C4

The Orange County Register

Sunday, May 10, 1967

Chapter 2
Who is Randy Kraft?
t 5 feet 10 inches and 160 pounds, Randy Kraft hardly looks the part of a man charged with 16 murders most by strangulation and linked to 21 others. Nor does his background suggest a penchant for violence. He was a college graduate who made his career in computers, a homeowner in a comfortably middle-class neighborhood, a homosexual with a seemingly stable relationship.
According to court d o c u m e n t s , Kraft was arrested twice in Huntington Beach in 1966 and Long Beach in 1975 on misdemeanor lewd-conduct c h a r g e s . Records on the nature a n d outcome of those cases h a v e been purged from Orange and Los Angeles county court a r c h i v e s , and neither Kraft's l a w y e r s nor the prosecution would provide any information. Kraft's only other b r u s h with police was in 1975, when Long Beach investigators questioned him in connection with the disappearance and death of Keith Crotwell. No charges e v e r w e r e filed. Unlike many of the hitchhikers alleged to be his victims, Kraft never strayed f a r f r o m Midway City, an unincorporated enclave in the midst of t h e city of Westminster where he spent most of his youth. Nevertheless, he grew up close to the road. His family lived in an oldfashioned frame house on B e a c h Boulevard which, as p a r t of Highway 39, stretches f r o m the San Gabriel mountains to the sea, crossing the Garden Grove, Santa Ana and San Diego freeways along the way. When Iowa native Harold Kraft, an aerospace w o r k e r a t McDonnell Douglas, moved there with his wife, t h r e e daughters and son in 1948, the boulevard was a two-lane blacktop lined with houses. Midway City was a rural community w h e r e people from Los Angeles c a m e to buy poultry. The tree-lined Kraft homestead remains on the s t r e e t , a remnant of an earlier California promise hemmed in by r o a r i n g traffic and the sprawl of usedcar lots, motels and hot-tub dealers. The Kraft family w a s a closeknit clan, according to B r u c e Bridgman, Randy K r a f t ' s former attorney. "There was a tremendous love bond," Bridgman said in a 1983 interview. The family's love w a s so strong that they o v e r c a m e their initial reactions when t h e y learned of Randy K r a f t ' s homosexuality, Bridgman said. Classmates at Westminster High remember Kraft a s an outstanding student who wore d r e s s shirts instead of T-shirts and excelled in math and science. In the seventh grade, K r a f t scored in the top four out of 400 students on an aptitude test, classmate Kay Frazel r e c a l l s . "He seemed quiet, a b r a i n y kind of person," said J a n Scott, another classmate, who helped organize the class of 1963's 20year reunion. Frazel doesn't r e m e m b e r Kraft as someone who h a d m a n y close friends. Nevertheless, unlike a lot of the other " b r a i n s " who kept to themselves, K r a f t played on the tennis t e a m and in the school band, Scott noted. H e belonged to the Kings Men, a select group of students involved in school activities. "I was quite surprised to h e a r what he's accused of d o i n g , " said Cheryl Haynes, a f o r m e r classmate. "That didn't s e e m to fit. I don't recall him a s a person who was ever violent o r even had harsh words f o r people." Frazel, who says that for a time she had an unrequited crush on Kraft, said, " I c o u l d n ' t conceive of Randy getting a ticket." She remembers t h a t Kraft gave her a photo inscribed: "May God bless you and keep you Randy Steven Kraft." Kraft majored in e c o n o m i c s at Claremont Men's College, a small, expensive, highly regarded liberal-arts college in Claremont in Los Angeles County. He was elected president of his dorm and proved to be a good organizer of b e e r busts and athletic events. He was mechanically inclined, and aroused envy with his classic white Jaguar. During semester breaks, he took c a r l o a d s of classmates camping in the Grand Canyon and Death Valley. "He seemed like a pretty stable guy for the most p a r t , " said Doug Grimwood, a f o r m e r colleague who lived in K r a f t ' s dorm. Russ Chung, Kraft's acquaintance of four years, r e m e m b e r s him as "more of a social t h a n an intellectual type. He didn't seem in any way unusual at all."

Chung said he and Kraft occasionally dated women from the other Claremont colleges. He said he and others who knew Kraft were surprised to learn from newspaper accounts that Kraft is gay.

After graduating from Claremont in 1968, Kraft joined the Air Force where, for a while, he continued his pattern as a high achiever. Records show that he scored in the mid-90s in just about every category of the Air

Force aptitude tests. He also received a "secret" security clearance that required passing a ')efense Department background check. After boot camp and technical school in Texas, Kraft was sta-

tioned at Edwards Air Force ' Base in Southern California. He worked at the Air Force Flight Test Center as a protective-coating specialist, painting test planes. He rose to the rank of Please see CHAPTER 2/C5

Drunk Driving Arrest?

