Identification of Cold Case Victim Linked to Randy Kraft

News Summary

Larry Eugene Parks has been identified as a victim related to Randy Kraft, a notorious serial killer. Parks’ body was discovered in Oregon in 1980, remaining a John Doe until recent advancements in forensic genealogy allowed for his identification. Kraft, incarcerated for multiple murders, is the sole suspect in Parks’ case, prompting renewed interest in cold cases linked to his crimes. The investigation into Parks’ death continues as law enforcement examines more evidence to uncover potentially more victims connected to Kraft’s gruesome history.

Oregon – Nearly 45 years after his death, Larry Eugene Parks has been identified as a victim linked to notorious California serial killer Randy Kraft. Parks, who was just 30 years old when he was found dead along Interstate 5 in Oregon on July 18, 1980, had remained a John Doe until recently. The Oregon State Police confirmed this development, stating Kraft is the sole suspect in the ongoing investigation related to Parks’ death.

Randy Kraft, now 80 years old, has been incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison since his conviction in 1989 for the murders of 16 men in California. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Kraft maintains his innocence and denies any involvement in the deaths attributed to him.

The gruesome nature of Kraft’s crimes has led to a renewed interest in cold cases linked to him. As soon as Parks’ body was discovered, law enforcement initiated a homicide investigation. However, they could not determine his identity or the circumstances of his death until recently, when advancements in forensic genealogy aided in solving the decades-old mystery.

Parks, a Vietnam War veteran who lost touch with his family in 1979, was last seen in Pensacola, Florida, before his body was uncovered in Oregon. In 2024, an investigator from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department reached out to the Oregon State Police Cold Case Unit. They collaborated to use forensic genealogy techniques that had gained traction in recent years, similar to methods successfully employed in other cold case investigations.

A genetic profile was developed from a blood sample collected at the crime scene where Parks’ body was discovered. Following the construction of this profile, potential relatives of Parks provided DNA samples for comparison, which ultimately confirmed his identity.

Until the recent identification, the circumstances surrounding Parks’ disappearance had remained a mystery for his family. Their struggle to uncover his fate has been long and painful, compounded by the lack of closure after all these years.

Randy Kraft’s criminal history includes a disturbing series of events that began to unfold in the early 1980s. In 1983, during a routine traffic stop for erratic driving, law enforcement discovered a dead U.S. Marine in Kraft’s passenger seat. They also found a coded list believed to include the names of 67 possible victims, spanning multiple states including California, Oregon, and Michigan. This information highlighted Kraft’s long-standing pattern of targeting vulnerable individuals.

Investigators are currently analyzing additional evidence to further confirm the link between Kraft and Parks’ death. The ongoing examination aims to shed more light on the connection and possibly uncover more victims associated with Kraft’s grisly activities.

This case follows the recent identification of another victim believed to have fallen prey to Kraft, further emphasizing the importance of forensic genealogy in solving cold cases. In 2023, authorities used similar techniques to identify the remains of a teenager, showcasing a trend in crime-solving that leverages modern DNA testing capabilities.

Randy Kraft has been described by prosecutors as a fetishist, with reports suggesting he preserved dismembered parts of his victims in his refrigerator, adding a chilling layer to his already notorious reputation as the “Scorecard Killer.” As authorities continue to process evidence and investigate further, they hope to bring closure to the families of those victimized by Kraft and to prevent any remaining unsolved cases from slipping into obscurity.

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