Morbid Podcast — Episode 699: Randy Kraft: The Scorecard Killer (Part 2)

Date: August 18, 2025
Hosts: Ash and Elena
Podcast Network: Morbid Network | Wondery

Episode Overview

This installment is the intensely chilling second part of the three-part deep dive into the crimes of Randy Kraft, known as the Scorecard Killer. Ash and Elena deliver extensive research, harrowing victim stories, dark humor for levity, and insightful commentary as they chronicle Kraft’s devastating series of murders in 1970s-80s California. This episode traces the investigation’s near-misses, Kraft’s disturbing modus operandi, the difficulty of connecting his crimes, and the heartbreak of victims lost and unidentified. The hosts maintain compassion for the victims, inject necessary humor, and highlight the failures and biases of the era’s law enforcement.

Main Discussion Points & Key Insights

1. Setting the Tone & Levity Before the Darkness

• Light banter (02:22–11:26): The hosts open with a comedic discussion of 1990s romcoms, book recommendations, and meta-remarks about podcasting. They intentionally provide levity ahead of the episode’s emotionally taxing content.

“It's also… This is going to be a very tough episode, and it's a very tough series, so we might as well get some levity in the beginning here.”
— Elana (06:55)

2. The Case So Far & The Challenges of the Era

• Intro to Kraft’s case (11:48–14:30): A recap of Part 1 and how Kraft’s case, despite its brutality and body count, was overshadowed in media by other infamous serial killers. The hosts stress the importance of not forgetting the victims, especially unresolved or unidentified ones.

“...Cases like this, they kind of… unfortunately can get buried in the history of other... serial killers happening. But this case is so upsetting. And there's so many victims… that are unidentified to this day. It's crazy.”
— Elena (12:05)

3. The Abduction and Murder of Keith Crotwell

• Keith Crotwell and Kent May’s encounter (15:21–20:00):
  • Kraft approaches two teens, gives them beer and pills; the situation quickly turns alarming as both boys become heavily sedated.
  • Kent May is dropped off and survives; Keith vanishes.
  • Weeks later, Keith’s head is found; his death is initially dismissed by police as a runaway case—common police bias of the era.

“It wasn't until six weeks later that they learned how very, very wrong they were.”
— Ash (22:34)

4. The First Close Call: The Investigation Stalls

• Police interview Kraft (25:11–32:38):
  • Detectives track Kraft’s distinctive Mustang to his home. He’s an ordinary, well-liked man—his “normalcy” a point of horror.
  • Kraft gives conflicting stories: initially, he denies knowing the teens, then spins a convoluted (and obviously fabricated) tale about leaving the car with Keith.
  • The DA declines to prosecute: no body (only a head), no forensic evidence, and only conflicting statements.
  • Official cause: accidental drowning. The lack of inter-agency communication and forensic evidence leaves the case cold.

“...All they had was conflicting stories, and that wasn't enough to build the case. And to be honest, you wouldn't be able to convince a jury on that. No way.”
— Ash (32:34)

5. Who Was Randy Kraft?

• Background and personality (33:15–49:10):
  • Detailed biography: Born 1945, Los Angeles. Early head injuries, intelligent, somewhat spoiled, had difficulty following rules, but no reported abuse.
  • Concealed his sexuality growing up. Came out during military service and was met with family disappointment and military discharge.
  • Difficulty maintaining employment and relationships; increasing reliance on prescription drugs.
  • Early known offense: sexually assaulted a 13-year-old runaway (Joseph Fancher). The police fail to act due to the victim “voluntarily” taking drugs; devastating aftermath for the victim.
  • First long-term partner: Jeff Graves.

“You should—look, your love for your child should not be conditional.”
— Elena (44:54)

“...13 years old... That will change you for a long, long, long time.”
— Ash (47:27)

6. A Pattern of Violence — The Escalation & Hallmarks of Kraft's Crimes

• Mark Hall’s murder (50:23–55:15):

  • Victim: Mark Hall, US Marine. Crime particularly brutal (burns, mutilation, sexual torture, suffocation with debris).
  • “This is top brutality I've ever heard.” — Elena (54:08)
  • Investigators find a thumbprint on a glass bottle used in the killing—but can't link it to Kraft due to lack of fingerprints in national databases.

