On November 29, 1956, 10-year-old white male Lawrence Rice was tragically murdered in Santa Monica, California. While playing alone on Ocean Park Beach, Lawrence was approached by Stephen A. Nash, a transient man with a history of violence. Nash lured the boy by offering him soft drinks and hamburgers, and after gaining his trust, led him beneath the Santa Monica Pier. There, Nash brutally stabbed the child multiple times—several wounds to the abdomen and approximately 18 to the back. Some of these injuries were inflicted before and others after Nash partially undressed the boy. After the attack, Nash slashed Lawrence's left buttock and fled the scene.
Following the murder, Nash traveled to Los Angeles, returning to the city's skid row area. Later that same day, he was detained by police officers who encountered him during an unrelated arrest. Upon checking his records, authorities discovered an outstanding warrant for Nash's arrest related to previous assaults. This led to his arrest and subsequent confession to the murder of Lawrence Rice.
During the investigation, Nash confessed to a total of 11 murders, including that of 10-year-old Lawrence Rice. He admitted to killing 'just for kicks,' displaying a disturbing lack of remorse. Nash was indicted for the murders of Lawrence Rice and another victim, John Berg. At trial, his defense challenged the M'Naghten rule concerning the legal definition of insanity, but the court upheld the existing standard. Nash was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He was executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin State Prison on August 21, 1959.
