David Alan Gore
Florida Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Vero Beach, Florida
TIME PERIOD
1981-1983
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
David Alan Gore, an American serial killer, committed six murders in Vero Beach and Indian River County, Florida, between 1981 and 1983, often accompanied by his cousin Fred Waterfield. The crimes began on February 19, 1981, with the abduction and murder of 17-year-old Ying Hua Ling and her mother, 48-year-old Hsiang Huang Ling. Gore was apprehended on July 26, 1983, and subsequently sentenced to death, being executed by lethal injection on April 12, 2012, after spending 28 years on death row. Waterfield, who was involved in several of the murders, is currently serving two consecutive life sentences. Significant evidence included Gore's use of his auxiliary police badge to lure victims and the discovery of remains in secluded areas linked to his employment as a caretaker of a citrus grove.
Investigators and the public speculate that David Alan Gore and Fred Waterfield's violent tendencies may have been influenced by their earlier encounter with law enforcement in 1976, where they were accused of a serious crime but not charged. There are also theories that suggest Gore's choice of victims was not random, as he seemed to target vulnerable women, indicating a possible pattern in his criminal behavior. Some believe that the two cousins may have had a deeper psychological connection that fueled their violent acts together.
The Dark Legacy of David Alan Gore: A Tale of Murder and Betrayal
Vero Beach, Florida, 1981—a seemingly tranquil place where an ominous shadow was cast by the actions of a man named David Alan Gore. Born on August 21, 1953, in Florida, Gore would become notorious for a series of brutal murders that terrorized Indian River County from 1981 to 1983. His reign of terror, alongside his cousin Fred Waterfield, earned them the chilling moniker "The Killing Cousins."
Early Signs and Dark Alliances
Even in his early years, Gore exhibited disturbing tendencies. As a teenager, he lost his job at a gas station when his employer discovered a peephole Gore had drilled into the women's restroom. Despite this, Gore managed to become an auxiliary sheriff's deputy, a position he later exploited to carry out his heinous crimes. Additionally, Gore worked as a caretaker of a secluded citrus grove, which he used as a site for his vile acts.
Fred Waterfield, born on September 29, 1952, in New Jersey, was Gore's partner in crime. A former high school football player, Waterfield struck a deal with Gore: he would finance Gore's criminal activities in exchange for victims. This sinister pact set the stage for their murder spree.
The Victims
The Tragic Fate of Hsiang Huang Ling and Ying Hua Ling
The cousins' first known victims were Ying Hua Ling, a 17-year-old, and her mother, Hsiang Huang Ling, aged 48. On February 19, 1981, Gore used his auxiliary police badge to deceive Ying Hua into his truck, then drove her home where he encountered her mother. They kidnapped both women, and in a horrific sequence of events, Gore reported that Hsiang choked to death while tied to a tree as he and Waterfield raped Ying Hua. The two women were dismembered, and their remains were concealed in oil drums.
Judith Kay Daley's Disappearance
On July 15, 1981, Judith Daley, a 35-year-old former resident of Fort Pierce visiting from California, became their next victim. Gore sabotaged her car at the beach and offered her a ride under the guise of assistance. Instead, he drove her to a remote location where both he and Waterfield raped her. Gore later claimed to have disposed of her body in a swamp.
This brazen crime spree continued despite Gore's arrest later that month when a failed abduction attempt led to the revocation of his deputy badge. He was found hiding in a woman's car with a police scanner, handcuffs, and a pistol, resulting in a conviction for armed trespassing. Yet, Gore was released on parole in March 1983.
The Young Lives of Barbara Ann Byer and Angelica LaVallee
On May 20, 1983, two 14-year-old hitchhikers from Orlando, Barbara Ann Byer and Angelica LaVallee, fell prey to Gore and Waterfield. The cousins raped, murdered, and dismembered the young girls, crimes for which Waterfield was eventually convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
Lynn Elliott and Regan Martin's Nightmare
The horrific saga culminated on July 26, 1983, with the abduction of Lynn Elliott, 17, and Regan Martin, 14. Taken to a property owned by Gore's parents, the girls were held captive. Waterfield, unnerved by a sighting of his sister, left the scene, leaving Gore to carry out his brutal acts alone. Lynn Elliott managed a desperate escape attempt but was tragically shot by Gore in the driveway, witnessed by a neighborhood boy. This witness alerted the police, leading to a tense standoff, Gore's arrest, and the rescue of Regan Martin, who was found in the attic, bound and traumatized.
The Legal Reckoning
The arrest of David Alan Gore on July 26, 1983, marked the beginning of a lengthy legal process. On August 10, 1983, a grand jury indicted him on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery. His trial, relocated to St. Petersburg for impartiality, concluded on March 16, 1984, with a conviction for first-degree murder. The jury, nearly unanimous, sentenced him to death.
Meanwhile, Fred Waterfield was convicted on January 21, 1985, of the murders of Byer and LaVallee, receiving two life sentences.
Appeals and Execution
Gore's appeals process extended over decades, with his death sentence being affirmed by the Florida Supreme Court on July 5, 2007. Finally, on April 12, 2012, at Florida State Prison, the state executed David Alan Gore by lethal injection. In his final moments, he expressed remorse: "I'm sorry. I've had remorse... I'm not the man I was back then. I don't fear death."