• Wave of victims (58:07–68:02):

  • After a 2-year silence, Kraft resumes killing, now averaging a victim every few weeks. Victims are often Marines or hitchhikers, almost all young men.
  • Trademark MO: victims are drugged (Valium or other sedatives), occasional excessive alcohol, strangulation or stabbing, extreme post-mortem mutilation (particularly to genitals), cigarette lighter burns (notably on nipples and eyes).
  • Victims pushed from moving vehicles; signatures include missing shoelaces, redressed bodies, body part removal, and dumping along highways and freeways.
  • Forensic connections: carpet fibers, ligature marks, matching tranquilizer types.

“...he had also been burned with a car cigarette lighter, including on the eyes, nose, and nipples. And his genitals had been removed while he was alive. Most of this was done while he was alive.”
— Ash (53:08)

“Oh my God, all of that. The cause of death was listed as anoxia due to suffocation.”
— Ash (68:02)

• Difficulties in connecting cases:
  • Crimes span multiple counties and jurisdictions; lack of inter-agency communication prevents connections.
  • Reluctance to officially link the killings in the media.

7. Systemic Bias, Missed Opportunities, and Law Enforcement’s Blind Spots

• Insensitive language & homophobia (25:44–28:13, 26:16–27:57):
  • Detectives and Kraft’s employer display 70s-era homophobia and cluelessness about “gay tendencies,” which the hosts criticize and poke fun at.
  • Law enforcement's biases repeatedly surface: they easily dismiss runaways, and are suspicious of gay men while also oblivious to actual threats.

“He held his fingers kind of like he was gay. What is a gay finger? I'm not really sure. How is one finger straight? Is there a bisexual finger?”
— Ash and Elena, riffing off a detective and employer quote (27:45)

8. The Staggering List of Victims and Their Unlucky Paths

• Victim stories (throughout 58:07–75:09):
  • Many victims are portrayed as young men seeking adventure, traveling, escaping family conflicts, or simply serving in the military. Several are last seen hitchhiking.
  • The hosts lament the dismissiveness of authorities when victims are labeled as runaways or otherwise marginalized.

“This poor fellow who was just going to see Disneyland. It broke my heart.”
— Elena (72:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On forensic cold cases
  “It's the same kind of thing with John Wayne Gacy, that there was a couple of unidentified victims... Identify people decades and decades later. Don't give up on it.”
  — Elena (12:46)
• On law enforcement’s bias
  “He held his fingers kind of like he was gay. What is a gay finger? ...I've never looked at someone...and been like, ‘You know, I could tell by the way he holds his fingers.’”
  — Elena & Ash (27:22)
• On the magnitude of violence
  “...How am I never hearing about this case ever?...This is top brutality I've ever heard. Top.”
  — Ash & Elena (54:08)
• On heartbreak for victims
  “...Just the fact that he was on vacation here...he was just going to see Disneyland. Absolutely heartbreaking. He was only 19.”
  — Ash & Elena (72:15)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Romcom/levity and personal updates: 02:22–11:26
• Case context, importance: 11:48–13:02
• Kraft first comes on police radar: 15:21–32:38
• Kraft's background and failed institutional response: 33:15–49:10
• Brutal escalation, victim hallmarks: 50:23–55:15
• Victim sequence and freeway murders: 58:07–68:02
• Police reluctance, media spin, and systemic failures: 65:27–68:02
• Final victim rundowns and foreshadowing arrest: 68:02–75:09
• Reflection and emotional winding down: 75:17–76:46

Tone & Takeaway

While maintaining their signature blend of casual banter and dark humor, Ash and Elena consistently center the victims and spotlight the flaws in the criminal justice response of the time. The episode is heavy, filled with bleak details and empathetic asides. The hosts urge listeners to decompress, show compassion, and look forward to the case’s resolution in the next episode.

Ending Thoughts:

“...It's a heavy case and it's just upsetting. It really is. And the way it was reported on is upsetting. The things that come out of some of the investigators' mouth is upsetting. The things that come out of some of these employers' mouths is upsetting... But it's a lot. Yeah. So take a minute after that...”
— Elena (76:34)

Next:
Part three will cover Kraft’s final crimes, his arrest, and the aftermath.

This summary omits sponsorships, ads, and unrelated intro/outro material, preserving the original conversational tone, detail, and focus on the case as presented by Ash and Elena.