dies/2012/01/22/gIQAR9BXJQ_story.html

A lead investigator in O.J. Simpson case, died at age 70 from complications of cancer.

http://www.legacy.com/NS/Obituary.aspx?pid=155613066

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/us/philip-vannatter-70-dies-o-j-simpson-investigat or.html
I didn’t know he was struggling with cancer. I am so sad.
Vannater was a class act. I met him and some other LAPD dics when i was assigned to the 16th District and he came to Chicago to dot the Is and cross the Ts at the possible crime scene at the huge vacant lot next to the Holiday Inn O'Hare on Cumberland Avenue. There was speculation that OJ ditched the murder weapon there after his red eye to Chicago after the murders.

I took him to the local cop store for some CPD ball caps and Tshirts to take back to LA. Last time I was in LA, he took me on a tour of Parker Center and the 911 room.
Ditto all that. I know someone who worked with him a lot, not just on the OJ case. A real gentleman to be sure. I met him in '78 as an 'on call' for a shooting that I stumbled upon just outside Culver City. He was also interested in horses which is why he went to Indiana.