Gerald Parker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For South Florida geologist, see Garald G. Parker.
Gerald Parker
Gerald Parker (serial killer).png
SQ Inmate Photo
Born1955 (age 66–67)
Other namesThe Bedroom Basher
The Bludgeon Killer
Conviction(s)Murder
Rape
Criminal penaltyDeath
Details
Victims6
Span of crimes
December 1978–October 1979
CountryUnited States
State(s)California
Date apprehended
January 1996
Imprisoned atSan Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California

Gerald Parker (born 1955) is an American serial killer who raped and murdered five women in Orange County, California. A sixth victim, who was pregnant at the time of the attack, survived, but her child was delivered stillborn. The crimes took place in 1978 and 1979, but Parker was not identified as the killer until 1996. Parker confessed to the murders, and was sentenced to death on January 21, 1999.[1] Following his conviction, another man, Kevin Lee Green, who had been charged with one of the six murders and had served 16 years in prison, was exonerated and released.[2]

Early life[]

Parker was born in 1955, into a poor family with 11 brothers and sisters. In 1963, his mother passed away, and his grandmother had to take care of him. After the death of his mother, Parker and his family moved into segregated housing in Arizona. In the mid-1960s, Parker and his brothers moved to a neighborhood mainly populated by African-Americans with little to no education, and was a frequent target of bullies. Due to trouble at school, he began to huff household and industrial chemicals, eventually becoming addicted.[3]

In the late 1960s, Parker moved with his family to San Diego, California. In his teens, he began to use drugs such as mescaline and LSD, his school grades worsening as a result. In 1970, he stole several items from his school, but was captured and promptly expelled. Due to his age and the laws of the juvenile court, however, he wasn't charged with a crime. He was transferred under supervision of guardians to the Boys Republic, a private all-boys school for troubled adolescents, located in Chino. After spending several months at the school, Parker escaped and led a transient lifestyle for the next few years.

In 1973, Parker enlisted in the United States Army and enrolled into the Marine Corps. Until 1974, he served at a military base in Adak, Alaska, after which he was transferred to Tustin, where he worked from 1974 to 1977. In 1978, he received the honorary title of staff sergeant.

In 1978, he continued his service at the El Toro air station in Irvine, where he served until the beginning of 1980, when, due to problems with law enforcement, he was forced to resign.

Crimes[]

On February 15, 1980, Parker abducted and raped a 14-year-old girl in Tustin.[1][4] He released her without causing her any further serious injuries. The victim contacted the police and described the car and appearance of her assailant, on the basis of which Parker was soon arrested. He confessed to the crime, and in exchange for a commutation of his sentence, he also admitted to a robbery committed 13 days earlier in Pasadena, while visiting his brother. Parker was found guilty of rape and received an eight-year sentence, which he served at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. On February 13, 1984, while in custody, Parker attacked his cellmate David Feertadot with a blunt object, inflicting serious head injuries. The motive for the attack was never established, and in June 1984, Parker was given an additional sentence for causing grievous bodily harm. In November 1987, he was paroled and released. Over the next few years, he led a transient lifestyle, periodically working as a day laborer, but earning his income mainly through thefts. In July 1993, he was arrested for several thefts and robberies in Orange County, for which he was convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment. However, in February 1995, he was paroled again. In January the following year, Parker was rearrested for violating the conditions of his parole and returned to prison to serve out his sentence. During this time, he was forced to give a blood sample.

Exposure[]

DNA profiling tests were conducted on the blood sample from Parker, which showed that his profile corresponded to that of an unidentified serial killer who left biological traces during six attacks on different women around Orange County between 1978 and 1979,[5] using primarily a 2x4 piece of lumber, a hammer or mallet.[1] For this reason, the killer was nicknamed "The Bedroom Basher".[6] Based on this, on June 14, 1996, Gerald Parker was questioned for his involvement at his cell in the Avenal State Prison. He denied having to do anything with the killings and protested his innocence, but under pressure from mounting evidence, he confessed during another interrogation two days later.

According to his testimony, on December 1, 1978, in Anaheim, Parker entered the apartment of 17-year-old Sandra Fry, whom he raped and beat severely, inflicting severe head injuries that later killed her.

