Dayton Leroy Rogers

Serial Killer

Dayton Leroy Rogers: The Molalla Forest Killer

Overview

Dayton Leroy Rogers is an American serial killer who murdered women in Oregon during the 1980s. Known as the "Molalla Forest Killer," Rogers was convicted of killing seven women and admitted responsibility for an eighth. Six victims were found in a wooded dumping ground on privately owned land near Molalla, Oregon, southeast of Portland. The isolated location concealed the crimes until the summer of 1987, when a man shooting targets in the area discovered human remains. Rogers targeted vulnerable women, including teenagers, runaways, women struggling with drug addiction, and women involved in sex work. He generally approached victims in Portland before driving them to secluded locations. Evidence presented in court showed that several women were restrained, tortured, stabbed, and left in the forest. The injuries inflicted on the victims demonstrated that the killings were deliberate and prolonged rather than spontaneous acts of violence.

Early Violence and Escalation

Rogers was born on September 30, 1953, in Moscow, Idaho. He later lived in Oregon, married, became a father, and worked as a small-engine mechanic. Behind that outwardly ordinary life was a history of violence against girls and women. As a teenager, he attacked a 15-year-old girl with a knife after luring her to an isolated place. She survived and helped authorities identify him. In 1972, Rogers abducted another young woman and drove her into the countryside. He struck her, threatened her with a knife, and attempted to restrain her. The victim escaped and reported the attack. Rogers was convicted of second-degree assault and spent time in the Oregon State Hospital and the state prison system. After his release, his behavior continued to escalate. Another woman survived an encounter with Rogers in 1982. She said he picked her up in Portland, drove her to a remote area, tied her up, and assaulted her. She managed to survive after persuading him to release her. Accounts from surviving women later became important in showing that Rogers had developed a repeated method of isolating, binding, and attacking his victims. ...

Confirmed Victims: (6)

Jennifer Lisa Smith Age: (25), Date of Death: 1987-08-07

Suspected Victims:

Lisa Marie Mock Age: (23), Date of Death: 1987-07

Dayton Leroy Rogers - Wikipedia