Lynwood Drake

Mass Murderer

Lynwood Drake and the 1992 San Luis Obispo County Murders

Background

Lynwood Crumpler Drake III, commonly known as Jim Drake, was an American mass murderer who killed six people during a violent spree through San Luis Obispo County, California, on November 7 and 8, 1992. The attacks occurred at private residences in Morro Bay, a card club in Paso Robles, and the home of a former landlady in San Miguel. Drake also wounded two people before ending the rampage by killing himself. Drake was born on October 10, 1949, in Norfolk, Virginia. Over the years, he worked as a bartender, caterer and construction worker. He reportedly studied acting in New York and appeared briefly in the 1982 motion picture The World According to Garp. By 1992, however, Drake was unemployed, receiving disability benefits and experiencing serious personal, financial and emotional problems. Acquaintances described Drake as an angry and unstable man who believed that numerous people had mistreated or conspired against him. He was also known to gamble heavily. Residents later told investigators that Drake had repeatedly threatened to kill people he considered enemies before taking his own life. Although these statements alarmed some people, they were not treated as an immediate or credible plan for violence.

Personal Disputes and Warning Signs

In June 1991, Drake was arrested after assaulting a day-care employee following an incident in which his young daughter suffered a cut during a fall. He received probation and was ordered to participate in a mental-health program intended for people with aggressive behavior. Available accounts do not establish that he completed the program. During May 1992, Drake was evicted from a rented home in Morro Bay after failing to pay rent for several months. His landlord, 80-year-old Andrew Zatko, pursued the eviction. Norman Metcalfe, a former neighbor and another of Zatko's tenants, testified against Drake during the legal proceedings and reportedly helped remove him from the property. Shortly after the eviction, Drake's common-law wife separated from him and took their daughter. Drake apparently blamed Zatko, Metcalfe and others for the collapse of his family life. He also held a grudge against employees of a Paso Robles card club where he had lost money and had reportedly been barred for cheating and causing trouble.

The Murder of Andrew Zatko

At approximately 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 1992, Drake entered Andrew Zatko's home in Morro Bay while carrying a .32-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver. The residence's front door was unlocked, which was not considered unusual in the community at that time. Zatko was preparing dinner in the kitchen. His 89-year-old companion, Gladys Walton, was seated nearby. Drake confronted Zatko and fired at him from extremely close range, striking him in the throat. Zatko died from the wound. Walton was not shot and survived the encounter. The killing was not random. Investigators believed Drake deliberately selected Zatko because of the eviction and the financial dispute between them. After killing him, Drake left the residence and continued to another home in Morro Bay. ...

Confirmed Victims: (6)

Danny Cizek 32 yr old Male

Lynwood Drake - Wikipedia