Violent Minds

The Complete Story of Randy Kraft: The Scorecard Killer

Introduction

Randy Steven Kraft, infamously known as the “Scorecard Killer,” the “Southern California Strangler,” and the “Freeway Killer,” stands as one of America’s most prolific yet lesser-known serial killers. Between 1972 and 1983, Kraft committed the rape, torture, and murder of at least 16 young men in California, though investigators believe the true victim count may exceed 67. His case is particularly disturbing not only for the extreme brutality of his crimes but also for the stark contrast between his public persona as an intelligent, mild-mannered computer consultant and the sadistic predator who methodically documented his kills on a cryptic “scorecard“. This comprehensive analysis explores Kraft’s life, crimes, psychological profile, and the investigation that finally brought him to justice, revealing the complex and disturbing mind behind one of America’s most horrific killing sprees.

Early Life and Development

Childhood and Family Background

Randy Steven Kraft was born on March 19, 1945, in Long Beach, California, the fourth child and only son of Opal Lee and Harold Herbert Kraft. His father worked as a production operative at Douglas Aircraft Company, while his mother took various jobs to supplement the family income, including working as a seamstress and later as a school cook. Despite their modest means, Kraft’s mother always made time for her children, whereas his father remained emotionally distant from the family.

In 1948, when Kraft was three years old, the family moved from Long Beach to Midway City in Orange County, settling in a small wood-frame home that had previously served as a Women’s Army Corps dormitory. As a child, Kraft was doted on by his mother and three older sisters, though he was notably accident-prone. At age one, he broke his collarbone after falling from a couch, and at age two, he was knocked unconscious after tumbling down a flight of stairs. These early head injuries would later become significant in understanding his psychological development.

Education and Early Signs of Intelligence

Kraft demonstrated exceptional intelligence from an early age. He excelled academically throughout his school years, earning accelerated placement in junior high due to his above-average grades. In high school, he founded a World Affairs Club and developed a passion for conservative politics, even aspiring to become a U.S. senator. Teachers and classmates described him as quiet but friendly, with no apparent signs of the violent tendencies that would later emerge.

In 1963, Kraft graduated tenth in his class of 390 from Westminster High School and won a scholarship to Claremont Men’s College (now Claremont McKenna College) as an economics major. During his first year at college, he enrolled in the Reserve Officers Training Corps and attended pro-Vietnam War rallies, supporting conservative political candidates. However, by his junior year in 1965, his political views had shifted dramatically to the left, coinciding with his increasing use of drugs, particularly Valium.

Sexual Identity and Military Service

While at Claremont, Kraft began to acknowledge his homosexuality, though he kept it hidden from his family and friends. In 1964, he had his first known gay relationship with a man he identified only as “Mike“. Two years later, while living off-campus, Kraft was arrested after offering to have sex with a man near Huntington Beach Pier who turned out to be an undercover vice officer. As it was a first offense, he was released with a warning.

After graduating from college in 1968, Kraft joined the U.S. Air Force, where he rose to the rank of Airman First Class and worked painting test planes. During this time, he campaigned for Robert Kennedy and continued his leftward political shift. In 1969, Kraft finally revealed his homosexuality to his family, who strongly disapproved, causing him to become distant from them. That same year, the Air Force discharged him for “medical reasons” after learning of his sexual orientation. Following his discharge, Kraft began using amphetamines to lose weight, marking the beginning of his escalating substance abuse issues.

The Evolution of a Killer

Early Criminal Behavior

Kraft’s transition from a promising young man to a serial killer remains one of the most disturbing aspects of his case. Unlike many serial killers who display obvious warning signs in childhood, Kraft’s early life offered few indications of his future violence. His former classmates and friends expressed shock and disbelief upon learning of his crimes, with one former classmate stating that if they had to pick five people from their class who would never become mass murderers, “Randy would be one of the five”.

The first documented indication of Kraft’s violent tendencies came in 1971, when he was charged with sexual misconduct toward a young man. However, these charges were dropped when the witness failed to appear in court, and remarkably, Kraft’s parole officer was never informed of the incident. This missed opportunity allowed Kraft to continue developing his predatory behavior without intervention.

