Decades after his body was discovered in Orange County, California, a man has finally been identified as Michael Ray Schlicht from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, according to investigators. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department revealed that on September 14, 1974, two individuals off-roading stumbled upon the deceased man on the side of a trail. Initially, it was believed that his death was accidental, resulting from alcohol and diazepam intoxication. Despite efforts to identify him, his fingerprints yielded no results. Consequently, he was buried in an unmarked grave at El Toro Memorial Park.
Years later, in 1980, investigators noticed a series of deaths in the Southern California area in 1978, also attributed to alcohol and diazepam intoxication. These deaths were subsequently classified as homicides. The sheriff’s office noted that multiple men were found dead in close proximity to where the unidentified man, now known as Michael Ray Schlicht, was discovered.
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It wasn’t until 1983 that a breakthrough occurred. Randy Steven Kraft, also known as the “Scorecard Killer,” was arrested for murder. During a routine traffic stop, a California Highway Patrol officer found a dead man, later identified as Terry Lee Gambrel, in Kraft’s vehicle. Beer bottles and an open prescription bottle of Lorazepam were also present. Kraft was ultimately convicted of 16 murders in 1987 and received the death sentence. However, an additional 10 suspected murders were never prosecuted. Kraft remains incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison.
For years, investigators believed that Michael Ray Schlicht was one of Kraft’s early victims. In November of the previous year, tissue samples from John Doe were submitted to a private forensic biotechnology company for DNA profiling. Last month, investigators were finally able to identify potential grandparents for John Doe. Through a DNA sample obtained from a woman believed to be his mother, they confirmed his identity as Michael Ray Schlicht.
The sheriff’s office has informed family members, who are now in the process of installing a headstone to mark Michael Ray Schlicht’s final resting place. After 49 years of anonymity, his true identity has been unveiled, bringing closure to his loved ones and shedding light on the dark legacy of the Scorecard Killer.
