Robin Scott Stapley, a 26-year-old man, was tragically murdered in April 1985. He was the founder of the San Diego chapter of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer crime-prevention organization. His remains were discovered in a shallow grave near the home of Leonard Lake, a suspected serial killer operating in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Stapley had been living with neighbors of Lake before his disappearance.
His body was found wrapped in a sleeping bag alongside another victim, Lonnie Bond, near Lake's property.
Authorities identified Stapley through fingerprints and confirmed that he was one of at least 11 victims found in or near Lake's property. Lake was arrested for shoplifting in South San Francisco, and during his detention, investigators discovered evidence linking him to multiple murders. Lake ultimately committed suicide by ingesting a cyanide pill while in custody. His suspected accomplice, Charles Ng, was later arrested in Calgary, Alberta, and faced charges related to attempted murder, robbery, and weapons violations. Ng was extradited to the United States, where he stood trial for his involvement in the killings.
Investigators uncovered disturbing evidence at Lake's property, including a secret bondage chamber and videotapes depicting victims being tortured. One such videotape, discovered in Ng's apartment, showed the bodies of Stapley and Bond wrapped in plastic. Prosecutors used this footage as evidence in Ng's murder trial. Ng was accused of participating in a series of gruesome crimes alongside Lake, including the abduction, torture, and murder of multiple individuals. The case was one of the most notorious serial killings in California history, with authorities estimating that Lake and Ng may have been responsible for as many as 25 murders.