3 minute RECORDED MESSAGE explains new laws and Court System. Experienced Attorney Local Offices Reasonable Fees Weekend Eve. Appts.
M R S I Sf C O N D O H F NSf -Hoir Ol Hr.,,, Mei o r d i n q He,.mrimq ( 7 1 4 ) 6 3 4 - 3 3 3 3 ( 7 1 4 ) 6 3 4 - 9 1 1 1

FREE ATTORNEY CONSULTATION

Of f F N S

It's Not If You Get An MBA, But When

Once thought to be an educational luxury, an MBA has become a business necessity. Especially for those who wish to compete for positions of the greatest power and responsibility. So today, the question isn't if. but when and where. When it's time, look into the program offered at National University. More than anyother sch(x)l, National University has adapted the MBA program to the special needs of working adults. For example, at National University you take one course at a time, one month at a time. This one-course-per-month format allows you to concentrate your time and efforts subject by subject. And in addition to the basic MBA, National University offers MBAs with
Irvine
Anaheim

NO DOWN PAYMENT. NO BUY-IN EXPENSE. NO SECURITY DEPOSIT

VILLA DE PALMA CASA BONITA FULLERTON

RESIDENCES FOR ACTIVE ELDERS

and concerned about my safety. / wasn't eating right and I was afraid to drive anywhere. Housekeeping was such a burden. Myfamily was concerned, we all were concerned. So we did something about it."
All the comforts of home and more! Your affordable monthly rent includes:
3 Meals & Snacks Daily 24 Hour Security No Lease, No Entry Fee Rental Rate Guaranteed for 1 year Activities Programs Local Transportation Laundry and Linen Service Complete Furnishings SSI Accepted Upon Availability

"/ was lonely

emphasis in specific fields such as financial accounting, marketing, international business and telecommunications. So you can take a job-specific focus if you desire. Plus, when you're ready to start, we're ready. You can begin your degree program any month of the year. Not just in September. And, of course, classes are held in the evening, so you can continue to work full time while you earn your degree. All things considered, it's not if you'll call National University, but when.

National University
ORANGE COUNTY
(714) 582-7222
Mission Viejo Westminster

Changing the Course of Education

(7 14) 250-5100

(714) 250-5300
nniiTi.itr- in .m\ I il - [. 'In

( 714) 891-2024
hrfndn i

.Viredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges hni. iniiin AW prmrduf^. "T prai In ' in llw li.i.i > 1 r*, r 'Im n.ilm

C'mon you owe it to yourself and your peace of mind. Call or come by. You'll be delightfully surprised! VILLA DE PALMA 351 East Palm Drive Placentia, CA 92670 (714)528-4990 CASA BONITA FULLERTON 1620 E. Chapman Ave. Fullerton, CA 92631 (714) 879-0920

Call (800) 624-0236 for information on other California Retirement Villas locations. Managed with care by California Retirement Villas Inc.

"MONARCH OF THE SKYGOLDEN EAGLE"

BY MORTEN E. SOLBERG

A SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION THAT WILL AID THE WORLD CENTER FOR BIRDS OF PREY IN BOISE, IDAHO

on All Air Conditioning Units

'financing available to buyers with Approved Credit only. Offer expires June 30,1967.

$100 REBATE
Santiago Air Conditioning
231 W. Blueridge Avenue Orange 998-1820

For 12 Months or

FINANCING

MEET THE ARTIST

at our El Toro Gallery Sat., May 30th 3 - 7 p.m. Slide presentation Autograph signing Refreshments

SM

23710 EL TOHO RD., SADDLEBACK VALLEY PLAZA

EL TORO

(714) 837-9980 FOUNTAIN VALLEY 16169 BROOKHURST AT EDINQER (714) 775-5529

LENNOX
AIR CONDITIONING HEATING

Leader. Turn to The Orange County Register.

Few publications can appropriately describe the romance of travel e w e r still are S u n d a y n e w s p a p e r travel s e c t i o n s that t r a n s c e n d the o r d i n a r y w i t h vivii color a n d striking graphics. A n d rarest of all is t h e S u n d a y travel section t h a t c o m b i n e s g e n u i n e l y u s e f u l travel i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h descriptive i m a g e r y , w e e k - m . w e e k - o u t . See for y o u r s e l f w h y the R e g i s t e r ' s 1'iavel s e c t i o n has received n a t i o n a l . a c c l a i m . Turn to the

First-hand reports mean better news coverage. And

O r a n g e C o u n t y Register b u r e a u s in Los A n g e l e s , Sacr a m e n t o and W a s h i n g t o n . D.C. bring you on-the-scene, up-to-the-minute reports with an O r a n g e C o u n t y perspective u n a v a i l a b l e e l s e w h e r e . For m e a n i n g f u l j o u r n a l i s m ,

turn to the Leader. Turn to The Orange County Register.