The First Murders and Pattern Development

Kraft’s killing spree officially began on September 20, 1971, though his first known murder wasn’t discovered until 1972 when the body of 20-year-old Edward Daniel Moore was found. Moore’s name would later appear on Kraft’s scorecard as “EDM“. Over the next decade, Kraft developed a consistent and horrifying methodology for selecting, abducting, torturing, and killing his victims.

His preferred targets were young men between the ages of 18 and 25, many of whom were hitchhikers, Marines from nearby El Toro Air Base, or men he met at gay bars in Los Angeles and Orange County. Kraft would gain their trust through friendly conversation before offering them rides, alcohol, or drugs. Once in his car, the victims would be drugged with a combination of alcohol and prescription medications, including Valium and various painkillers, rendering them helpless.

Torture Methods and Sexual Sadism

What distinguishes Kraft from many other serial killers is the extreme sadism he displayed in his crimes. Once his victims were incapacitated, Kraft would subject them to horrific torture before killing them. His methods included:

• Burning victims with a car cigarette lighter, particularly around the genitals, chest, and face5
• Inflicting severe blunt force trauma to the face and head
• Castrating or emasculating victims, often while they were still alive
• Inserting foreign objects into victims’ anuses
• Sodomizing victims with various implements, including broken bottles and knives
• Strangling victims with their own shoelaces or belts

Many of Kraft’s victims showed signs of sexual mutilation, with several having had their genitals removed before death. This extreme sexual sadism indicates a level of pathology that goes beyond even most serial killers. After killing his victims, Kraft would often take “trophies” in the form of personal items or photographs, which he kept as mementos of his crimes.

The Scorecard and Documentation

The Cryptic List

Perhaps the most chilling aspect of Kraft’s crimes was his meticulous documentation. Upon his arrest, investigators discovered a sheet of yellow legal paper in his car containing 61 cryptic entries written in two columns. This document, which would become known as Kraft’s “scorecard,” contained coded references to his victims using abbreviations, initials, and cryptic phrases.

Some entries were relatively straightforward, such as “EDM” for Edward Daniel Moore, while others were more obscure, like “MC HB Tattoo,” believed to refer to a Marine from Huntington Beach with a distinctive tattoo. The list began with “STABLE” and ended with “WHAT YOU GOT,” with entries that investigators believe corresponded to specific murders.

The scorecard proved invaluable to investigators, as it helped them connect Kraft to numerous unsolved murders across California, Oregon, and Michigan. Six entries, for example, were linked to six victims found between 1980 and 1982 along an interstate in Portland, Oregon. The entry “Portland Denver” is suspected to refer to a victim from a suburb of Denver, while “Portland Hawaii” likely referred to a victim wearing a shirt with “Hawaii” printed on it.

Photographic Evidence

In addition to the scorecard, investigators found 47 Polaroid photographs hidden under a floor mat in Kraft’s car. These photos depicted nude young men who appeared to be unconscious or dead. Background details in the images revealed that some had been taken in Kraft’s home, while others showed victims seated in his car.

These photographs provided crucial evidence linking Kraft to specific victims and demonstrating the premeditated nature of his crimes. The images also revealed the extent of Kraft’s sadism, as many showed victims in various stages of torture and mutilation. This photographic documentation suggests that Kraft derived pleasure not only from the acts themselves but from revisiting them through images – a common trait among sexual sadists.

Arrest and Investigation

The Fatal Traffic Stop

Kraft’s reign of terror came to an end in the early morning hours of May 14, 1983. At approximately 1:10 a.m., California Highway Patrol officers stopped Kraft on the I-5 Freeway in Mission Viejo for suspected drunk driving. Instead of remaining in his vehicle, Kraft stepped out, dumping the contents of a beer bottle onto the pavement as he approached the patrol car. Officers noted that his pants fly was open.

After failing a field sobriety test, Kraft was arrested for driving while intoxicated. It was then that Sergeant Michael Howard approached Kraft’s car and made a shocking discovery: a man slumped in the passenger seat, partially covered by a jacket. The man, later identified as 25-year-old Marine Terry Gambrel, was barefoot with his pants unzipped and genitals exposed. He had no pulse, and his neck showed red marks consistent with strangulation. Paramedics pronounced Gambrel dead at 1:21 a.m..

