David Alan Gore: The "Killing Cousin" of Indian River County
Overview and Early Life
David Alan Gore was an American serial killer born on August 21, 1953, who terrorized Indian River County, Florida, during the early 1980s. Working frequently with his cousin, Fred Waterfield, Gore engaged in a series of violent abductions, sexual assaults, and murders that primarily targeted young women and teenage girls. The duo became known in Florida crime history as the "Killing Cousins." Gore used familiar local terrain, including remote orange groves and rural roads near Vero Beach, to trap and execute his victims.
Modus Operandi and Crimes
Gore's crime spree was characterized by calculation and extreme violence. He and Waterfield often employed ruses to trap their victims, such as impersonating police officers, offering rides to hitchhikers, or pretending to help stranded drivers. Once abducted, victims were taken to isolated locations—including local citrus groves and Gore's family property—where they were held captive, assaulted, and ultimately murdered. Gore later confessed that his acts were driven by deep-seated sadism and a desire for absolute control over his captives.
The Final Attack and Arrest
On July 26, 1983, Gore's wave of terror ended after an incident at his parents' home near Vero Beach. Gore and Waterfield abducted three people: 35-year-old Judith Ellen Elliott, her 17-year-old stepdaughter Lynn Elliott, and 14-year-old Regan Martin. Inside the house, Gore shot and killed Judith Elliott. In a desperate attempt to survive, Lynn Elliott broke free and ran onto the driveway, but Gore pursued her and shot her in the back of the head. Unknown to Gore, a teenage neighbor witnessed the shooting and immediately notified law enforcement. Regan Martin managed to hide inside a room and survived until police arrived at the scene and placed Gore under arrest.
Confirmed Victims and Dates of Death
- Ying Yueh "Judy" Chu (Age 17) - Date of Death: February 20, 1981 | Location: Indian River County, Florida
- Barbara Ann Bowman (Age 17) - Date of Death: May 19, 1983 | Location: Indian River County, Florida
- Angelica Elizabeth Lavallee (Age 14) - Date of Death: May 19, 1983 | Location: Indian River County, Florida
- Judith Ellen Elliott (Age 35) - Date of Death: July 26, 1983 | Location: Indian River County, Florida
- Lynn Elliott (Age 17) - Date of Death: July 26, 1983 | Location: Indian River County, Florida
Conviction and Execution
Following his arrest on July 26, 1983, Gore confessed to his crimes and assisted investigators in locating the buried remains of his previous victims in citrus groves across Indian River County. He was convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery. Gore received a death sentence for the murder of Lynn Elliott, alongside multiple life sentences for the other murders. His co-conspirator, Fred Waterfield, was convicted of manslaughter and second-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. After spending nearly 29 years on Florida's death row, David Alan Gore was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison on April 12, 2012.
