206 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.
⚠️ Warning: Viewer Discretion Advised ⚠️ The following section contains detailed information about serial killers, their crimes, and case details. Some content may be disturbing or graphic, including descriptions of violence, criminal behavior, and sensitive subject matter.
Description
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James Ray Cable: The Chilling Story of an American Serial Killer

Early Life and First Crimes

James Ray Cable was born in 1948 in La Grange, Kentucky. His criminal activities began early, with his first arrest in 1971 for the rape of a 7-year-old girl in Owensboro. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, on June 11, 1972, Cable escaped from the Kentucky State Reformatory but was caught later that same day.

Prison Violence and Parole Violations

In April 1977, Cable attacked fellow inmate Willie S. Daniels with a steel rod, resulting in Daniels' death. Cable was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and received an additional 10-year sentence. Despite this, he was paroled three years later. Cable's parole violations led to multiple returns to prison, including a 1988 incident involving his estranged wife.

Kidnapping and Torture

On April 5, 1990, Cable, along with accomplice Phillip Clopton, kidnapped a 15-year-old girl from Louisville. They took her to a remote campsite where they repeatedly raped and assaulted her over three weeks. The girl eventually escaped on April 26, 1990, after killing Clopton with his own gun. ...Read More
Victims
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Confirmed Victims: (4)
  • Willie Daniels Age: (35), Date of Death: 1977-04
  •     ...View 3 additional victims
    Links to Additional Sources (21)
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    Killer's Details

    James

    Cable

    1948 LaGrange, Kentucky, United States

    December 3, 2013 (aged 64–65) Kentucky State Penitentiary, United States

    Male

    White

    Rape and kidnapping (died before murder trial)

    300 years imprisonment

    4-6+

    1977 - 1990

    Kentucky

    April 26, 1990 (final time)

    Kentucky State Penitentiary

    07/03/2025