The haunting stretch of Interstate 5 serves as a reminder of unresolved cold cases in Oregon.
Larry Eugene Parks, a Vietnam veteran murdered in 1980, has finally been identified through advanced DNA testing after nearly 45 years. His remains were discovered along Interstate 5 in Oregon. The ongoing investigation is now revisiting potential connections to convicted serial killer Randy Steven Kraft, who is linked to numerous murders during that era. Authorities aim to unearth more evidence to resolve these cold cases while providing closure to Parks’ family.
DNA testing has identified Larry Eugene Parks, a Vietnam veteran who was murdered in the summer of 1980. The 30-year-old’s remains were discovered along Interstate 5 in Oregon in July of that year, but his identity remained a mystery for nearly 45 years until authorities used advanced DNA technology.
Parks was found just one day after the discovery of another victim, Michael O’Fallon, whose body was located in Talbot, Oregon, a nearby stretch of Interstate 5. Initial investigations indicated a possible connection between the two murders, but a lack of leads caused both cases to grow cold over the decades.
With the recent identification of Parks, investigators are revisiting these cold cases and exploring potential links to Randy Steven Kraft, a convicted serial killer known as the “Scorecard Killer.” Kraft, who has been found guilty of 16 murders, is suspected of being involved in more than 60 homicides across multiple states, including California and Michigan, during the 1970s and 1980s.
Parks had lost contact with his family in 1979, and it was last reported that he was seen in Pensacola, Florida. Despite ongoing investigations, the lack of information about his whereabouts left his family in distress for years. The case was reviewed intermittently over the decades but did not gain traction until recently.
In 2024, an investigator from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department reached out to the cold case unit at the Oregon State Police for assistance in identifying Parks’ remains using forensic genealogy. DNA samples were submitted by potential family members, leading to the confirmation of his identity in May 2025.
Randy Kraft, who is currently 80 years old and resides on death row in California, was apprehended in 1983 after a routine traffic stop revealed a dead man in his vehicle. The victim, identified as Terry Lee Gambrel, was discovered alongside a coded list in Kraft’s trunk believed to detail at least 67 of his possible victims, intensifying suspicions about his involvement in numerous killings.
Investigators plan to utilize evidence from both the Parks and O’Fallon cases, which were part of the earlier trials involving Kraft, to explore the connections further. Tools and details that have remained with law enforcement agencies, including those in Orange County, may also lead to new developments in these investigations.
As authorities delve back into these cold cases, they remain focused on discovering any additional evidence that may link Kraft to the murder of Larry Eugene Parks. Law enforcement officials express a level of confidence that there are connections to be uncovered, though the investigation remains ongoing.
While Parks’ long-awaited identification brings some closure to a grieving family, unanswered questions remain regarding the full extent of Kraft’s alleged crimes. The investigation into the death of another victim, Michael Ray Schlicht, who was identified in 2023, may also unfold new insights into Kraft’s activities during the period.
As these cases resurface, law enforcement hopes that advancements in DNA technology and forensic evidence will not only resolve the tragic fate of Larry Eugene Parks but also illuminate the darker shadows cast by Randy Steven Kraft’s suspected killing spree across the West Coast.
Oregon Authorities Identify Cold Case Victim Linked to Serial Killer
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