Iowa Teenager Identified as Michael Ray Schlicht, a Victim of Serial Killer Randy Kraft

An Iowa teenager who was believed to be one of the earliest victims of a well-known California serial killer has finally been identified after nearly five decades. The teenager, previously known as “John Doe,” has been identified as Michael Ray Schlicht from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department in California made the announcement in a recent press release, stating that the teenager had long been considered a victim of Randy Kraft, also known as the “Scorecard Killer.”

Randy Kraft, who is currently serving time at San Quentin State Prison, was convicted in 1989 for the abuse and murder of 16 men during a murder spree that spanned several decades in Orange County. Authorities suspect that Kraft may have killed more people in California, Oregon, and Michigan.

Schlicht’s body was discovered on September 14, 1974, by two people who were off-roading in a remote area northeast of Laguna Beach, California. Initially, his death was thought to be accidental, resulting from alcohol and diazepam poisoning. However, subsequent similar deaths in the area were classified as homicides, drawing investigators’ attention. Some of these deaths occurred near where Schlicht’s remains were found.

Kraft’s reign of terror came to an end when he was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol trooper for erratic driving. Shockingly, a strangled U.S. Marine was found in the passenger seat of his vehicle. Kraft, a former computer programmer, was described by prosecutors as a fetishist who kept dismembered body parts of some victims in his freezer. Despite the evidence against him, Kraft maintained his innocence, stating that a thorough review of the records would prove he did not commit murder.

In November 2022, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators submitted tissue samples of John Doe to a private forensic biotechnology company to create a DNA profile. By uploading the profile into a genealogy database, investigators were able to trace the victim’s family tree, leading them to Kansas City, Missouri. There, they obtained a DNA sample from a woman believed to be the victim’s mother.

The identification of Michael Ray Schlicht brings closure to his family and sheds further light on the heinous crimes committed by Randy Kraft. The relentless efforts of law enforcement and advancements in DNA technology continue to bring justice to victims and their loved ones, even after many years.