Randy Kraft Podcast

This podcast deals with true crime. I will be speaking frankly and openly about subjects such as rape, murder, and sexual assault

listener discretion is advised. When I was in high school, I had read the most dangerous game,

a short storey about an aristocratic Hunter, who grew bored a big game hunting, so he moves to a remote island and hunt shipwreck sailors. The storey made me think about serial killers. They hunt humans and even keep trophies of their kills.

One serial killer

not only kept trophies, but also kept a coded list of his kills as if keeping score. Tonight on True Crime truckers podcast I bring you the case of Randy Kraft the scorecard killer.

Randy Steven Kraft was born in Long Beach, California on March 19 1945, the fourth child and only son born to opal and Harold Kraft Krafts parents had moved to California from Wyoming at the outbreak of World War Two. His father worked as a production worker and his mother worked as a sewing machine operator.

The Kraft family lived modestly and Krafts mother undertook a succession of jobs to supplement her husband’s salary. Nonetheless, opal Kraft always found time for her children. Whereas in contrast, Krafts father seldom attended any school gatherings with them, and was later described as being, quote distant from his family. As a child, Randy was doted on by his three older sisters and mother, although he was known to be accident prone. In 1948, the Kraft family moved from LA beach to midway city in neighbouring Orange County. Their home was a small wood framed Women’s Army Corps dormitory on Beach Boulevard. That Krafts father renovated into a three bedroom house. In midway city Kraft attended midway city Elementary School, where his mother served on the PTA. As a student he was noted for his intelligence by classmates and teachers. By 1957 Kraft was deemed intelligent enough to attend accelerated classes at 17th Street junior high school. By adolescence Kraft had taken a keen interest in politics, becoming a staunch republican with aspirations of becoming a US senator. Shortly after his enrollment at Westminster High School, he into close friends founded a Westminster world’s affair club at Westminster High Kraft was again regarded as a pleasant bright student who regularly achieved he was also known to occasionally date girls. Although some classmates and teachers later stated that they suspected Kraft was homosexual. Kraft later stated that he had known from his high school days that he was a homosexual, while though he initially kept his sexual orientation a secret. On June 13 1963, he graduated 10th out of the class of 390 pupils that fall he enrolled at Claremont men’s College in Claremont, California, where he pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. Shortly after his enrollment at Claremont men’s college Kraft enrolled in Claremont Reserve Officer Training corpse or ROTC, and regularly attended demonstrations in support of the Vietnam War. And in 1964 for the election of Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater Kraft later declared these actions were merely a mimic of his parents political views and not his own, describing his second year at Claremont as being when he had abandoned his quote last gasp of his conservative ideology. The same year Kraft entered his first known homosexual relationship. In 1964, Kraft began working as a bartender at a local Garden Grove cocktail lounge that catered to gay clientele. He was also known to regularly travel to Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach to have casual sex with hustlers.

in an apparent tentative effort to announce his sexuality to his parents Kraft took a succession of male quote friends to meet his family. In the years he was enrolled at Claremont, although he was also known to occasionally date girls. Initially, however, Krafts parents and sisters were oblivious to his homosexuality. In 1966, Kraft was arrested and charged with lewd conduct after propositioning and undercover policeman

in Huntington Beach, as he had no previous criminal record, no charges were filed. The following year, he developed a radical shift in his political beliefs, becoming an ardent supporter of left wing politics and eventually registering as a Democrat in 1967. The same year he registered as a Democrat crap became a party organiser campaigning tirelessly for the election of Robert Kennedy and receiving a personal letter from the senator thanking him for his efforts. By his senior year he had become a laksa days ago student drinking, taking drugs and regularly attending all night gambling and poker sessions with other students. The lack of commitment to his studies in his final year resulted in Kraft failing to graduate from Claremont in June of 1967. Kraft had to repeat his econometrics class, resulting in deferment of his graduation by eight months in February 1968. He graduated from Claremont men’s college with a Bachelor of Arts and economics. Four months after his graduation from college Kraft joined the US Airforce. He was sent to a boot camp in Texas before being stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, where he supervised the painting of test planes. In his service with the Air Force Kraft rose to the rank of Airman First Class and a supervisor manager. The same year Kraft became an Airman First Class he disclosed to his family that he was homosexual. In a letter he wrote to a friend Kraft described his father as having flown quote into a rage, whereas he described his mother as being more understanding if somewhat disapproving Krafts family ultimately accepted the sexuality, and he remained in close contact with his parents and siblings. Although his siblings noted he began to quote distance himself from his family after he had announced his sexuality to them. On July 26 1969, Kraft received a general discharge from the Air Force after announcing his sexuality to his superiors, the discharge was officially listed as being on quote, medical grounds. In response Kraft sought legal advice from an attorney and attempt to challenge the grounds regarding his discharged from the Air Force. The Air Force, however, refused to change the status of his discharge. Following his military discharge Kraft moved back to his parents home and worked as a bartender.

