A long-unsolved mystery surrounding the identity of a man found dead along Interstate 5 in Oregon has finally been resolved after nearly 45 years. The case, initially dismissed as another unidentified victim, has now been linked to one of the most infamous serial killers in American history—Randy Kraft, the so-called “Scorecard Killer.” The identification of the man, now confirmed as Larry Eugene Parks, has brought a chilling new chapter to a story that had long been shrouded in uncertainty and fear.
In an announcement made late last week, Oregon State Police identified the victim of the July 18, 1980, homicide as Larry Eugene Parks, a 30-year-old Vietnam War veteran whose family had lost contact with him in 1979. Parks’ remains had been discovered in a remote area south of Portland near Woodburn, Oregon, along the busy stretch of Interstate 5. Despite their initial investigations, law enforcement at the time was unable to identify Parks or connect his death to any known criminal activity.
As a breakthrough in the case, police have now named Randy Kraft as the sole person of interest in this long-cold case. The notorious serial killer, who was convicted in 1989 of killing 16 men over a span of a decade, is now being connected to the death of Parks, which had initially been written off as another tragic, unsolved death. Kraft, who was arrested in 1983 and sentenced to death, has long been suspected of committing more murders across multiple states. His heinous crimes left the communities of California, Oregon, and Michigan gripped by fear, and it now appears that Parks was one of his many victims.
The Discovery of Larry Eugene Parks’ Remains
On the evening of July 18, 1980, Oregon State Police responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle along I-5 near the small town of Woodburn, just south of Portland. Upon arrival, they discovered the body of a man, later identified as Larry Eugene Parks, lying in a secluded area just off the freeway. The man had suffered multiple injuries, which appeared consistent with a violent homicide.
Despite an extensive investigation, the victim’s identity remained a mystery for decades. The case languished as one of Oregon’s many unsolved homicides. All that law enforcement could determine about the man at the time was that he had likely been killed elsewhere and dumped along the side of the freeway. The victim’s personal belongings, including a wallet and identification, were missing, leaving authorities with little to go on.
The investigation went cold, and for many years, Parks’ family remained unaware of his fate. In fact, it wasn’t until recently that they were able to find out what had happened to him. His family had lost touch with him in 1979, and despite their best efforts to track him down, they were unable to uncover any information on his whereabouts. Parks had last been seen in Pensacola, Florida, before his sudden disappearance.
Kraft’s Role in the Case
Randy Kraft, once a promising computer programmer, had already been known to law enforcement by the time Parks’ body was found. Kraft’s arrest in 1983 led to the discovery of multiple victims he had murdered over the years. Authorities believed that he had kept a detailed tally of his victims in the form of a “scorecard,” which contained cryptic references to the people he had killed, including their names and other details of their deaths. The list, which was found in Kraft’s vehicle during a traffic stop, included names from California, Oregon, and Michigan, suggesting that his murderous rampage extended across state lines.
While Kraft was already suspected of committing numerous murders, it wasn’t until recent developments that authorities made the connection to Parks’ death. After Kraft was apprehended in 1983, he was convicted for 16 murders, but it is believed that his total victim count may be much higher. His methods, which often involved strangling his victims and then disposing of their bodies in remote locations, were shockingly similar to the circumstances surrounding Parks’ death.
The identification of Parks came thanks to a breakthrough in forensic technology—specifically, investigative genetic genealogy. This method, which uses DNA analysis to trace familial connections, was recently employed by the Oregon State Police Cold Case Unit in cooperation with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in California. In 2024, investigators used a blood sample taken from Parks’ remains to create a genetic profile, which was compared to DNA profiles submitted by potential family members. After a thorough comparison, Parks’ identity was confirmed.
The Link to Colorectal Cancer
The story of Larry Eugene Parks’ death may be a tragic one, but it also speaks to the power of new technologies in solving decades-old mysteries. For Parks’ family, the revelation that he was a victim of the infamous “Scorecard Killer” brought an overwhelming sense of closure. The identification of Parks has not only solved a long-standing cold case but has also connected one more name to the horrifying string of murders that haunted the Pacific Coast for years.
As police work to piece together the final elements of this case, they continue to delve into the possibility that more victims could be identified through Kraft’s past actions. Although Parks’ death was the catalyst for this investigation, it also brought up new questions about the true extent of Kraft’s criminal history. His victims, who spanned several states and included both men and women, had often been vulnerable individuals, many of them young or living in marginalized communities.
Police remain committed to gathering evidence and connecting the dots between Kraft’s known victims and those he may have evaded identification for years. While Parks’ family has received confirmation about his tragic end, there are still many families across the United States who continue to wonder whether their loved ones may have been victims of the same killer. The trail of bloodshed left behind by Randy Kraft is a haunting legacy, one that still impacts the families of his victims, many of whom may never know the full extent of his crimes.
A Nationwide Search for Closure
The work of identifying victims like Larry Eugene Parks is part of a larger effort to bring closure to families across the country who have lived with the pain of missing loved ones for decades. Kraft’s arrest and subsequent conviction have given investigators the tools needed to trace the full scope of his actions, and in recent years, DNA advancements have made it possible to solve cases that once seemed impossible.
Authorities in Oregon, Michigan, and California are working together to identify other potential victims of Kraft’s and to bring justice to the families who have suffered. This nationwide effort is vital in providing answers for the families who never knew what happened to their loved ones and in ensuring that justice is served for those who were denied it for so long.
The investigation into Randy Kraft’s crimes serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating impact that serial killers can have on both their immediate victims and the wider communities they terrorize. For the families of those affected, the road to justice is often long and fraught with heartbreak, but the identification of Larry Eugene Parks offers hope that no case is too old to be solved and that the legacy of the victims will continue to live on through the work of law enforcement and dedicated investigators.
As the search for other potential victims continues, the memory of Larry Eugene Parks will remain a testament to the resilience of families and the power of new technologies in solving even the oldest of cold cases.
