If you were in Oregon during the 1980s, you probably remember the headlines in 1987 when the bodies of several women were found in the woods outside the small town of Molalla. Oregon’s most prolific serial killer had just been caught, and we were all horrified when we heard of his crimes.
In the 1980s, the town of Molalla was much smaller than it is today, but it’s always been surrounded by beautiful forest. Several historic homes and museums are located in this pretty town, and it’s a delightful place to visit. But between 1983 and 1987, there was a dark, horrible secret there.
Dayton Leroy Rogers was prowling the area, and he was one of the most vicious men who’s ever taken a breath in Oregon.
Oregon Dept. Of Corrections/Wikimedia
Rogers targeted prostitutes to satisfy his lust for violence, and we now know that he found and killed at least seven.
tirc83/GettyImages
Women who had become heroin addicts were easy targets for him, and he talked them into his truck with the promise of paying them money for sex.
Kenishirotie/GettyImages
Then, he drove them into the woods, and gave them mini bottles of vodka and orange juice.
I G/flickr
Once the women were inebriated and unable to fight back, he stabbed them repeatedly.
Gualtiero Boffi/EyeEm/Getty Images The details of the killings are so horrific that we won’t mention them here, but suffice it to say that it’s believed that he tortured several of his victims before they died. Some of the victims’ bodies had been mutilated, and coroners couldn’t confirm whether they were alive or already dead at the time.
On August 7, 1987, Rogers pulled into the parking lot of a Denny’s restaurant and began stabbing Jennifer Lisa Smith. Her screams were heard from inside the restaurant, and the police were called. Jennifer fell out of the truck onto the pavement, and Rogers fled in his truck.
Eli Morrow/Google
Rogers had stabbed her 11 times, and while witnesses attended to her wounds the best they could, they were too severe, and she unfortunately died at the hospital.
Glen Bedsoe/flickr In the meantime, a customer hopped into his vehicle and followed Rogers on a high-speed chase. When Rogers finally pulled into his own driveway, the witness was able to get his address, which led to Rogers’ arrest.
Police eventually found the bodies of seven other women, and Rogers was convicted of the murders of six of them.
Bureau of Land Management/flickr Rogers was convicted of the murder of Jennifer Lisa Smith in 1988, and was convicted of the deaths of Lisa Marie Mock, Maureen Ann Hodges, Christine Lotus Adams, Cynthia Devore, Nondace Cervantes, and Riatha Gyles in 1989. He is suspected of the death of an eighth victim, and during his last appeal in 2015, he apologized for his actions in court, saying that he was sorry that he had taken “eight precious lives.”
Throughout his appeals process, Dayton Leroy Rogers has been sentenced to death four times. Since Oregon placed a moratorium on the executions in 1997, at this time it’s unlikely that he will ever be executed, but he currently resides at the Oregon State Penitentiary on Death Row.
Oregon Dept. Of Corrections/Wikimedia
tirc83/GettyImages
Kenishirotie/GettyImages
I G/flickr
Gualtiero Boffi/EyeEm/Getty Images
The details of the killings are so horrific that we won’t mention them here, but suffice it to say that it’s believed that he tortured several of his victims before they died. Some of the victims’ bodies had been mutilated, and coroners couldn’t confirm whether they were alive or already dead at the time.
Eli Morrow/Google
Glen Bedsoe/flickr
In the meantime, a customer hopped into his vehicle and followed Rogers on a high-speed chase. When Rogers finally pulled into his own driveway, the witness was able to get his address, which led to Rogers’ arrest.
Bureau of Land Management/flickr
Rogers was convicted of the murder of Jennifer Lisa Smith in 1988, and was convicted of the deaths of Lisa Marie Mock, Maureen Ann Hodges, Christine Lotus Adams, Cynthia Devore, Nondace Cervantes, and Riatha Gyles in 1989. He is suspected of the death of an eighth victim, and during his last appeal in 2015, he apologized for his actions in court, saying that he was sorry that he had taken “eight precious lives.”
Do you remember the news of the Molalla Forest Killer? What do you think should happen to him now? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
