The Doodler Killer

In the 1970s, there was a serial killer preying on San Francisco’s gay community and almost 50 years later, he’s never been caught. Because the victims were seen as minorities, the crimes didnt really make front page news. Police didnt really even seem to care.. Until they learned of a very weird pattern. 

This killer apparently sketched his victims on napkins before taking them to their violent deaths… and thus, the media dubbed him, the Doodler Killer. 

The original sketch composite of the Doodler Killer (October 1975)

1975 sketch compared to an age-enhanced 2023 sketch

Believed to be the Doodler’s first victim, Gerald Earl Cavanagh was murdered in January 1974

Joseph ‘Jae’ Stevens was the Doodlers second victim, murdered in June 1974

Joseph ‘Jae’ Stevens

Slides of ‘Jae’ while performing

Joseph ‘Jae’ Stevens

‘Jae’ Stevens in drag

Klaus Christmann was the Doodler’s third victim, murdered in July 1974

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Police removing Klaus’ body from the scene

Fredrick Capin was the Doodler’s fourth victim, murdered in May 1975

Harald Gullberg was the Doodler’s 5th victim, found deceased June 1975

Police have recently announced that Warren Andrews is now believed to have been a victim of the Doodler Killer – Attacked April 1975, died later in hospital

Sources:

The Doodler Podcast by Kevin Fagan and Ugly Duckling films

https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/doodler-true-crime-podcast/

The San Francisco Doodler Murders by Kate Zaliznock

Unsolved Serial Killers: 10 Frightening True Crime Cases of Unidentified Serial Killers (The Ones You’ve Never Heard of) by D.R Werner

The Doodler: A Closer Look at the Story Behind the Podcast

https://www.newspapers.com/image/460403612/?terms=%22Gerald%20Cavanaugh%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/745717194/?article=83e35745-9b74-4415-af6a-bd0672387523

https://www.newspapers.com/image/746840493/?terms=Joseph%20Stevens&match=3

https://www.newspapers.com/image/460933976/?terms=Joseph%20Stevens&match=1

https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/doodler-true-crime-podcast/chapter-one

https://www.sfgate.com/unsolved/article/Sixth-victim-of-Doodler-serial-killer-announced-16809190.php

The Untold Story of the Doodler Murders

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/20/us/doodler-cold-case-murders/index.html

https://people.com/crime/inside-hunt-san-franciscos-notorious-doodler-serial-killer/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9393079/Killer-Doodler-drew-pictures-victims-murdering-alive.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/crime-law/2019/02/07/police-relaunch-search-doodler-serial-killer-who-sketched-his-victims-first/

https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Police-say-they-re-closer-than-ever-to-16806605.php

https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2018/sf-pride-timeline/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/745717008/?terms=Joseph%20Stevens&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/717529072/?terms=Joseph%20Stevens&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/460890999/?terms=stabbed%20ocean%20beach&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/460937510/?terms=Joseph%20Stevens&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/460723668/?terms=stabbed%20ocean%20beach&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/874287554/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/62873973/?terms=homosexual%20doodler%20killer&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/840747682/?terms=doodler%20killer&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50661746/doodler-interrogation/

https://www.newspapers.com/image/39042337/?terms=warren%20andrews&match=1

https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/S-F-police-raise-reward-for-info-on-Doodler-17738845.php