In March 1970, Kraft encountered a 13 year old Westminster youth named Joey Fancher at Huntington Beach, Fancher explained to Kraft that he had run away from home that day. In response Kraft invited the youth to accompany him to as an apartment on the promise that Fancher could live with him, Fancher greed and a company Kraft to his Belmont Shore apartment where he was drugged and assaulted. hours later, Fancher escaped from crass apartment after Kraft left the youth on attended to go to work. A member of the public summoned an ambulance, having observed Fancher is drugged and just shovelled condition. He required having a stomach pumped as a result of the drugs he had and Justin at the hospital. Fancher in form police Kraft had given him drugs and beaten him. He did not disclose to either his parents or the police that he had been sexually assaulted. A search of Kraft apartment was conducted with the cooperation of his roommate, however, Fancher had confessed to police he had taken the pills offered to him voluntarily and the officers had conducted the search without a warrant. No charges were filed. In 1971. Kraft found new employment as a forklift driver in Huntington Beach. In an effort to further his career prospects following his military discharged two years earlier, he enrolled at Long Beach State University undertaking teaching courses, their Kraft became acquainted with Jeff graves, a fellow teaching student from Minnesota four years younger than Kraft and with whom he began a relationship between 1971 1983 Kraft is believed to have killed a total of 67 victims. All of his suspected victims were males between the ages of 13 and 35, the majority of whom were in their late teens to mid 20s. Kraft was charged with and convicted of 16 of these homicides, all of which had occurred between 1972 and 1983. Many of them victims had been enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and most of his victims bodies for evidence of high levels of both alcohol and tranquillisers and their blood system, indicating that they had been rendered in sensate before they had been abused and killed. Krafts victims were typically lured into his vehicle with an offer of a Lyft or alcohol. Inside crash vehicle. The victims would be plied with alcohol and or other drugs. They would then be bound, tortured and sexually abused before they were usually killed either by strangulation, asphyxiation, or bludgeoning. Although some victims had also ingested fatal doses of pharmaceuticals, and at least one victim was stabbed to death. The victims would then be discarded, usually, though not exclusively, alongside or close to various freeways in Southern California. photographic evidence found at Krafts home indicate several of his victims were driven to his house before their murder. Many victims were burned with a car cigarette lighter, usually around the genitals, chest and face, and several were found with extensive blunt force trauma to the face and the head. In several instances, foreign objects were found inserted into the victims victims while other victims had suffered emasculation or mutilation and dismemberment.

The majority of crass murders were committed in California, although some victims had been killed in Oregon, with two further known victims murdered in Michigan in December of 1982. On October 5 1971, police found the new body of 30 year old Long Beach resident named Wayne do cat discarded close to the Ortega highway do cat a bartender at a gay bar named the stable in nearby Sunset Beach had last been seen alive on September 20 1971. Future vacation had erased any signs of foul play upon the body and the cause of death was listed as a key alcohol poisoning due to a high blood alcohol level. The first entry upon Krafts personal journal referred to as his score card reads stable leading investigators to believe that do cat was Krafts first murder victim 15 months after the murder of Duquette Kraft killed 20 year old marine named Edward more more was seen alive leaving the barracks at Camp Pendleton on December 24 1972. His body was found beside the 405 freeway in Seal Beach during the early hours of December 26. abrasions on Moore’s body indicated that he had been discarded from a moving vehicle and autopsy revealed that he had been bound about the wrists and ankles then beaten with a blunt instrument about the face before being carotid. His body also bore evidence of numerous bite marks and a sock had been forced into his rectum. Six weeks after the murder of more, the body of an unidentified male estimated to be around 17 to 25 years old, was found alongside the terminal Island freeway in Los Angeles. This victim had been strangled by a ligature and had also had a sock placed in his rectum. Two months later, on April 9, the body of 17 year old Kevin Bailey was found beside a road in Huntington Beach. Bailey had been emasculated and sodomised prior to his murder. By July 28. Further two victims have been murdered, and identified youth whose dismembered body was found on April 22, and a 20 year old named Ronnie we be who strangled body was discovered beside an on ramp to the 405 freeway on July 30, two days after he had disappeared. Well marks on wheeze wrists and ankles suggested he had been bound and suspended from a device before his murder. Kraft is only known to have killed once more in 1973. The victim was a 23 year old bisexual art student named Vincent crews Maestas, whose body was found in the San Bernardino mountains on December 29. As had been the case with several previous victims, one of the victim socks had been forced into his rectum, messed up his hands had also been severed from the body, and were never found. By November 1974, a further five victims had been found beside or close to mass transportation in Southern California, three of which had been conclusively linked to the same killer. Two of these victims 20 year old Malcolm little and 19 year old James Reeves had each been found beside the freeway with foreign objects inserted into their bodies. Whereas the body of the third victim 18 year old marine Roger Dickerson for evidence of bite marks, much as several earlier victims had been. On January 3 1975, Kraft abducted and murdered a 17 year old high school student named john lyricists. The youth was last scene boarding a bus to Long Beach. His strangled body was found the following day, discarded at Sunset Beach with a foreign object protruding from his anus. Drag marks along the beach close to where his body had been discarded, indicated two individuals had carried Larry’s body into the water. Two weeks after this murder on January 17, the body of 21 year old Craig Janata was found discarded in the parking lot of a golden sales hotel near the Pacific Coast Highway and loneliness drive in Long Beach. Tinnitus had been strangled to death with the length of string, possibly a shoelace. By January 1975. A total of 14 victims whose bodies have been found discarded across four separate counties within the previous three years have been linked to the same killer. All the victims had been Caucasian males with similar physical characteristics. On January 24, Homicide investigators from several real jurisdictions in Southern California convened in Orange County to discuss progress in the hunt for the unknown killer.

