Iowa Teen Michael Ray Schlicht Identified as Victim of Notorious Serial Killer After 49 Years

An Iowa teenager who was believed to be a victim of a notorious California serial killer has finally been identified after almost five decades. The teen, known as “John Doe” for years, has now been identified as Michael Ray Schlicht from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department in California announced the identification in a news release. It is believed that Schlicht was one of the early victims of Randy Kraft, also known as the “Scorecard Killer.”

Randy Kraft, who is currently serving time at San Quentin State Prison, was convicted of killing 16 men during a series of slayings in Orange County that occurred over ten years. Authorities suspect that Kraft may have killed more people in California, Oregon, and Michigan. Schlicht’s body was discovered in 1974 by two people who were off-roading near Laguna Beach, California. Initially, his death was deemed accidental due to alcohol and diazepam intoxication. However, subsequent similar deaths in the area were classified as homicides, leading investigators to reconsider Schlicht’s case.

Kraft’s killing spree came to an end in 1983 when he was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol trooper and found with a strangled U.S. Marine in his vehicle. A coded list of potential victims was discovered in Kraft’s trunk. Prosecutors described Kraft as a fetishist who kept dismembered body parts in his freezer. Despite his conviction, Kraft maintained his innocence.

The breakthrough in Schlicht’s case came in November 2022 when tissue samples were submitted to a forensic biotechnology company for DNA analysis. The DNA profile was then uploaded into a genealogy database, which eventually led investigators to a woman in Kansas City, Missouri, believed to be Schlicht’s mother. Her DNA sample confirmed Schlicht’s identity.

Family members have been informed of the identification, and plans are underway to install a headstone at Schlicht’s final resting place. The sheriff’s department is now actively investigating his homicide case and encourages anyone with information to contact Orange County Crime Stoppers.

Schlicht’s identification brings closure to a long-standing mystery and offers hope to other families still seeking answers about their loved ones who may have fallen victim to the “Scorecard Killer.”