Evidence Collection and Case Building

Following Gambrel’s discovery, Orange County sheriff’s deputies obtained a search warrant for Kraft’s car and Long Beach residence. The searches yielded a wealth of incriminating evidence, including:

• Nine different prescription drugs, including Valium and various painkillers
• Blood stains on the passenger seat cushion, despite Gambrel having no open wounds
• The 47 Polaroid photographs of apparent victims
• The scorecard with 61 cryptic entries
• A folding knife on the driver’s seat
• Personal possessions belonging to various murder victims

By the end of the week, law enforcement had gathered enough evidence to link Kraft to more than two dozen deaths. That number grew to 36 by the end of 1983, with an additional victim added two years later, and eight more from Los Angeles County added shortly before his trial began in 1988.

Multi-Jurisdictional Investigation

The Kraft investigation became one of the most complex serial murder cases in American history, involving multiple law enforcement agencies across several states. Investigators had to coordinate efforts between various jurisdictions in California, Oregon, and Michigan, where Kraft had traveled for work and allegedly committed murders.

The case presented unique challenges due to the geographic spread of the crimes, the number of victims, and the time span over which the murders occurred. Investigators had to review each suspected case for physical evidence potential, focusing on those with significant evidence for inclusion in the charges. Kraft’s habit of taking photographs, keeping souvenirs, and maintaining his coded list made many of the counts readily provable, while physical evidence including fingerprints, fibers, and physical matches strengthened other counts.

Trial and Conviction

Legal Proceedings

Kraft’s trial began on September 26, 1988, in Orange County Superior Court, with Judge Donald A. McCartin presiding. The proceedings lasted 13 months, making it the most expensive trial in Orange County history at that time. Orange County prosecutors chose to focus on 16 murders committed within their jurisdiction for the guilt phase of the trial.

During the trial, the prosecution called nearly 160 witnesses and introduced over 1,000 exhibits as evidence. This included physical evidence such as bloodstains, hair and fiber evidence from Kraft’s residence and car, fingerprints found on glass shards from crime scenes, and the photographs and scorecard found in his vehicle. Work and travel records, gasoline receipts, and the personal possessions of various victims found in Kraft’s possession further strengthened the case against him.

Kraft’s defense team primarily relied on alibis and alternative suspects, dismissing much of the evidence as circumstantial. However, they faced an uphill battle given the overwhelming physical evidence linking Kraft to the crimes. Notably, Kraft never testified in his own defense.

Conviction and Sentencing

On May 12, 1989, after 12 days of deliberation, a sequestered jury found Kraft guilty of 16 counts of first-degree murder. The trial then moved to the penalty phase, during which the same jury would decide whether Kraft should receive the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.

On November 29, 1989, Judge McCartin sentenced Kraft to death in the gas chamber, calling the 44-year-old computer consultant’s mutilation of many of the victims “just hard for me to comprehend“. The judge stated, “I can’t imagine doing these things in scientific experiments on a dead person, much less someone alive”. Kraft, maintaining his innocence, responded: “I have not murdered anyone, and any reasonable review of the record will show that”.

In addition to the death sentences for the murders, Kraft received 10 years in prison for three counts of sodomy, four counts of mayhem, and three counts of great bodily injury. The judge imposed consecutive life prison terms for five of the murders to ensure Kraft would remain in custody even if the death sentences were somehow overturned.

Psychological Profile: Inside the Mind of a Monster

Sexual Sadism and Paraphilias

From a psychological perspective, Kraft represents a textbook case of sexual sadism disorder, characterized by recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, urges, or behaviors involving acts in which the psychological or physical suffering of a victim is sexually exciting. His crimes demonstrate the fusion of sexual gratification with extreme violence and domination.

Kraft’s sadism manifested in his methodical torture of victims, often focusing on genital mutilation and other forms of sexual violence. The fact that he frequently emasculated his victims while they were still alive indicates an extreme form of sadism rarely seen even among serial killers. This behavior suggests that Kraft derived sexual pleasure not just from killing but from the suffering and humiliation of his victims.