Parker's next murder took place on March 31, 1979, in Costa Mesa. He entered the apartment of 21-year-old Kimberly Rawlins, whom he raped and then hit on the head with a blunt object. As with Fry, he left biological traces on Rawlins' body.

On September 14, he entered the apartment of 31-year-old Marolyn Carleton, brutally beating her during an attempted rape, causing her severe head injuries, which she would die from the following day. This crime was witnessed by the victim's nine-year-old son, who subsequently described the attacker to police.

On September 30, Parker attacked 20-year-old nurse Dianna Green, who was 9 months pregnant. He beat her with a piece of blackboard and subsequently raped her. Green survived, but her child was stillborn and she fell into a retrograde amnesia.[1] The killer left the crime scene unnoticed and didn't leave any clues behind, as a result of which Kevin Green, the victim's husband, was wrongfully charged, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the attack in 1980.[7]

On October 6, Parker entered the Tustin apartment of 24-year-old Deborah Kennedy. He attacked and severely beat her with a hammer, causing her severe head injuries and a brain hemorrhage; she later died of her injuries. In this instance, Parker managed to avoid leaving behind any incriminating evidence, aside from his semen traces on the victim's body.

Fourteen days later, he committed another murder in Costa Mesa. He entered the apartment of 17-year-old Deborah Senior, raping and then beating her with a blunt object, inflicting severe head injuries that eventually killed her. This time, Parker left behind not only his biological traces, but a palm print of his left hand. During interrogations, Parker's testimony turned out to be consistent with the times and dates of the crimes, despite his claims that he had committed these acts while in an intoxicated state.

Trial[]

Gerald Parker's trial began in 1997. He did not dispute his guilt in the murders. The main evidence was based on the DNA tests and his own confession, because of which he was sentenced to death by lethal injection in 1999.[6][8] The charges against Kevin Green, convicted of assaulting his wife and murdering their unborn daughter, were dropped, and he was released after spending 16 years behind bars.[6][9]

Aftermath[]

Parker is currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, awaiting execution. In 2017, his lawyers appealed for the nullification of his death sentence and for a new trial, arguing that Parker was mentally disturbed at the time of the murders, as a result of his being bullied as a child combined with abuse of drugs and alcohol. However, that appeal was rejected.[10][11]

See also[]

External links[]

Bibliography[]

  • Robert D. Keppel and William J. Birnes (2003). The Psychology of Serial Killer Investigations: The Grisly Business Unit. Academic Press. p. 18. ISBN 9780124042605.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Cekola, Anne; Reza, H. G. (August 20, 1996). "O.C. Grand Jury Heard Parker Admit 6 Killings". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ Goodyear, Charlie; Hallissy, Erin (October 19, 1999). "The Other Side of DNA Evidence: An Innocent Man Is Freed". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  3. ^ Granberry, Michael (July 15, 1996). "Relative of Alleged Serial Killer Cites Life of Losses". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ "Releases JUSTICE DELAYED / DNA EVIDENCE FREES ONE MAN, POINTS TO ANOTHER IN 1979 CASE : Heating the Cold Trail of the 'Bludgeon Killer'". Los Angeles Times. June 22, 1996.
  5. ^ Hua, Thao; Reza, H. G.; Romney, Lee (June 22, 1996). "New Suspect Charged as Man Held 17 Years Is Freed". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ a b c Yi, Daniel (January 22, 1999). "Man Sentenced to Death in Killings". Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ Mitchell, Ruth Ann (October 6, 1996). "Innocent Man Revels In Normal Life After 17 Years in Prison". Deseret News. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  8. ^ Dolan, Maura (June 5, 2017). "Death penalty is upheld for Orange County serial killer". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ "'BEDROOM BASHER': After 16 years in prison, man faces real killer". Associated Press. October 7, 1998.
  10. ^ "Death penalty is upheld for Orange County serial killer". Los Angeles Times. June 5, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  11. ^ Ludwig, Ashley (June 7, 2017). "Tustin Bedroom Basher Serial Rapist Death Penalty Upheld". Patch.
Retrieved from ""