SANTA ANA, California (KCRG) – After almost five decades, the identity of a John Doe homicide victim has finally been uncovered. The deceased teenage male was found near an off-road on September 14th, 1974. Authorities initially believed his death to be accidental, resulting from alcohol and diazepam intoxication. They estimated that he had passed away 3 to 5 days before his body was discovered, but they were unable to establish his true identity.
In 1980, Orange County Homicide investigators noticed a pattern. They found other young male victims who had also died from alcohol and diazepam intoxication in the same area in 1978. These deaths were classified as homicides.
Fast forward to 1983, when Randy Steven Kraft, later known as the “Scorecard Killer,” was arrested for murder. A highway patrol officer conducted a routine traffic stop and discovered a deceased male in the front passenger seat of Kraft’s vehicle. In the trunk, they found a coded list believed to contain the names of up to 67 victims. John Doe was suspected to be one of Kraft’s early victims.
Kraft was eventually convicted of 16 murders and sentenced to death. He is currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison.
In November 2022, Orange County investigators sent tissue samples from John Doe to a private forensic biotechnology company to develop a DNA profile. After months of arduous genealogy database work, investigators identified the potential grandparents of John Doe in October 2023.
By obtaining a DNA sample from a woman believed to be John Doe’s mother, investigators were able to confirm his identity as Michael Ray Schlicht from Cedar Rapids, IA.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has notified the family members, who are now in the process of arranging a headstone to mark Michael’s final resting place.
Investigations into Michael’s case are ongoing, and anyone with information related to the matter is urged to contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or visit crimestoppers.org.
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