Clifford Raymond Peranteau, a 23-year-old white male, vanished on January 20, 1985, in San Francisco, California. Standing at 6'1' and weighing approximately 185 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes, Peranteau was employed at Dennis Moving Company. He was last seen after informing his girlfriend that his co-worker, Charles Ng, had invited him on a trip to Lake Tahoe. Subsequently, Peranteau sent a letter to his employer requesting that his paycheck be forwarded to a P.O. box, an unusual action that raised concerns.
Investigations revealed that several of Peranteau's personal belongings were discovered in both Ng's San Francisco apartment and a remote cabin in Wilseyville, California, frequented by Ng and his associate, Leonard Lake. Authorities believe that Peranteau fell victim to Ng and Lake, who were later identified as serial killers responsible for a series of abductions and murders during the mid-1980s.
The criminal activities of Ng and Lake came to light following a shoplifting incident in South San Francisco in June 1985. Ng fled the scene, but Lake was apprehended. While in custody, Lake ingested a cyanide capsule concealed in his clothing, leading to his death four days later. Subsequent searches of Lake's property uncovered human remains, personal belongings of multiple victims, and videotapes documenting the torture and murder of several individuals.
Charles Ng was later arrested in Calgary, Canada, and extradited to California. He faced multiple charges, including the murder of Clifford Peranteau. Ng was convicted and sentenced to death, and he remains incarcerated on death row.
