Orange County Investigators Identify John Doe Homicide Victim from 50 Years Ago as Iowa Teen Presumed Victim of Serial Killer

Authorities in Orange County, California announced on Tuesday that they have finally identified the remains of a John Doe homicide victim, who was found nearly five decades ago, as a 17-year-old boy from Iowa. It is believed that the teenager fell victim to an infamous serial killer.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department revealed that the victim’s body was discovered 49 years ago in unincorporated Laguna Hills, which is now known as Aliso Viejo, California.

According to police reports, on September 14, 1974, two individuals who were off-roading stumbled upon the deceased teenager on the side of a trail. It appeared that he had passed away several days prior.

Initially, authorities ruled the incident as accidental, attributing the cause of death to alcohol and diazepam intoxication.

However, in 1980, investigators discovered other deaths in southern California in 1978 that were also caused by alcohol and diazepam intoxication. These cases were subsequently classified as homicides.

Over the years, multiple deceased young men were found in various locations throughout southern California, some of which were near the area where the remains of John Doe were uncovered.

It was in May 1983 that Randy Steven Kraft, later dubbed the “Scorecard Killer,” was arrested for murder after a California Highway Patrol officer conducted a routine traffic stop on Kraft.

RELATED: Mother of ‘Baby Jane Doe’ among 2 arrested 35 years after child’s body found in Georgia woods

Inside Kraft’s vehicle, authorities discovered the lifeless body of Terry Lee Gambrel in the front seat. Several empty beer bottles and an open prescription bottle of Lorazepam tablets were found at Gambrel’s feet.

Furthermore, a coded list detailing Kraft’s suspected 67 victims was discovered in the trunk of his vehicle.

In May 1989, Kraft was convicted of 16 murders and sentenced to death. However, the Orange County district attorney declined to file charges for an additional 10 murders that Kraft was suspected of committing.

Kraft is currently serving his sentence at San Quentin State Prison. John Doe had long been speculated to be one of Kraft’s early victims, according to law enforcement officials.

In November 2022, investigators began utilizing genetic genealogy techniques in an effort to identify John Doe. After months of diligent work, they were finally able to locate relatives of the unidentified victim last month.

The victim has now been positively identified as Michael Ray Schlicht, who hailed from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Schlicht’s sister informed the police that she had not seen her 17-year-old brother since April 1974.

Law enforcement authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Michael Ray Schlicht’s tragic death.

Individuals with any information related to this case are urged to contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or visit crimestoppers.org.