Kenneth Nevada Williams was a teenager who was found strangled in Long Beach, California in 1978. His body was left in a street not long after his death.
He was identified by Othram on December 14, 2022.
Case[]
At around 4:30 AM, on June 3, 1978, Williams' body was located face down in a prone position at the intersection of Division and Corona Street in Long Beach, California. He was pronounced dead at the scene and it was likely that his body had been dumped from a vehicle. While it was initially believed he died from a drug overdose, an autopsy revealed he had been strangled to death.
Faded ink on his hand reading "PAID" suggested he likely attended some sort of party, event, or possibly a bar, despite being below the legal drinking age at the time.
Randy Kraft theory[]
It has been theorized by internet sleuths that serial killer Randy Kraft was responsible for the decedent's death. Kraft was active between 1971-1983, and was known to strangle and sexually assault young men in the Southern California area. It has been confirmed that he has murdered a minimum of 16 men, including at least three who remain unidentified: Wilmington John Doe (February 1973), Wilmington John Doe (April 1973), and Marion County John Doe (1980). However, it is believed he may have killed up to 67 men.
Kraft's modus operandi usually involved dismembering his victims and leaving them nude along highways after sexually assaulting and strangling them. This decedent was fully clothed, was not dismembered, and there is no mention of sexual assault in various case listings.
The location Kenneth's body was discovered was about a mile from the LGBTQ-friendly Ripples bar where Kraft often visited and selected his victims. However, once his identification was publicly announced, it was revealed that Kraft was excluded as a suspect for unspecified reasons.
Characteristics[]
- Hazel eyes.
- Slender build
- Brown hair at about jaw-length.
- The word "PAID" stamped on the back of his right hand.
- A scar above the right eyebrow.
- Light complexion.
- Freckles.
Clothing[]
- Blue tee-shirt.
- Blue Redwing tennis shoes with white stripes.
- Blue Levi jeans
- Blue socks.
- Brown belt.
Gallery[]