An FBI profile of the killer was read to investigators describing the individual as a methodical organised less killer above average intelligence who exhibited and indifference to the interests and welcome fear of society. Some investigators believe the murders to be the work of more than one individual one or more of whom had had a military background to victims bodies had tissue paper residue on their noses, conforming to a known military procedure to prevent bodies from purging after death. the placing of socks inside the victims victims was also theorise to be a method used by the killer to prevent purging as the body was driven to the disposal location. At this stage, investigators had no solid suspects on the evening of March 29 1975 Kraft fluid to use Keith crow well and Kent may from a long beach parking lot into his Ford Mustang to use were applied with beer and volume as Kraft drove in an apparently random directionless manner around Belmont Shore and Seal Beach may later recalled feeling catatonic as a result of the volume and alcohol he had an jested before he passed out in the parking lot were crow well, Amai had last been seen to friends of the US observed a distinctive black and white Mustang rapidly enter and draw to a halt before the driver leaned across open the passenger door and push to the unconscious but otherwise unharmed may from the rear seat onto the pavement. The driver then sped away from the scene. As he did so the friends noted crow well slumped against the unknown driver shoulder. On May 8, crow well, skull was found in a jetty close to the Long Beach Marina. The remainder of his body was found six months later, upon hearing the news, the two friends of crow LM main suspecting the murder to have been a patron of the Belmont Shore gay bar scoured their neighbourhood for the distinctive Mustang they had observed. Upon locating the vehicle less than one mile from their home. They use note of the licence plate number and relayed the information to the police. The registration of the vehicle was traced to Kraft Long Beach Police question Kraft about crow wells abduction and murder on May 19 1975. Initially, he denied ever having met crow Weller main and the police initially sceptical of Krafts denial summoned him to the police station for further questioning. Their Kraft admitted that on around March 29, he had encountered to use in the Long Beach parking lot in question and had persuaded them to drink alcohol and consume volume with him as he drove. He claimed to have return made to the parking lot and then have driven crow well to the side of a road close to the El Toro off ramp, where his car subsequently became embedded upon an embankment. He claimed to have walked alone to a gas station to call a tow truck while crow well remained with the vehicle. Upon returning to his vehicle Kraft claim that crow well had disappeared. Although crass roommate was able to verify two detectives the Kraft phone him on the date of crow wells disappearance, claiming his vehicle stuck upon an embankment, detectives remained unconvinced with crass overall version of events. The following week, two detectives attempt to file homicide charges against Kraft. However, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office dismissed the detectives requests, citing the coroner’s conclusion from his autopsy of the remains thus far found solely the US skull that the youth had died of accidental drowning. Perhaps because Kraft had been questioned as a suspect in crow wells murder, and because of the additional turmoil of his personal life in the summer of 1975 Kraft is not known to have killed again until December 31 when he had ducked a 22 year old Mark Hall in San Juan Capistrano. In this murder, later described by prosecutors as quote the worst of all of crass known murders, the man was driven to a remote Canyon where he was bound to a tree. The autopsy report listed the cause of death has been asphyxiation caused by leaves and Earthbound large deep inside hauls trachea. The autopsy also revealed Hall had been sodomised and emasculated with his severed genitals inserted into his rectum. Additionally, his chest scrotum, nose and cheeks had been burned with an automobile cigarette lighter, with his eyes being destroyed by the same object. Other injuries noted in the autopsy including numerous incisions on hauls legs, which had been inflicted with a broken bottle. forensic experts were able to reduce the hall had been alive throughout much of the ordeal. By 1976 Kraft had ended his relationship with graves. Shortly thereafter, he began a relationship with a 19 year old apprentice Baker named Jeff ceiling, and the couple moved to Laguna Hills. Although neither man was inclined towards monogamy, the couple considered their relationship permanent. Seelig later formed investigators that he and Kraft regularly picked up and propositioned hitchhikers, who, if willing would accompany them to their apartment for a threesome. However, Seelig was adamant the Kraft had never been violent towards him, and that he had never seen him display violent tendencies. Krafts relationship with Seelig is believed to be a contributory factor in the sudden low end murders He is known to have committed. He is not known to have killed again until December 10 1976. The body of the victim 19 year old Paul fudges has never been found. Nonetheless, Fletcher’s name is clearly listed upon Kraft scorecard following the December 1976 murder of his Kraft is not known to have killed any further victims for 16 months. On January 3 1978, Homicide investigators again convene to discuss the progress in relation to the manhunt for the still identified killer. By this stage, Investigators knew there was more than one murderer at large. The previous July police at arrested Patrick Kerney, who subsequently confessed to the murders of 28 boys and young men, many of whom he had dissected and discarded and trash bags beside the freeways in Southern California. Although Kraft himself had dismembered some of his victims bodies, he had never killed his victims by shooting them in the temple as Kearney had. Additionally Kearney had never tortured any of his victims. His modus operandi significantly different from that of Kraft and investigators were certain that an altogether separate killer was still at large. On April 16 1978, Kraft abducted an 18 year old marine named Scott Michael Hughes, Hughes was plied with volume before Kraft slit open his grow them and removed one of his testicles, then strangled him to death with a ligature before discarding his fully clothed by missing only his shoe laces beside a freeway on ramp in Anaheim. Two months later, on June 11, the body of 23 year old Ronald Young was found near San Diego freeway. Young had been emasculated before he was stabbed to death. abrasions to his body indicated that he had been thrown from a vehicle travelling at a high speed. Eight days later, the body of 20 year old Camp Pendleton marine named Richard Keith was found discarded beside a road in Multan Parkway. welts on keys. Risks indicated that he had been bound before he was strangled with a ligature for often throat indicated that he was also drowning as a result of Lorazepam and alcohol he had consumed at the time he was strangled. Three weeks after the murder of Keith on July six Kraft killed a 23 year old hitchhiker named Keith clean bail. Clean Bill had adjusted a large dose of paracetamol and alcohol before he strangled with his own shoelace and his body discarded beside the interstate five freeway. Although clean bill was still alive when discovered he would die shortly after his admission to the mission Community Hospital. A subsequent autopsy revealed that prior to clean bill strangulation, his left nipple had been seared with an automobile cigarette lighter. Two months later, on September 29, the body of 20 year old Richard Crosby was found discarded 200 yards north of highway 71 in San Bernardino County. Crosby had disappeared the previous day. As he hitchhiked home from a theatre in Torrance. The youth had died of suffocation and his left nipple had been mutilated with an automobile cigarette lighter. The last known victim claimed by Kraft in 1978 was a 21 year old Long Beach truck driver named Michael endure beaten whose castrated body was found besides San Diego freeway on November 18 1978, in addition to having been castrated, endure beaten had been violated with a foreign object and had suffered burn wounds similar to those afflicted on pawn victim Mark Hall two years previously, the cause of death was listed as suffocation. Kraft is not known to have killed again until June 16 1979. When he abducted a 20 year old marine named Donald crystal, his body was thrown from moving vehicle on to the 405 freeway. The cause of death was listed as acute alcohol poisoning. Although rope and burn marks indicated crystal had been bound and tortured prior to his body being discarded. Two months later on August 29, two dismembered body of an unidentified male estimated to be aged between 18 and 30 was found placed into two trash bags behind a union 76 gas station in Long Beach. The entry upon Kraft score card simply reading 76 is believed to refer to this victim. Although only the head torso and left leg of this victim wherever found this victim like several others had a sock placed inside his rectum. Two weeks later on September 14, the body of 20 year old Gregory Wallace jolly was found in Lake Arrowhead jolly had been emasculated in his head legs have been severed after death. His personal possessions were later found in Krafts home on November 24 1979, a 15 year old Santa Ana youth named Jeffrey Sayer is believed to have been abducted and murdered by Kraft, Saviour was last seen at a bus stop in Westminster as he travelled home from a date with his girlfriend. The entry Westminster date on Kraft scorecard is believed to refer to their

