Roger Dale Madison, a 16-year-old from Los Angeles, California, was last seen on December 16, 1968, in Sylmar, CA. He was a friend and classmate of the son of serial killer Mack Ray Edwards. Edwards, who had a history of targeting young children, confessed to killing Roger and burying his body under the 23 Freeway in Thousand Oaks, which was under construction at the time.
Despite extensive searches, Roger's body was never recovered.
Mack Ray Edwards, a former Army heavy equipment operator, surrendered to police in March 1970 and confessed to murdering six children between 1953 and 1970. Among his victims were Gary Rochet, Donald Allen Todd, and Stella Darlene Nolan, for whose murders he was convicted. Edwards also confessed to killing Brenda Jo Howell, Donald Lee Baker, and Roger Dale Madison, although he was never charged for these murders due to the absence of their bodies.
The investigation into Roger's disappearance revealed that Edwards had tricked him into playing a game for money in a Sylmar orange grove. Trusting Edwards, Roger allowed himself to be tied up, after which Edwards stabbed him to death. The following day, Edwards transported Roger's body to one of his work sites and buried it in a compaction hole. Despite efforts to locate Roger's remains, including a significant dig in 2008, his body was never found, leaving his family without closure.
Edwards' confession and subsequent conviction brought some answers to the families of his victims, but many questions remained. Edwards was sentenced to death but took his own life in prison in 1971, further complicating the pursuit of justice for his victims. The case of Roger Dale Madison remains a poignant reminder of the tragic impact of Edwards' crimes and the enduring pain for the families of those who were never found.
