For more than five decades, the murders of six gay men along San Francisco's Ocean Beach have haunted investigators and the city's LGBTQ+ community. Now, a Bay Area cold case chief inspector says he believes he's finally identified the serial killer known as 'The Doodler' — and that the suspected murderer may still be alive.
Background
Between 1974 and 1975, police believe The Doodler targeted and killed six gay men in or near Ocean Beach. The victims were Warren Andrews, Frederick Capin, Gerald Cavanaugh, Klaus Christmann, Harald Gullberg, and Joseph Stevens. Investigators believe the killer lured his victims by approaching them at gay bars, promising to sketch their portraits, before inviting them to isolated locations under the pretense of a sexual encounter.
The attacks were described as 'rage killings,' with victims stabbed to death in coastal areas away from public view. Police stated that investigators believed all the victims were targeted because they were gay, white adult males who met the suspect shortly before being killed.
In 1975, two additional victims survived stabbings by The Doodler at Fox Plaza apartments where they lived. One survivor recounted how his attacker claimed to be a cartoonist and was doodling while conversing with him in a late-night diner. The victim invited the suspect back to his apartment, where he was attacked and stabbed.
The Investigation
The surviving victims provided descriptions to police that led to a forensic sketch of the suspect being developed in 1975. Survivors described their alleged attacker as a handsome Black man in his 20s at the time. Investigators brought one man in for questioning who matched the description, and authorities noted that once this individual became aware he was a suspect, the murders abruptly stopped.
Daniel Cunningham, who leads the San Francisco Police Department's cold case unit, told the San Francisco Standard that he believes the same man questioned in 1975 remains the prime person of interest. When Cunningham reopened the case in 2018, he brought this individual in for questioning and later encountered him again on an unrelated matter.
"He came out of his residence and looked at me, recognized me," Cunningham said. "I can tell you for sure, I feel pretty confident that he is one and the same person who attacked two men at the Fox Plaza."
Police now believe the prime suspect is still alive, approximately in his 70s, and living somewhere in the East Bay region. In 2023, SFPD increased its reward for information leading to The Doodler's arrest from $200,000 to $250,000 — the maximum amount the department can offer.
Key Takeaways
- At least six gay men were allegedly killed by The Doodler between 1974 and 1975 in San Francisco's Ocean Beach area
- The killer reportedly lured victims at gay bars by promising to sketch them before stabbing them in 'rage killings'
- Two surviving victims were stabbed at Fox Plaza apartments in 1975, providing descriptions that led to a forensic sketch
- A man questioned in 1975 remains the prime suspect; police say murders stopped after he learned he was under investigation
- The suspected killer is believed to be alive, in his 70s, and possibly residing in East Bay
- SFPD is offering $250,000 for tips leading to an arrest — the department's maximum reward amount
What's Next
Police are continuing to investigate The Doodler case and are actively seeking information from the public. Anyone with details about the murders or the suspect's identity is urged to contact SFPD cold case investigators. While no charges have been filed, Cunningham has expressed confidence that the department may finally be able to bring closure to the decades-old mystery. Investigators continue to review evidence and pursue leads as they work toward an eventual arrest.