Michael Ray Schlicht Identified as Possible Early Victim of Randy Steven Kraft, the ‘Scorecard Killer’

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Randy Steven Kraft, famously known as the “Scorecard Killer,” has been residing on California’s death row for several decades. However, investigators have never stopped suspecting him of other unadjudicated murders. After nearly 50 years, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department has finally identified a teenage John Doe believed to be one of Kraft’s victims.

The victim has been identified as Michael Ray Schlicht, who was only 17 years old at the time of his death. According to deputies, the incident took place on September 14, 1974, when two individuals were off-roading on a fire road in unincorporated Laguna Hills, which is now known as Aliso Viejo. Investigators have determined that Schlicht died three to five days before the incident due to an accident caused by alcohol and diazepam.

For years, authorities had been working tirelessly to identify the young boy, but he was ultimately laid to rest in an unmarked grave in El Toro Memorial Park. In 1980, sheriff’s investigators discovered multiple deaths in Southern California, including their county, which were attributed to alcohol and diazepam intoxication. These deaths were classified as homicides, and over the years, several young men were found deceased in Orange County and other parts of Southern California, some of them just a few miles away from where John Doe’s remains were discovered.

Randy Steven Kraft was arrested in May 1983 for murder after a California Highway Patrol officer conducted a routine traffic stop and discovered the lifeless body of Terry Lee Gambrel, 25, in the front passenger seat of Kraft’s vehicle. Empty bottles and an open Lorazepam bottle were also found at his feet. Investigators later discovered a coded list believed to contain the names of up to 67 of Kraft’s victims. In May 1989, Kraft was convicted of 16 murders, with authorities suspecting his involvement in 10 additional cases, although the Orange County District Attorney’s Office did not pursue charges for those incidents.

Despite the lack of direct evidence, authorities strongly believed that their unidentified John Doe from 1974 was one of Kraft’s early victims. To confirm this suspicion, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department collaborated with the forensic genetic genealogy company Othram Labs. Through extensive research and the use of Schlicht’s mother’s DNA, who currently resides in Kansas, Missouri, a positive match was established. It was revealed that the teenager hailed from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Family members have been notified of the identification, and arrangements are being made to install a headstone to mark Michael Ray Schlicht’s final resting place. The authorities are now focusing their efforts on further investigating his murder. They urge anyone with relevant information to contact the Orange County Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or visit crimestoppers.org.

In conclusion, the identification of Michael Ray Schlicht as a possible victim of Randy Steven Kraft brings some closure to a case that has remained unsolved for almost five decades. The relentless efforts of law enforcement and advancements in forensic technology have finally provided answers to the family of the young boy who tragically lost his life. As the investigation into his murder intensifies, authorities hope that the public will come forward with any information that could help bring justice to Schlicht and potentially shed light on other unsolved cases connected to Randy Steven Kraft..