Serial killer Randy Kraft identified as suspect in 45-year-old Oregon cold case murder
Notorious California serial killer Randy Kraft has been identified as the suspect in the murder of a man almost 45 years ago, police said Friday.
Larry Eugene Parks, 30, was found dead along Interstate 5 on the morning of July 18, 1980, in Oregon, according to the Oregon State Police. An investigation into his death was opened, but Parks remained a John Doe until just last month, after an investigator from the sheriff's department in Orange County, California, offered to help identify him using forensic genealogy in 2024.
Kraft, who remains incarcerated at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, was convicted of brutalizing and killing 16 men during a decadelong series of slayings in Orange County, California, that ended with his arrest. The convicted murderer is also suspected of committing over 60 murders across the West Coast and Michigan, police said.
To identify Parks as another potential victim, a genetic profile was created using a sample of his blood, which helped investigators find and contact possible family members. They submitted DNA, leading to his identification. Parks was a Vietnam veteran and had lost contact with his family a year before his death.
'Until his identification last month, the circumstances of his disappearance were unknown to the Parks family,' police said.
Police believe Kraft, who was arrested in Orange County, California, in 1983, is responsible for Parks' death. Evidence from the murder, along with the murder of another man who was also found on I-5 the day before Parks, was transferred to the Orange County District Attorney's Office to be used in court, but remained in the county until 2024, when the investigator set out to identify the 30-year-old, according to police.
'With Parks' identity confirmed, investigators are now working to bring resolution to the 45-year-old case,' police said.
In 2023, an Iowa teen believed to have been one of Kraft's earliest victims was also identified using genealogy.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
19 minutes ago
- CBS News
Southern Minnesota firefighter dies in the line of duty; governor orders flags at half-staff
Minneapolis City Council calls for investigation into federal raid, and more headlines Minneapolis City Council calls for investigation into federal raid, and more headlines Minneapolis City Council calls for investigation into federal raid, and more headlines A 35-year-old firefighter in Amboy, Minnesota, has died in the line of duty, according to the Minnesota Fire Service Foundation. Andrew Karels died on Monday, state officials say. He served nearly 10 years with the Amboy Fire Department and was the unit's medical officer. "Andrew was a guy who'd grow on you fast," Amboy Fire Chief Manuel Sanders said in a written release on Friday. "He had a big personality, a sharp sense of humor and a heart just as big." Sanders added that Karels will be remembered as a "dedicated firefighter, devoted husband and father and a man with an infectious personality who brought laughter and light wherever he went." Photo of Andrew Karels, 35, and his family. Karels died on June 2, 2025. Minnesota Fire Service Foundation Gov. Tim Walz has ordered all U.S. and Minnesota flags to fly at half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise on Saturday to sunset on Sunday in honor and remembrance of Karels. "His commitment to delivering exceptional care in emergency situations – always with compassion and professionalism – touched countless peoples' lives during their most challenging moments," Walz said in a written statement. "We mourn this sudden and tragic loss, and I extend my deepest condolences to Firefighter Karels' family, colleagues, and all who knew and loved him." Karels is survived by his wife and their two children, ages 7 and 9. Amboy is around 26 miles south of Mankato. Confidential help and crisis support is available online or over the phone for firefighters and their families through the MnFIRE Assistance Program. Visit the website and enter the access code MnFIRE or call 1-888-784-6634.