on February 18 1980, the decapitated body of 19 year old marine named Mark Ellen Marsh was found near Templin highway. Marsh was last seen hitchhiking towards Park. His hands had also been severed from his body after death. In the summer of 1980, Kraft travelled to the neighbouring state of Oregon as part of a contractual assignment delegated to him by his employers. throughout the duration of his deployment, he resided in a town close to Portland. Before he returned to California in August, he is believed to have claimed a further two victims, both of whom were listed upon his score card with cryptic references including the word Portland. The first victim of 17 year old Denver youth named Michael O’Fallon, was killed on July 17. O’Fallon had been on a solo hitchhiking trip across the US and Canada. Prior to his enrollment at college at the time of his murder. He was plied with both alcohol and volume before he was strangled to death. Oh found nude hogtied body was discarded 10 miles south of Salem, he was listed upon Kraft scorecard as Portland Denver. The following day Kraft is believed to have killed a man estimated to be aged between 35 and 45 years old, whose body was found beside a freeway in the city of Ward burn. This victim listed as Portland elk on Kraft scorecard had ingested a toxic level of volume and Tylenol before he was strangled to death with the ligature. On September 3 1981, month after is returned to California, the body of 19 year old marine named Robert logins was found discarded in a trash bag close to the El Toro marine base. logins had been last seen alive by two fellow Marines close to the Pacific Coast Highway on August 23. photographs and the negatives subsequently found in Krafts possession depict logins and Krafts living room slumped, fully clothed on a sofa, apparently intoxicated, and in various nude pornographic postures. All these pictures to pick logins with his eyes closed. It is unknown whether the victim was alive or dead at the time they were taken.

