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Description
See any errors? Let us know!David Allen Likens: A Detailed Account of His Crimes
Early Life
David Allen Likens was born on July 12, 1949, in Tucson, Arizona, to Allen W. Likens and Hedwig Lindenburg. Little is known about his early years. In the 1960s, he relocated to California, where he worked as a field coordinator for a construction firm in Hollywood and as a bartender. From July 26, 1966, to May 1967, Likens served in the United States Army but was discharged for unknown reasons.First Known Murder: Rod Thorpe
On April 12, 1974, Likens was arrested for the murder of 21-year-old Rod Thorpe, a hitchhiker last seen at Likens' Los Angeles apartment. Thorpe's body was discovered in the bathtub with stab wounds and scratches on his chest and abdomen. Notably, Likens had mutilated Thorpe's genitalia before strangling him. Likens pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 5-years-to-life imprisonment.Subsequent Murders
Between 1974 and 1978, Likens was implicated in several additional murders in California. His known victims include:- 1974: An unidentified male victim in Los Angeles.
- 1975: An unidentified female victim in San Francisco.
- 1977: An unidentified male victim in Los Angeles.
- 1978: An unidentified female victim in San Francisco.
Victims
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Confirmed Victims: (4)
Rod Thorpe Age: (21), Date of Death: April 12, 1974 ...View 3 additional victims
Suspected Victims: Raymond Oscar Wilson Age: (23), Date of Death: 1978-06-07 San Mateo County John Doe , Date of Death: May - June 1978
Suspected Victims:
Links to Additional Sources (6)
See any mistakes? Let us know!Killer's Details
David Allen
Likens
July 12, 1949 Tucson, Arizona, United States
January 18, 1979 (aged 29) San Mateo County Jail, San Mateo, California, United States
Suicide by hanging
Male
White
Second-degree murder
5-years-to-life (Thorpe), N/A (died before trial) [serial murders]
4 - 6
1974 - 1978
California
Los Angeles, San Francisco
October 12, 1978
San Mateo County Jail — San Mateo, California
07/03/2025