In addition to sexual sadism, Kraft likely suffered from multiple paraphilias, including necrophilia (sexual attraction to corpses) and partialism (sexual focus on a particular body part). His collection of photographs and souvenirs indicates elements of fetishism and trophy-taking behavior common among sexual predators.

Brain Abnormality and Neurological Factors

During Kraft’s penalty hearing, his defense team presented evidence suggesting that he suffered from a brain abnormality that could have affected his behavior. Dr. Monte S. Buchsbaum, director of UCI’s Brain Imaging Center, testified that a PET (positron emission tomography) scan of Kraft’s brain showed an abnormality that could affect “emotional, impulsive, and sexual behavior”.

Buchsbaum suggested that this abnormality could stem from a head injury Kraft suffered when he was one year old. While a standard EEG (electroencephalogram) performed four years earlier had shown no abnormalities, Buchsbaum testified that the PET scan could measure deeper into the brain than an EEG and better reach areas that control sexual behavior.

This neurological evidence is particularly interesting in light of Kraft’s childhood head injuries at ages one and two. Research has established connections between early traumatic brain injuries and later violent behavior, particularly when the injuries affect the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for impulse control and decision-making.

The Dark Triad Personality Structure

Psychological experts who have studied Kraft’s case identify him as exhibiting the “Dark Triad“ of personality traits: psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism. This deadly combination created an individual capable of extreme violence without remorse, who derived pleasure from manipulating both his victims and the public through his calculated behavior.

Kraft’s psychopathy manifested in his complete lack of empathy for his victims and absence of genuine remorse. During his trial and sentencing, he showed no emotional reaction to the descriptions of his crimes, even yawning, laughing, and chatting with his lawyer during proceedings. The judge noted that throughout the year-long trial, he “didn’t see any remorse, feelings or regret” from Kraft.

His narcissistic traits were evident in his meticulous documentation of his crimes and his belief that he could continue killing indefinitely without being caught. Even after his conviction, Kraft maintained his innocence despite overwhelming evidence, demonstrating the grandiose self-perception and denial of reality common among narcissists.

Kraft’s Machiavellian tendencies allowed him to maintain a facade of normalcy while committing horrific crimes. His ability to compartmentalize his life – working as a respected computer consultant by day while hunting and killing victims by night – demonstrates the calculated manipulation that characterizes Machiavellianism.

The Dual Life Phenomenon

One of the most disturbing aspects of Kraft’s case is how successfully he maintained a dual life. To his friends, coworkers, and even long-term partners, Kraft appeared to be a mild-mannered, intelligent professional with no violent tendencies. His former classmates and colleagues expressed complete shock upon learning of his crimes, with many stating that he would have been the last person they would suspect of such violence.

This ability to compartmentalize his life so completely – to be a respected professional in one context and a sadistic killer in another – demonstrates the sophisticated psychological splitting that characterizes some of the most dangerous predators. Unlike killers who display obvious antisocial behavior in all aspects of their lives, Kraft’s public persona gave no indication of his violent private life.

Prison Life and Current Status

Death Row at San Quentin

On November 30, 1989, a solemn Randy Kraft was delivered by Orange County sheriff’s deputies to Death Row at San Quentin State Prison. During the hour-long flight from Orange County to the Northern California facility, Kraft was “quiet and subdued” and “did not talk to the deputies during the flight”.

Since his incarceration, Kraft has maintained a relatively low profile compared to other notorious serial killers. He has continued to maintain his innocence despite the overwhelming evidence against him. In a rare interview with The Pride LA, Kraft claimed that his infamous scorecard actually contained coded names of guests for a surprise housewarming party for his boyfriend at the time, stating, “One column was the names of people I wanted to invite and the other column were maybes”.

Appeals and Legal Status

Like all death row inmates in California, Kraft’s case has gone through numerous appeals. The appeals process for death penalty cases in California is notoriously lengthy, with some cases taking decades to move through the system. Legal experts estimated that Kraft’s appeals process could take as long as 10 years.

As of 2025, Kraft remains on death row at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center in Marin County, California. At 80 years old, he has spent over 40 years in prison for his crimes1. California’s moratorium on executions, implemented in 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom, means that Kraft is unlikely to face execution in the near future despite his death sentence.

