Oregon Identifies Cold Case Victim Linked to Serial Killer

News Summary

Oregon law enforcement has identified Larry Eugene Parks as the victim in a nearly 45-year-old cold case. His murder is linked to notorious serial killer Randy Kraft, who is serving life for multiple murders. Parks was unidentifiable at the time of his death in 1980, classified as a John Doe until recent forensic genealogy work provided a breakthrough. Investigators continue to seek connections between Kraft and other potential victims.

Oregon Identifies Victim Linked to Notorious Serial Killer

Oregon law enforcement has identified the victim of a nearly 45-year-old cold case as Larry Eugene Parks, a 30-year-old man found dead along Interstate 5 in July 1980. This significant breakthrough links Parks to Randy Kraft, known as the Scorecard Killer, who is currently serving a life sentence for murdering 16 men in California.

The Oregon State Police announced that Kraft is the sole suspect in Parks’ murder. Kraft, now 80 years old, has been incarcerated in San Quentin State Prison since his conviction in 1989. Despite being linked to numerous murders, Kraft continues to maintain his innocence, denying any involvement in Parks’ death.

Discovery and Identification

When Parks’ body was discovered on July 18, 1980, authorities launched a homicide investigation, but the victim could not be identified at that time, leading to the classification as a John Doe. Parks, a Vietnam War veteran, had lost contact with his family in 1979, with his last known whereabouts being in Pensacola, Florida. His family remained unaware of his circumstances until his identification last month.

The breakthrough in the case came in 2024 when an investigator from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department contacted the Oregon State Police Cold Case Unit for assistance. Utilizing forensic genealogy, investigators constructed a genetic profile from a blood sample found at the original crime scene. After potential relatives of Parks submitted their DNA for comparison, his identity was confirmed.

Kraft’s Criminal History

The notorious Kraft has an extensive history of criminal behavior. He gained notoriety in 1983 when he was pulled over for erratic driving, leading to the discovery of a dead U.S. Marine in his passenger seat. Investigators also found a coded list believed to document 67 potential victims across California, Oregon, and Michigan. Since then, law enforcement has been scrutinizing more evidence to establish a connection between Kraft and Parks’ death.

In a related development, in 2023, the remains of another individual believed to have been a victim of Kraft were identified using similar forensic genealogy techniques, underscoring the ongoing efforts by police to link Kraft to further unsolved cases and establish a broader pattern of his criminal activities.

Background on Randy Kraft

Kraft is often characterized by prosecutors as a fetishist, who reportedly kept dismembered body parts of his victims in his refrigerator. His case has sparked considerable media attention due to the chilling nature of his crimes and the prolonged search for justice for his victims.

The identification of Larry Eugene Parks marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to resolve cold cases involving potential victims of Randy Kraft. Investigators continue to analyze additional evidence, aiming to piece together the series of events surrounding Parks’ murder and bring closure to his family and others affected by Kraft’s gruesome legacy.

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