On April 10 1981, the body of 17 year old youth named Michael cluck was found beside the interstate five freeway close to the community of caution Oregon clock had been abducted as he hitchhiked from Kent, Washington to Bakersfield, California, the day prior to his body being discovered. The youth had been killed by 31 blows to the head, each inflicted by a blunt instrument which had destroyed the rear of his cranium. In addition, cloak had been sodomised and his body savagely, beaten, kicked and scoured clock is believed to have been recorded upon Kraft scorecard as Portland blood due to the extensive blood and debris found at the murder scene. At the time of the murder Kraft is known to have again been deployed by his employers to Oregon. In addition, today clocks body was discovered. Kraft is also known to have visited a lane county hospital to receive treatment for bruised foot. Four months after clocks murder on August 20 1981, the partially closed body of 17 year old male prostitute Christopher Allium Williams was found in San Bernardino mountains. William had been played with both fino Barba tall and benzodiazepine MM was found with tissue paper lodged deep in his nostrils, causing the youth to choke to death on his own mucus. By early 1982, the relationship between Kraft and selek had become marred by frequent fights and episodes of temporary separation. In an effort to resolve their personal differences. The couple began attending weekly counselling sessions in Huntington Beach. The sessions began on June 22 1982, following complaints from residents of Echo Park regarding a foul odour emanating from the direction of the Hollywood freeway. On July 29, 1982. Caltrans employees found the decaying body of a 14 year old Pittsburgh youth named Raymond Davis discarded alongside the rampart Boulevard offering rudimentary efforts had been made to conceal Davis’s body beneath leaves and soil. He had last been seen alive in Echo Park on June 17, searching for his missing dog to use Redis had been knotted behind his back much the same manner as victim O’Fallon had been two years previously, and he had been strangled to death with his own shoelace. The entry upon Kraft score card reading dog is believed to refer to Davis just 40 feet from Davis’s body. The same Caltrans crew also found the body of 16 year old Robert Avila of Isla had been missing since July 21. Although his body was also markedly decomposed, he had been strangled to death with the length of stereo speaker wire. Kraft has not known to have killed again until November 1 1982 when he abducted and murdered a 24 year old Modesto man named Arnie Mikael lane. Lane was last seen hitchhiking towards Orange County in search of work. His body was not found until January 1984, discarded on a hillside close to the town of Ramona. For weeks after lanes murder. The semi nude body of 26 year old Brian Witcher was dumped from a moving vehicle along the interstate five freeway close to the city of Wilson Ville, Oregon. Witcher had ingested high levels of both alcohol and volume, but he died of a fixation. On December 3 1982, a 29 year old Carpenter named Anthony Jose Silva area disappeared while hitchhiking towards Medford. His body was found two weeks later strangled sodomised and bearing evidence of having been violated with foreign objects prior to his murder. At the time of the murders both Witcher and severe area at the time of the murders of both Witcher instals various Kraft was again known to have been in Oregon on a business trip, which concluded the day of so various death on December 4 Kraft is known to have driven from Portland to Seattle to visit friends. Throughout this brief visit, he was observed wearing a military jacket inscribed with the name Sylvania. On December 5, Kraft flew from Seattle to Grand Rapids, Michigan, again on business. Two days after his arrival in Grand Rapids Kraft encountered cousins Dennis alt and Christopher shoe born. As the trio attended a seminar in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel Kraft was observed conversing with the pair at the reception area of the hotel shortly before midnight. Their bodies were discovered on December 9 in an open field close to the hotel. Both victims had been plied with alcohol and volume prior to their sodomy and murder, and the bodies had been arranged in a sexually suggestive position. Age 24 had died of this fixation, where shoe born age 20 had been strangled to death with his own belt. In addition of ballpoint pen had been inserted into shoe borns urethra prior to his murder. Both victims were recorded upon Kraft score card in a single entry reading GR to a set of keys belonging to shoo born plus, so various military jacket were left by Kraft in the hotel. On December 8, Kraft travelled from Michigan to Portland within 24 hours of us returned to Oregon. He had killed a 19 year old hitchhiker named Lance tags tags Atlassian seen hitchhiking from the city of T guard to the home of a relative in Los Angeles on December 8, his body was discovered the following day discarded along the rural road in Clackamas County, close to where the body of Witcher had been found just two weeks earlier, as had been the case with all shoe borne tags had been played with alcohol and value prior to his murder, although tags had died of suffocation caused by a sock thrust into his trachea. Noting the passage of time between periods of activity when bodies of young males have been found discarded near Mass Transportation with alcohol and or pharmaceuticals in their bloodstream and Oregon investigators theorised that their killer resided in another state and struck in Oregon only when on business. Following the murders of severe diarrhoea Witcher and tags Oregon investigators relayed details of the murder to police and other states describing the modus operandi of the killer. They were seeking and requesting feedback from police force who had unsolved murders of a young males on their files with similar characteristics. a response from Southern California counties was swift. The pattern of killings was identical to the victims linked to the unknown killer in California. The six Oregon murders were committed by Kraft with us link the murders he had committed in California Kraft did not kill again until January 27 1983, when he abducted a 21 year old hitchhiker named Eric church. The victim was last seen alive hitchhiking from Orange County to Sacramento the day prior to his murder. His body was found discarded alongside the ice 605. An autopsy concluded church had ingested high levels of alcohol and value and had been sodomised rope marks on churches risk indicated he had struggled against his restraints before he died of a combination of ligature, strangulation, and numerous blows to the side of his skull inflicted by a blunt instrument. On February 12, Kraft killed two Blaine apartment 18 year old Jeffrey Nelson and 20 year old Roger Deval, the two men were last seen outside of the house of a friend named Bryce Wilson. Shortly after midnight, informing Wilson that they intended to purchase something to eat. Nelson’s nude body was found alongside an off ramp close to Garden Grove freeway. Several hours after he and vault were last seen. He had been emasculated, strangled and thrown from a moving vehicle. devolves body was found the following day discarded down a mountainside close to Mount Baldy in San Bernardino County. Deval had been bound sodomised and strangled with court has had been the case with Nelson Deval had adjusted both alcohol and pro prayer and all prior to his murder. In addition, both victims had ingested both potato skins and grapes shortly before their murder.

