In the early 1970s, San Francisco was a city of contrasts. It was the epicenter of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, the aftermath of the Summer of Love, and a cultural revolution. But behind the freedom and progress, a killer stalked the night—targeting gay men, sketching them before their deaths, and slipping back into the fog.
He became known only as “The Doodler.”
He is believed to have murdered at least five men between 1974 and 1975—and possibly many more. Despite surviving witnesses and physical evidence, the Doodler was never caught.
This is the story of a serial killer whose crimes were overshadowed by prejudice, ignored by the media, and left unsolved for nearly 50 years.
The Murders Begin
Between January 1974 and September 1975, the bodies of five white men were found in and around San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park, and other nearby locations. Each had been:
- Stabbed multiple times, often in the front and back
- Found fully clothed, with wallets and valuables still present
- Discovered in areas known to be gathering places for gay men
The lack of robbery suggested a personal or sexual motive. But the cases were largely ignored by mainstream press.
Police eventually connected the murders and realized they were likely dealing with a single suspect—a young, Black man who was reportedly meeting his victims at gay clubs and bars. His calling card? He sketched his targets on napkins or paper before luring them to secluded areas.
Hence, the name: The Doodler.
The Survivor Testimonies
A breakthrough should have come when three men survived attacks by the Doodler and lived to tell the tale. One was a well-known entertainer, another a diplomat, and the third a military figure—all unwilling to testify publicly because doing so would mean outing themselves in a time when being gay could destroy your career, family, and life.
Their silence protected the killer.
Detectives had a suspect in custody. He even admitted to sketching the victims. But without public testimony, prosecutors couldn’t move forward.
The case stalled. The Doodler walked free.
The Victims We Know
While five homicides were officially connected, investigators believe the Doodler may have killed up to 14 men and assaulted at least three more.
The known victims include:
- Gerald Cavanaugh – 50, found on Ocean Beach in January 1974
- Joseph “Jae” Stevens – 27, a female impersonator, found near Spreckels Lake
- Klaus Christmann – 31, discovered with over 15 stab wounds in Golden Gate Park
- Frederick Capin – 32, nurse and decorated Navy corpsman
- Harold Gullberg – 66, a Swedish sailor found near Lincoln Park
Their deaths were brutal, seemingly premeditated, and spaced close enough in time to suggest a highly active killer.
Why the Case Went Cold
There are many reasons the Doodler case remains unsolved:
- Cultural stigma: In the 1970s, homosexuality was still criminalized in many states. Victims in gay-related crimes were often ignored or blamed.
- Unwilling witnesses: The surviving victims refused to testify, fearing for their reputations.
- Lack of press coverage: Unlike the Zodiac or other high-profile killers, the Doodler received little media attention at the time.
- Insufficient forensic technology: DNA profiling didn’t exist yet, and evidence was limited to descriptions and physical sketches.
The case fell into obscurity—until recently.
A New Push for Justice
In 2019, the San Francisco Police Department reopened the case, offering a $100,000 reward for information. In 2022, they released an age-progressed sketch of the Doodler and submitted DNA evidence from the crime scenes for modern analysis.
Investigators now believe they are close to naming the suspect. As of this writing, no arrest has been made, but the case is active—and the killer may still be alive.
The Legacy of Silence
The Doodler case is more than a series of murders. It’s a tragic reminder of how shame, fear, and societal prejudice allowed a serial killer to roam free.
If the surviving victims had felt safe enough to speak out, perhaps justice would have come decades earlier. But they were silenced by a world that refused to accept them.
Their silence cost lives.
For more cases like this, explore our archive. SinisterArchive.com—where the legends are real.