Heather Roxanne Scaggs, a 20-year-old woman from Boulder Creek, California, tragically lost her life on May 2, 1981. Heather was last seen alive while waiting to meet David Carpenter, an ex-convict who worked with her at a printing trade school in Hayward, California. She had planned to travel with Carpenter to Santa Cruz to examine a car she was considering purchasing. Unfortunately, Heather never returned from this trip, and her body was discovered by hikers in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Big Basin Redwoods State Park. She had been raped and shot to death.
David Carpenter, later identified as the notorious "Trailside Killer," was arrested and charged with Heather's murder. Carpenter was already a suspect in several other murders in the area, including the slaying of Ellen Hansen, a University of California-Davis student, and the attack on her boyfriend, Steve Haertle.
Carpenter's arrest came after he was questioned by San Jose police on May 8, 1981, about Heather's disappearance. He was subsequently held in the Santa Cruz County Jail without bail.
The investigation into Heather's murder revealed that Carpenter had a history of violent crimes and was suspected of killing multiple hikers in the Point Reyes National Wilderness Area. He was eventually convicted of the murders of seven people, including Heather, and was sentenced to death. Carpenter's case garnered significant media attention, and he remains on death row at San Quentin State Prison.
Heather's death was a devastating loss for her family and friends. She was remembered as a lover of nature, photography, and hiking. Her tragic end at the hands of a serial killer highlighted the dangers that can lurk even in seemingly peaceful settings and underscored the importance of vigilance and caution. The case also brought attention to the broader issue of violence against women and the need for improved safety measures in public spaces.