At 1:10am on May 14 1983, to California Highway Patrol officers observed a Toyota Celica driving erratically on the high five in Orange County community of mission Vale, observing the vehicle performant a legal lane change the officers suspecting The driver was drunk signalled for the vehicle to stop, the driver slowed the vehicle to a halt and exited the car, discarding the contents of a beer bottle onto the pavement as he did so. Officer Michael Sterling met the individual who identified himself as Randy Kraft at the front of his patrol car and observed that his jeans were unbuttoned Sterling had Kraft performance sobriety test, which he failed. Sterling arrested Kraft for driving while intoxicated. Sterling’s partner Sergeant Michael Howard approached the Celica and observed a young man slumped with his eyes closed in the vehicle passenger seat partially covered by a jacket and with empty beer bottles strewn around his feet. How attempted to wake the man. Receiving no response to his verbal efforts, Howard attempted to rouse the man by shaking his arm only to the note that the individual had a low body temperature. Upon feeling for a pulse, Howard noted the man was dead, with the ligature Mark visibly and circling his neck. Lifting the jacket from the victims lap, Howard noted the victims jeans had been open to expose his genitalia. In addition, the victims hands had been bound with a shoelace and his risk for evidence of wealth marks. later identified as Terry Lee gambrel, a 25 year old marine stationed at El Toro airbase, the victim had been strangled to death. Kraft was initially charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and was held in custody as the detectives conducted a thorough search of his vehicle. Upon the rear seat of the car, investigators found a belt, the width of which match the bruising around Gambrills neck. Other incriminating evidence included alcohol tranquillisers, very prescription drugs and stimulants. The passenger seat and carpet of the vehicle were heavily blood stained. However, gambrel had no open wounds. The upholstery was removed for forensic analysis, the results of which confirm the blood was human. Beneath the carpet, investigators found an envelope containing over 50 pictures of young men in pornographic poses. Many of the subjects in the pictures appeared either asleep or dead. Inside the trunk, investigators found a ring binder containing a handwritten list of coded notations, a search of crass home revealed the further incriminating evidence including close and personal possessions of numerous young men who had been murdered over the last decade. fibres taken from a rug match those found on victim Scott Hughes. In addition, the couch and Krafts living room was identified as being the one in the photographs found in Krafts car. The coded list of 61 neatly printed terms and phrases found in Krafts car is believed to refer to each of crass victims. Many entries appear innocuous, but each is believed to refer to a specific murder victim or double murder. Several entries clearly referred to victims names for example, the entry reading EDM refers to the initials of victim Edward Daniel more, whereas Vince m refers to Vincent Maestas. In other instances, entries indicated torture or mutilation inflicted upon victims bodies and or places they were last seen. The entry marine had BP, for example, is believed to refer to victim Mark Marsh, a marine found decapitated and having last been seen hitchhiking towards buying a park, and other entries simply heart towards body dump locations. The entry golden sales for example refers to the fact that the body of Craig john itis was found in the park lot of the Golden sales hotel. The list also contains entries indicating a minimum of four double murders. gr two victims Dennis all and Christopher schoenborn last scene in Grand Rapids, two in one beach victims Jeffrey Nelson and Roger default, two in one hitch, and two in one MV to PL neither entry which has been linked to any double murders or disappearance. Investigators contended that two victims of hulu’s murders Kraft was convicted church in gambrel are not listed on Kraft scorecard. However, since the list is a code, the possibility exists that church in particular is actually included on the scorecard as an entry which investigators cannot recognise as referring to him. Gambrell may also be included on the list, although as Kraft was arrested while he attempt to dispose of the body, he may not have been recorded as an entry on his scorecard. The these possibilities indicate that the scorecard lyst, a minimum of 65 and a possible total of 67 victims. The entry upon Kraft score card reading Navy White is believed by investigators to refer to 17 year old named James Sean Cox and apprentice medic stationed at Mathur Air Force Base, who was last scenes on September 29 1974, hitchhiking near I five men whose body was found several weeks later in Rancho Santa Fe. At the time of his disappearance, Cox was dressed in his white Navy uniform, in addition to the colour of his uniform, Cox was a blonde youth. A further entry on Kraft scorecard simply reading Iowa is believed to refer to an 18 year old marine named oral Alfred Stewart Jr, who had been born in Iowa. His body was found discarded close to a long beach condominium on November 10 1974, the man had died as a result of blunt force trauma. His body remained on identified until March 2012. Investigators know a similar modus operandi in the murders