Richard Anthony Crosby, a 20-year-old white male from San Bernardino County, California, was tragically murdered on September 29, 1978. Born on September 2, 1958, in Harbor City, Los Angeles County, Crosby had been hitchhiking home from a theater in Torrance, California, the day before his death. His disappearance and subsequent murder were later linked to one of the most notorious serial killers in California history—Randy Steven Kraft.
Kraft, often referred to as the "Scorecard
Killer" or the "Freeway Killer," was convicted of the rape, torture, and murder of at least 16 young men between 1972 and 1983. However, investigators believe the actual number of victims may be as high as 67. Richard Anthony Crosby, the 20-year-old white male victim, was among those whose lives were taken during Kraft’s deadly spree. Crosby’s body was discovered in San Bernardino County, and his death was ultimately attributed to Kraft’s brutal methods, which often involved drugging, binding, and mutilating his victims before killing them.
The arrest of Randy Steven Kraft occurred in May 1983, nearly five years after the murder of Richard Anthony Crosby. Kraft was apprehended during a routine traffic stop when officers discovered a deceased young man in the passenger seat of his car. Subsequent investigations uncovered a disturbing collection of evidence, including a coded list—dubbed the "scorecard"—that appeared to reference his victims. Richard Anthony Crosby’s name was not explicitly listed, but circumstantial evidence and patterns in Kraft’s behavior led authorities to connect Crosby’s murder to him.
Kraft was eventually convicted in 1989 on 16 counts of murder and sentenced to death. He remains incarcerated on death row in California. The murder of Richard Anthony Crosby, a 20-year-old white male, stands as one of many tragic losses in Kraft’s long and horrifying trail of violence. Crosby’s death, like those of other victims, underscores the vulnerability of young men during that era and the chilling efficiency with which Kraft operated for over a decade before being brought to justice.