Recent Developments and Cold Case Connections

New Victim Identifications

Even decades after Kraft’s conviction, investigators continue to connect him to additional victims. In May 2025, Oregon State Police announced that Kraft had been identified as the suspect in the murder of Larry Eugene Parks, a 30-year-old Vietnam veteran whose body was found along Interstate 5 on July 18, 1980.

Parks had remained unidentified until 2024, when an investigator from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department offered to help identify him using forensic genealogy. A genetic profile created from a sample of Parks’ blood helped investigators find and contact possible family members, who submitted DNA leading to his identification. Parks had lost contact with his family a year before his death, and until his identification, the circumstances of his disappearance were unknown to them.

In 2023, an Iowa teen believed to have been one of Kraft’s earliest victims was also identified using genealogy. These ongoing identifications demonstrate how advances in DNA technology continue to shed light on cold cases and provide closure to families of victims decades after the crimes occurred.

The True Victim Count

While Kraft was convicted of 16 murders, the true extent of his crimes remains unknown. Prosecutors have accused him in court papers of 45 murders, including six in Oregon and two in Michigan. However, based on his scorecard with 61 entries – some of which appear to indicate double murders – investigators believe the actual number could exceed 65.

Kraft himself has never provided a definitive count of his victims, maintaining his innocence despite the overwhelming evidence against him. This uncertainty about the full scope of his crimes places Kraft among the most prolific serial killers in American history, potentially surpassing better-known figures like John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

The Forgotten Serial Killer

Despite the magnitude of his crimes, Randy Kraft has received relatively little attention in popular culture compared to other serial killers of similar or even lesser notoriety. This relative obscurity is puzzling given the extreme nature of his crimes and his potentially massive victim count.

Some criminologists suggest that Kraft’s case has been overshadowed by more mediagenic killers like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, whose personal charisma or bizarre behaviors captured public imagination more readily. Others point to the fact that Kraft’s victims were primarily young men, a demographic that historically has received less media attention when victimized.

Retired California detective Dan Salcedo, who interviewed Kraft in 2012, noted: “The weird part is, a lot of people don’t know about him… Randy Kraft is the perfect case. No one really knows about his killings”. This relative anonymity persists despite Kraft potentially being one of the most prolific serial killers in American history.

Impact on Law Enforcement Practices

The Kraft investigation had a significant impact on law enforcement practices, particularly regarding inter-jurisdictional cooperation and evidence preservation. The case demonstrated the importance of maintaining physical evidence for future technological advances, as DNA technology ultimately helped solve aspects of the case using samples collected years before the technology was sophisticated enough to process them.

The investigation’s duration – spanning over two decades – highlighted both the persistence required to solve complex cases and the limitations of traditional investigative techniques when dealing with organized psychopaths. The case has become a teaching tool for law enforcement agencies worldwide studying serial crime patterns.

Conclusion

Randy Steven Kraft represents one of the most disturbing and complex cases in the annals of American crime1. His ability to maintain a facade of normalcy while committing unspeakable acts of violence challenges our understanding of human psychology and the nature of evil. The stark contrast between his public persona – intelligent, mild-mannered, politically engaged – and his private reality as a sadistic killer continues to fascinate and disturb criminologists, psychologists, and the public alike.

What makes Kraft particularly chilling is not just the number of his victims or the brutality of his crimes, but his methodical documentation and apparent pride in his “accomplishments“. His scorecard, photographs, and collection of souvenirs reveal a level of calculation and detachment that goes beyond even most serial killers.

As investigations continue and new victims are identified through advancing technology, the full scope of Kraft’s crimes may never be completely known. His case remains a stark testament to the importance of early intervention for at-risk individuals, the need for continued advancement in forensic science, and the critical role of persistent, methodical investigation in bringing dangerous criminals to justice.

The story of Randy Kraft serves as a sobering reminder that sometimes the monsters of our nightmares don’t look like monsters at all. They can be our neighbors, colleagues, and even friends, hiding in plain sight behind a carefully constructed mask of normalcy. This reality – perhaps more than any other aspect of the case – continues to haunt those who study it and those who lived through the decades of fear that Randy Kraft created in California.

Serial Killer Randy Kraft | World’s Most Evil Killers

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