- Jun 16, 2023
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In a significant development in a decades-old cold case, Oregon State Police have identified the remains of a man found along Interstate 5 in 1980 as those of 30-year-old Vietnam War veteran Larry Eugene Parks. Authorities believe that notorious serial killer Randy Kraft, known as the "Scorecard Killer," is connected to Parks' murder.
Parks' body was discovered on July 18, 1980, near Woodburn, Oregon, just a day after the body of 17-year-old Michael Sean O'Fallon was found approximately 25 miles away. Both victims had been strangled, and investigators at the time suspected a link between the two cases. However, the second victim remained unidentified for over four decades.
The breakthrough came in January 2024, when forensic genealogy techniques led to the identification of Parks. Investigators from the Orange County Sheriff's Department collaborated with Oregon authorities, submitting DNA samples that ultimately matched with Parks' family members. Parks had last been seen in Pensacola, Florida, in 1979, and his family was unaware of his fate until the recent identification.
Randy Kraft, now 80 years old, was convicted in 1989 of 16 murders and is suspected in as many as 67 killings, primarily targeting young men, including military personnel, across multiple states. He earned the moniker "Scorecard Killer" after investigators found a coded list in his car, believed to reference his victims. Kraft is currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison in California.
Oregon State Police have designated Kraft as the sole person of interest in Parks' murder. While evidence is still being processed to establish a definitive link, authorities express confidence in their direction. "There's some evidence that we're processing to determine that link," said Oregon State Police spokesperson Kyle Kennedy. "We are very confident that we have the correct person of interest."
This case highlights the advancements in forensic science and the persistent efforts of law enforcement to resolve cold cases, bringing closure to families after decades of uncertainty.
Source: Incarcerated California serial killer potentially linked to decades-old death in Oregon, police say
Parks' body was discovered on July 18, 1980, near Woodburn, Oregon, just a day after the body of 17-year-old Michael Sean O'Fallon was found approximately 25 miles away. Both victims had been strangled, and investigators at the time suspected a link between the two cases. However, the second victim remained unidentified for over four decades.
The breakthrough came in January 2024, when forensic genealogy techniques led to the identification of Parks. Investigators from the Orange County Sheriff's Department collaborated with Oregon authorities, submitting DNA samples that ultimately matched with Parks' family members. Parks had last been seen in Pensacola, Florida, in 1979, and his family was unaware of his fate until the recent identification.
Randy Kraft, now 80 years old, was convicted in 1989 of 16 murders and is suspected in as many as 67 killings, primarily targeting young men, including military personnel, across multiple states. He earned the moniker "Scorecard Killer" after investigators found a coded list in his car, believed to reference his victims. Kraft is currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison in California.
Oregon State Police have designated Kraft as the sole person of interest in Parks' murder. While evidence is still being processed to establish a definitive link, authorities express confidence in their direction. "There's some evidence that we're processing to determine that link," said Oregon State Police spokesperson Kyle Kennedy. "We are very confident that we have the correct person of interest."
This case highlights the advancements in forensic science and the persistent efforts of law enforcement to resolve cold cases, bringing closure to families after decades of uncertainty.
Source: Incarcerated California serial killer potentially linked to decades-old death in Oregon, police say
