The Molalla Forest Killer Kept Oregonians Up At Night In The 1980s
By Catherine Armstrong|Published September 24, 2019
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Police eventually found the bodies of seven other women, and Rogers was convicted of the murders of six of them.
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.
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.
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