Lost in the Haze

Throughout the 1970s, Southern California residents were held in the grip of terror as multiple serial killers stalked the streets, preying on victims from every walk of life, including the area’s gay community. From 1971 to 1983, Randy Kraft kidnapped, tortured, and murdered at least sixteen men and boys, but the real number of victims is believed to be considerably higher. When he was arrested in 1983, investigators searched Kraft’s home and found a list with cryptic references to what they believed were sixty-one victims in total. The discovery of that list led the press to dub Kraft “The Scorecard Killer.”

Following his arrest in 1983, Randy Kraft was tried and convicted of sixteen counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Although the arrest and trial put an end to Kraft’s murder spree, several critical questions remain unanswered, including the most important aspect of the case detectives were never able to solve: who was Randy Kraft’s accomplice?

Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!

References

Arnold, Roxane, and Jerry Hicks. 1983. "Kraft suspected in deaths of 14 men in 3 states, Gates says." Los Angeles Times, May 20: 73.

Associated Press. 1983. "Five murders charged to computer analyst." Sacramento Bee, May 25: 2.

—. 1978. "Police seek link in deaths of 18." San Bernardino County Sun, November 24: 3.

—. 1983. "Freeway killing pattern repeats." The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA), February 19: 2.

Bajko, Matthew. 2016. Gay serial killer breaks silence. November 2. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.ebar.com/story/246748.

Grant, Gordon. 1983. "How a routine stop led to a big arrest." Los Angeles Times, May 20: 73.

Hicks, Jerry. 1988. "Alleged 'death list' made public as Kraft trial opens." Los Angeles Times, September 27: 69.

—. 1989. "Kraft condemned to death by jury for serial killings." Los Angeles Times, August 12: 1.

—. 1988. "Kraft defense says marine found in car was not dead." Los Angeles Times, September 28: 76.

—. 1989. "Kraft guilty of 16 sex slayings, jury decides." Los Angeles Times, May 13: 1.

—. 1989. "Orange County jury gets Kraft serial murder case." Los Angeles Times, April 28: 76.

—. 1988. "Two other states were closing in on Kraft." Los Angeles Times, January 4: 3.

—. 1989. "Witness says Kraft drugged and sexually assaulted him in 1970." Los Angeles Times, June 6: 3.

Hughes, Beth. 1982. "L.A. area's missing youths-a trail of mystery and murder." San Francisco Examiner, August 23: B5.

Jarlson, Gary. 1983. "Suspect in 4 slayings also investigated in 6 Oregon murders." Los Angeles Times, May 19: 80.

Kennedy, J. Michael. 1978. "Four deaths turn into four mysteries." Los Angeles Times, September 2: 17.

Los Angeles Times. 1973. "Head of a man found in a bag at paper plant." Los Angeles Times, April 27: 23.

—. 1988. "Randy Kraft's scorecard?" Los Angeles Times, October 2: 117.

McDougal, Dennis. 1991. Angel of Darkness: The True Story of Randy Kraft and the Most Heinous Murder Spree. New York, NY: Warner Books.

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