Press Release: Oregon Authorities Identify Cold Case Victim Linked to Notorious Serial Killer
In a breakthrough for cold case investigations, Oregon State Police have identified a man found dead along Interstate 5 nearly 45 years ago. Larry Eugene Parks, who was 30 at the time of his death, was identified last Friday, with police naming Randy Kraft, known as the "Scorecard Killer," as the sole person of interest in the case.
Kraft, now 80 years old, is serving a death sentence in San Quentin State Prison for the brutal murders of 16 men in California over a decade. Although he has consistently denied involvement in any killings, Oregon authorities are pursuing evidence that could link him to Parks’ death. "We are very confident that we have the correct person of interest," said Oregon State Police spokesperson Kyle Kennedy.
On July 18, 1980, authorities discovered Parks’ body along I-5 south of Portland near Woodburn. Despite initiating a homicide investigation, officers were unable to identify the victim at the time. Parks, a Vietnam veteran, lost contact with his family in 1979 and was last seen in Pensacola, Florida.
Kraft’s criminal history includes a 1983 arrest where law enforcement found a strangled U.S. Marine in his vehicle, along with a coded list thought to tally 67 victims across California, Oregon, and Michigan. Prosecutors have characterized him as a "fetishist," with disturbing details, including keeping dismembered victim parts in his freezer.
The recent identification effort was aided by advancements in forensic investigative genetic genealogy. An investigator from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department reached out to Oregon authorities in 2024, facilitating the use of DNA from potential family members to confirm Parks’ identity.
This marks a significant step in resolving long-standing mysterious disappearances linked to the notorious Kraft, highlighting the potential of modern forensic techniques in unsolved cases.
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