Robert Michael Spector, an 18-year-old male, tragically lost his life on February 10, 1973, in Santa Cruz County, California. He was one of four young men who fell victim to Herbert Mullin, a serial killer who terrorized the region during the early 1970s. Spector, along with David Allan Oliker, 18; Brian Scott Card, 19; and Mark John Dreibelbis, 15, had been camping in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park when they encountered Mullin.
The killer, who was wandering the area, falsely claimed to be a park ranger and ordered the group to leave, citing environmental concerns. When they refused, Mullin left but returned the following day and fatally shot all four victims.
Spector, a young man from Van Nuys, California, was the son of Dr. Donald E. Spector and Ruth Kessler. He was survived by his sisters, Laurie and Andrea. His body, along with those of his friends, remained undiscovered for a week until authorities found them on February 17, 1973. The brutal nature of the crime shocked the community, as Mullin had already been linked to multiple murders in the area. His killing spree, which spanned several months, included the deaths of a fisherman, a priest, a suspected drug dealer and his wife, as well as a mother and her two young sons.
Herbert Mullin, a 25-year-old man with a history of mental illness and drug use, was arrested shortly after the murders. Authorities described him as a 'one-man crime wave' and charged him with multiple homicides. When apprehended, Mullin was found with several weapons, including a. 22 caliber pistol that was linked to the killings. His erratic behavior and disturbing tattoos, which included phrases advocating for the legalization of LSD and marijuana, further highlighted his troubled state of mind. Mullin was eventually convicted of numerous murders and sentenced to life in prison, bringing an end to his reign of terror in Santa Cruz County.