and body disposal of Stewart to that of victims Kraft is known to have killed 22 Krafts estimated 67 victims remain and recovered and identified. This is due in part to the killings having occurred throughout several states and with bodies being discarded in varying locations. On May 16 1983. Kraft was formally charged with the murder of Gambrell. By September 8, investigators had interviewed over 700 witnesses and had gathered more than 250 physical exhibits, which pointed towards crass guilt in a further 15 homicides committed between December 1972 and February 1983, of which he was charged in addition to the two counts of sodomy, and one of emasculation they were as follows Edward more 20 December 24 1972 Kevin Bailey 17 April 9 1973 Ronnie VB 20 July 28 1973 Keith crow well 18 March 29 1975 Mark Hall 22 January 1 1976 Scott Hughes 18 April 16 1978 Roland young 23 July 11 1978 Richard Keith 20 June 19 1978 Keith clean Beale 23 July 6 1978 Michael Ender beaten 21 November 18 1978 Donald Crystal 20 June 16 1979 Robert logins 19 August 23 1980 Eric church 21 January 27 1983 Roger double 20 February 12 1983 Jeffrey Nelson 18 February 12 1983 and Terry Lee Gambrell 25 may 14 1983 Krafts trial began on September 26 1988. in Orange County, before judge Donald a McCartan. At the trial, almost 160. witnesses were called to testify on behalf of the prosecution, and over 1000 exhibits were introduced as evidence. This evidence included the physical evidence such as bloodstains, hair and fibre evidence found in Kraft Long Beach residents and in his car fingerprints found upon glass shards recovered from whole murder scene, negatives and photographs of victims found hidden inside Krafts vehicle which depicted the men either dead drugged or asleep, and which background imagery revealed had been taken at Krafts home or as the victims sat inside his car, in addition to the belt us to strangle gambrel and the prescription drug and buck night found in the vehicle. Other evidence introduced include work and travel records and gasoline receipts, which plays Kraft in particular locations where victims had been abducted and or discarded, and the numerous personal possessions of various murder victims found in Kraft possessions following his arrest. Kraft defence was primarily one of alibis and alternate suspects. His attorneys dismissed much of the evidence produced as being circumstantial and attempted to portray Kraft as an articulate, hardworking, and upstanding member of the community. They did not refute that the 16 men for whose murder their client was tried were murder victims. Yet they argued that they were victims of someone but not Randy Kraft. The Defence also stated that several of the 16 victims had initially been believed by investigators to been killed by one of two other serial killers. Patrick Kearney and William bonded and our argued that there was no concrete evidence Kraft had killed any of the victims. The trial lasted a total of 13 months and would prove to be one of the most expensive trials in Orange County history. On April 29 1989, each side open their closing arguments which lasted a total of three days. The prosecution again listing all the physical circumstantial evidence pointing to Krafts guilt, the defence, arguing as to the circumstantial case, put forward by the prosecution that all murders were linked and accusing the prosecution of quote glossing over the truth. Following the closing arguments, the jury deliberated for a total of 11 days before reaching their verdict. On May 12 1989, Kraft was found guilty of 16 counts of murder, one count of sodomy and one count of emasculation. On one additional count of sodomy in relation to victim Roger Deval Kraft was found not guilty. On June 5 1989, the jury reconvene to hear further testimony from the prosecution and the defence as to the penalty for Kraft. This phase of Krafts trial would last until August. And it was at this point at which the prosecution introduced evidence of several additional homicides committed in both Oregon and Michigan, which they were certain Kraft had also committed and for which he had not been tried in Orange County. The Defence dismissed the prosecution’s assertions as being quote, highly speculative and introduced testimony relating to a PT scan conducted on Kraft which they asserted revealed abnormalities in frontal lobe of his brain, therefore reducing his ability to control both his emotions and impulse. The prosecution rebuffed this testimony by stating to the jury quote, there is nothing wrong with Mr crass mind other than that he likes to kill for his sexual satisfaction, unquote, adding that the fact that his family and friends have found it difficult to believe that he had committed any murders simply showed, quote, what a good salesman he is, on quote. On August 11 1989, the jury rendered a verdict of death. Three months later, on November 29, Judge McCartan formally sentence Krafted death sentence was upheld by the California Supreme Court on August 11 2000. Kraft remains on death row at San Quentin State Prison. He continues to nullify guilt in any of the homicides for which he has both convicted or suspected of committing. Both circumstantial and DNA evidence relating to some of crass murders have caused many to strongly suspect that not all of the murders attributed to Kraft were committed by one person. The prosecution believed these in consistencies could only be explained by the presence of an accomplice. It is contended that

