Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : An Iowa teenager who was previously known only as “John Doe” has finally been identified as Michael Ray Schlicht from Cedar Rapids. After 49 years, authorities have revealed that Schlicht is believed to be one of the early victims of the notorious “Scorecard Killer” in California.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department in California made the announcement in a recent news release. They stated that Schlicht’s case had long been linked to Randy Kraft, known as the “Scorecard Killer.” Kraft, who is currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, was convicted of brutally killing 16 men during a series of slayings in Orange County that spanned a decade. Authorities suspect that Kraft may have also been responsible for other murders in California, Oregon, and Michigan.
Schlicht’s body was discovered on September 14, 1974, by two individuals off-roading on a fire road near Laguna Beach, California. Initially, his death was ruled as accidental due to alcohol and diazepam intoxication. However, subsequent similar deaths in the area were classified as homicides, raising suspicions about Schlicht’s case.
The breakthrough in identifying Schlicht came when investigators submitted tissue samples to a private forensic biotechnology company in November 2022. Using the DNA profile developed from these samples, they uploaded it into a genealogy database to construct a family tree. This led them to Kansas City, Missouri, where they obtained a DNA sample from a woman believed to be Schlicht’s mother.
The identification of Schlicht brings closure to a case that has remained unsolved for nearly five decades. It also sheds new light on the heinous crimes committed by Randy Kraft, revealing the extent of his killing spree. Kraft, a former computer programmer, was known for his fetishistic tendencies, even keeping dismembered body parts of his victims in his freezer.
While Kraft’s reign of terror has long since ended, the identification of Michael Ray Schlicht as one of his victims serves as a reminder of the importance of ongoing investigations and advancements in DNA technology. The resolution of this cold case gives hope to other families of unsolved victims, as it proves that justice can prevail, even after many years have passed.