CBS News
23 minutes ago
- CBS News
Escaped zebra named Ed spotted in Tennessee, being tracked via drone by sheriff's deputies
An escaped zebra named Ed has been spotted nearly a week after escaping its owners in Tennessee, officials say. Using a drone, Rutherford County sheriff's deputies saw the zebra in a field near Christiana, about 40 miles southeast of Nashville. They continue to track the animal with the drone, the sheriff's office said. "We don't want to scare the zebra," Sheriff's Cpl. Sean White said. "We need time to get him to calm down." Missing zebra spotted near Christiana Rutherford County Sheriff's deputies observed a missing zebra through a drone camera Friday morning in a field near Christiana. Deputies are tracking the zebra with the drone. Sheriff's Cpl. Sean White has asked people to avoid the area. 'We don't want to scare the zebra,' White said. 'We need time to get him to calm down.' The zebra's owner has been notified. The Sheriff's Office requested help from a veterinarian to respond to rescue the zebra. We will update people when there is more information available. Thanks to Rutherford County Deputy Ryan Bauer for the video. Posted by Rutherford County Sheriff's Office on Friday, June 6, 2025 The zebra was originally brought to the property of the owners, Taylor and Laura Ford of Christiana, Tennessee, on Friday night. But on Saturday, the animal was seen running along a highway. It then escaped into a wooded area, the sheriff's office said. The Ford family originally named the zebra Zeke, but as the public weighed in during the search, they decided to use the name Ed. "Through viral posts, news coverage, and thousands of messages, he became known as Ed the Zebra. And now, he will be forever known as Ed — a symbol of joy, laughter, and unity," the Fords said in a statement. While Ed has caused some excitement online, some are critical of the situation. "The zebra escape in Tennessee is an unfortunate and completely avoidable incident," said Angela Grimes, the CEO of Born Free USA, an animal advocacy nonprofit. "Zebras are wild animals. They do not belong in back yards, kept as pets, or put on display for human entertainment." Grimes warned the escape could cause "a state of severe stress for the zebra, which may result in increased harm to those who come in contact, including officials charged with trying to contain the zebra." The sheriff's office said it has requested help from a veterinarian in any attempt to capture the animal. contributed to this report.
CBS News
28 minutes ago
- CBS News
ATF offers $5,000 reward for tips after Tesla hit by Molotov cocktails in Kansas
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering a $5,000 reward for information related to a Tesla firebombing in Kansas in April. Security cameras captured a suspect throwing two lit Molotov cocktails at the back of a Tesla collision center in Lenexa, Kansas, around 1:05 a.m. on April 3, 2025, the ATF said in a news release. The suspect drove to and from the scene in a vehicle, the ATF said. The suspect has not been identified and the ATF did not describe the vehicle. Investigators have labeled the incident an "intentional act of arson," the ATF said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and local police are also investigating. "This was a calculated attack that could have caused significant harm," said ATF Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen in the news release. ATF Kansas City Field Division is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information related to the April 3, 2025, firebombing at a Tesla collision center in Lenexa. At about 1:05 a.m., a suspect exited a car, threw two Molotov cocktails at the collision center and left in a vehicle seen in the top left corner of the provided video. The fire was an intentional act of arson and investigators are seeking public assistance to identify the suspect and advance the investigation. 'This was a calculated attack that could have caused significant harm,' said ATF Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen. 'We're working closely with our partners at the FBI and Lenexa Police to identify the individual responsible, and we need the public's help. If you saw something or know something—even if it seems minor—now is the time to speak up.' This case is being worked in conjunction with the FBI Kansas City Field Office and the Lenexa Police Department. Anyone with information is urged to contact FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324). Read more at Posted by ATF on Friday, June 6, 2025 Anyone with information about the attack is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. To be eligible for the ATF reward, a person's tip must lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the attack, the agency said. Tipsters looking to receive reward money must leave their name and contact information, the ATF said. "If you saw something or know something—even if it seems minor—now is the time to speak up," Hansen said. The incident is one of several attacks on Tesla vehicles and facilities since President Trump returned to office in January. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, served as a senior advisor to Trump and led the controversial Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE. A man was charged with arson and other charges in connection with an attack that damaged multiple Teslas at a Las Vegas dealership in March 2025. Another man was arrested and charged in connection with an arson attack at a New Mexico Tesla facility in February. Tesla showrooms and facilities also became the site of protests in the early months of Trump's second term.