Kraft would have had difficulty moving a 200 pound corpse, dumping them from moving vehicles while alone would also be difficult to do unnoticed. abrasions and debris found at some of the crime scenes where bodies had been discarded upon or alongside freeways indicated that they had been discarded from vehicles travelling at more than 50 miles per hour. And for one individual to perform this act without compromising his driving would be very difficult. Moreover, footprints in the sand close to where the body of john lewis was found on Sunset Beach in 1975. unequivocably indicate that two people had carried the US body to where it was discarded. In the case of Eric church, semen samples found on his body were inconsistent with crass blood type. And while the photographs of victims found in Krafts car had to have been processed somewhere no photo developer ever reported Krafts more but images to the police. During the trial, members of the prosecution admitted privately that they did not charge Kraft and several murders that they were certain he had committed because of the facts relating to the case which had indicated more than one perpetrator. Although DNA evidence found upon the body of church was incompatible with Kraft investigators had found photographs depicting church and Krafts car and his distinctive normal co electric razor was also found in Kraft house. The prosecution believe Krafts former lover Jeff Gray’s may have assisted Kraft in several murders.

Graves who had lived with Kraft between 1971 and 1976 when 16 no murders attributed to Kraft occurred had been question in relation to crow wells abduction and murder in 1975, when he verified part of Kraft statement put to police. When question further about the incident following crass arrest in 1983, graves had informed investigators quote, I’m really not going to pay for it, you know, unquote. Graves died

of AIDS on July 20 seventh 1987. At the time of his death, police had been preparing to question him further. In January 2000. Journalists Dennis McDougal, the author of the 1991 book about Krafts, entitled Angel of Darkness published an article which recounted interviews with a small time criminal named Bob Jackson, who reportedly confessed to murdering two hitchhikers with Kraft one in Wyoming in 1975 and another in Colorado in 1976. Authorities in both Colorado and Wyoming were unable to corroborate these claims. Jackson also told MacDougall that Kraft scorecard included his more memorable murders in Jackson’s opinion. Krafts total body count stood closer to 100. MacDougall reported these allegations to the police and provided tape recordings of the interviews. Detectives interrogated Jackson and eventually persuaded him to enter a mental institution. No murder charges were filed against him due to an absence of direct information. eminence Kraft sued McDougal and the publishers of Angel of Darkness in 1993, seeking $62 million in damages. The suit contended that the book smeared his quote good name unjustly and portrayed him as a quote sick twisted man and destroyed his prospects for future employment by ruining his chances for overturning his conviction on appeal. The lawsuit was dismissed by the California Supreme Court in June 1994.

Randy Kraft was one of the most prolific serial killers in US history. And yet he is relatively unknown. He brutally tortured his victims getting satisfaction from their fear and suffering. Had he not been caught, he would have kept killing. That is without question. The mystery in this case is did Kraft have an accomplice. It is a scary thought that there may have been a person out there who was involved in these horrible crimes, who thus far has escaped justice. And since Kraft denies any involvement in these murders To this day, it doesn’t look like we’ll know the answer anytime soon. As always, you can contact me at True Crime trucker podcast at gmail. com or join the Facebook group at True Crime truckers podcast. Also visit my web page at www dot age of radio.org. backslash True Crime trucker backslash. You can also follow me on Instagram at Michael dot print one. I will return in two weeks with a special Halloween episode. So until then, stay safe