Kelvin Shelby Malone

Serial Killer

Kelvin Shelby Malone: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Early Life and Background

Kelvin Shelby Malone was born on January 10, 1961, in Seaside, California. He spent his formative years near Monterey but also lived in Missouri, particularly in the St. Louis area, where he had family ties. During his youth, Malone attended Brentwood High School in St. Louis County, where he met Michael Terry Crenshaw, who would later become his accomplice in a series of crimes. Their association marked the beginning of a path that led Malone into a life of criminal activity.

Initial Criminal Activities

Malone's early criminal record began with a robbery on February 15, 1979. Alongside Andrew R. Armstrong, he robbed Missouri Court of Appeals Judge George F. Gunn Jr. near his home in Brentwood. Armstrong brandished a loaded pistol during the robbery, but the duo managed to steal only $4. Armstrong received a twenty-year sentence after fleeing the state, while Malone, considered an accomplice, was sentenced to seven years. He began serving his sentence on January 24, 1980, at the Missouri Intermediate Reformatory at the Algoa Correctional Center in Jefferson City. Despite his seven-year sentence, Malone was paroled in November 1980 after serving just under ten months. Upon release, he moved to California, where he was convicted of burglary and grand theft in Monterey County in January 1981. While awaiting sentencing for these crimes, Malone escaped custody, setting the stage for a violent crime spree.

Crime Spree of March 1981

Malone's series of violent crimes commenced in March 1981, spanning multiple states and resulting in several murders. Below is a detailed account of his known victims:

• Leroy Cambs: On March 10, 1981, in Santa Maria, California, Malone kidnapped 37-year-old Cambs. After requesting a ride, Malone produced a gun and held Cambs hostage. He forced Cambs to drive for approximately two hours before ordering him into the trunk of his car in an underground parking lot in Los Angeles. Malone drove around with Cambs in the trunk for about an hour before releasing him near a freeway in Long Beach.
• Unidentified Male: Malone is suspected of murdering a man on March 11, 1981, in Merced County, California. However, he was never prosecuted for this killing, and authorities have not released details about the victim or the circumstances.
• William Parr: On March 18, 1981, Malone shot and killed 62-year-old cab driver William Parr in St. Louis, Missouri. Parr was found with a bullet wound to his head in a park near Crenshaw's home. Evidence linked Malone to the crime, including ballistics matching his firearm to the bullet that killed Parr.
• James T. Rankin: On March 19, 1981, in Kansas City, Missouri, Malone and Crenshaw kidnapped 39-year-old Rankin from a Denny's restaurant parking lot. They forced him into the trunk of his car and drove to a remote area in the Mojave Desert. In the early hours of March 20, Malone took Rankin out of the trunk and shot him to death. Rankin's body was never recovered, but his belongings were found in Malone's possession upon his arrest.
• Myrtle Dee Benham: On March 20, 1981, in Baker, California, Malone kidnapped 55-year-old Benham from her workplace at a gas station. He robbed, sexually assaulted, and brutally battered her to death with a pipe. Her body was discovered eight days later in an abandoned shack near Daggett, California.
• Minnie Ola White: On March 21, 1981, just north of Blythe, California, Malone shot and killed 51-year-old White after robbing her. Her body was found in the trunk of her car near Blythe.

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Confirmed Victims: (4)

William Parr Age: (62), Date of Death: March 18, 1981

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Survivors:

Leroy Cambs Age: (37), Date of Attack: 1981-03-10

Kevin Malone | Murderpedia

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