David Parker Ray
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| David Parker Ray | |
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 David Parker Ray in custody |
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| Background information | |
| Born: | November 6, 1939 Belen, New Mexico |
| Died: | May 28, 2002 |
| Cause of death: | Natural causes |
| Penalty: | 224 years |
| Killings | |
| Number of victims: | 14 |
| Span of killings: | 1950s through March 22, 1999 |
| Country: | USA |
| State(s): | New Mexico |
| Date apprehended: | March 22, 1999 |
David Parker Ray (November 6, 1939 - May 28, 2002) was an American citizen suspected by police to have murdered as many as 60 people in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.
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[edit] Crimes
David Parker Ray tortured and killed his victims in a $100,000 homemade torture chamber he called his "toy box"[1] which was equipped with what he referred to as his "friends": whips, chains, pulleys, straps, clamps, leg spreader bars, and surgical blades and saws.[1] With these tools he terrorized Truth or Consequences for several years with the added assistance of multiple accomplices.
Ray was the center of a web of sadism, sex slavery and murder. His disciple, drifter Dennis Roy Yancy, confessed to strangling to death Marie Parker, 22, while Ray took photos. Ray's daughter Glenda Jean "Jessy" was convicted of helping her father kidnap and torture Kelli Van Cleve. Cynthia Hendy, Ray's live-in girlfriend, was known to the victims as "mistress". Hendy later told authorities that Ray had killed 14 women." Hendy confessed and supplied testimony against Ray for a lighter sentence, instead of the 14 Felonies, she only got 5 charges." (from Slow Death by Jim Fielder)
Inside the toy box was a medical gynecological examination table. A closed circuit television and camera were wired into the toy box so that a victim could be forced to watch their own torture. Along with numerous sex toys and torture implements there was an electronic generating device that was used in torture, as well as a 12-volt motorized breast stretcher. Ray would often have a recorded audio tape of himself he played for his victims whenever they regained consciousness. Ray has been recorded as saying he killed at least one person a year for 40 years.
[edit] Trial and conviction
On March 22, 1999 a living victim escaped after a three-day ordeal. To escape she stabbed Ray's accomplice Cynthia Hendy with an icepick and ran away, wearing only a slave collar and padlocked chains. After her escape, Ray was apprehended by the police.
Ray was sentenced to 224 years in prison after being convicted of numerous offenses involving the abduction and sexual torture of three young women at his Elephant Butte Lake home. He died eight months after sentencing, having served a total of only three years.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Fielder, Jim (2003). Slow Death. New York: Pinnacle Books, (pgs. 10, 11 and 28). ISBN 0-7860-1199-8.