The Legacy of Violence
Fred Waterfield remains incarcerated, steadfast in proclaiming his innocence. His family continues to advocate for his release, despite the conviction.
This dark chapter in Florida's history serves as a chilling reminder of the depths of human depravity and the enduring pain inflicted upon victims and their families.
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First Murders Committed
David Gore and Fred Waterfield kidnap and murder Ying Hua Ling and her mother Hsiang Huang Ling.
Judith Daley Murdered
Gore disables Judith Daley's car and abducts her, later raping and murdering her.
Two More Victims
Gore and Waterfield abduct, rape, and murder 14-year-old hitchhikers Angelica LaVallee and Barbara Ann Byer.
Final Abduction
Gore abducts Lynn Elliott and Regan Martin; Lynn escapes but is shot by Gore.
Bodies Discovered
Gore leads police to the remains of three murder victims, admitting to six murders.
Charges Filed
A grand jury charges Gore with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery.
Gore Convicted
Gore is convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
Death Sentence Confirmed
The Florida Supreme Court confirms Gore's death sentence.
Gore Executed
David Alan Gore is executed by lethal injection after 28 years on death row.
David Alan Gore, an American serial killer, committed six murders in Vero Beach and Indian River County, Florida, between 1981 and 1983, often accompanied by his cousin Fred Waterfield. The crimes began on February 19, 1981, with the abduction and murder of 17-year-old Ying Hua Ling and her mother, 48-year-old Hsiang Huang Ling. Gore was apprehended on July 26, 1983, and subsequently sentenced to death, being executed by lethal injection on April 12, 2012, after spending 28 years on death row. Waterfield, who was involved in several of the murders, is currently serving two consecutive life sentences. Significant evidence included Gore's use of his auxiliary police badge to lure victims and the discovery of remains in secluded areas linked to his employment as a caretaker of a citrus grove.
Investigators and the public speculate that David Alan Gore and Fred Waterfield's violent tendencies may have been influenced by their earlier encounter with law enforcement in 1976, where they were accused of a serious crime but not charged. There are also theories that suggest Gore's choice of victims was not random, as he seemed to target vulnerable women, indicating a possible pattern in his criminal behavior. Some believe that the two cousins may have had a deeper psychological connection that fueled their violent acts together.
The Dark Legacy of David Alan Gore: A Tale of Murder and Betrayal
Vero Beach, Florida, 1981—a seemingly tranquil place where an ominous shadow was cast by the actions of a man named David Alan Gore. Born on August 21, 1953, in Florida, Gore would become notorious for a series of brutal murders that terrorized Indian River County from 1981 to 1983. His reign of terror, alongside his cousin Fred Waterfield, earned them the chilling moniker "The Killing Cousins."
Early Signs and Dark Alliances
Even in his early years, Gore exhibited disturbing tendencies. As a teenager, he lost his job at a gas station when his employer discovered a peephole Gore had drilled into the women's restroom. Despite this, Gore managed to become an auxiliary sheriff's deputy, a position he later exploited to carry out his heinous crimes. Additionally, Gore worked as a caretaker of a secluded citrus grove, which he used as a site for his vile acts.
Fred Waterfield, born on September 29, 1952, in New Jersey, was Gore's partner in crime. A former high school football player, Waterfield struck a deal with Gore: he would finance Gore's criminal activities in exchange for victims. This sinister pact set the stage for their murder spree.
The Victims
The Tragic Fate of Hsiang Huang Ling and Ying Hua Ling
The cousins' first known victims were Ying Hua Ling, a 17-year-old, and her mother, Hsiang Huang Ling, aged 48. On February 19, 1981, Gore used his auxiliary police badge to deceive Ying Hua into his truck, then drove her home where he encountered her mother. They kidnapped both women, and in a horrific sequence of events, Gore reported that Hsiang choked to death while tied to a tree as he and Waterfield raped Ying Hua. The two women were dismembered, and their remains were concealed in oil drums.
Judith Kay Daley's Disappearance
On July 15, 1981, Judith Daley, a 35-year-old former resident of Fort Pierce visiting from California, became their next victim. Gore sabotaged her car at the beach and offered her a ride under the guise of assistance. Instead, he drove her to a remote location where both he and Waterfield raped her. Gore later claimed to have disposed of her body in a swamp.
This brazen crime spree continued despite Gore's arrest later that month when a failed abduction attempt led to the revocation of his deputy badge. He was found hiding in a woman's car with a police scanner, handcuffs, and a pistol, resulting in a conviction for armed trespassing. Yet, Gore was released on parole in March 1983.
The Young Lives of Barbara Ann Byer and Angelica LaVallee
On May 20, 1983, two 14-year-old hitchhikers from Orlando, Barbara Ann Byer and Angelica LaVallee, fell prey to Gore and Waterfield. The cousins raped, murdered, and dismembered the young girls, crimes for which Waterfield was eventually convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
Lynn Elliott and Regan Martin's Nightmare
The horrific saga culminated on July 26, 1983, with the abduction of Lynn Elliott, 17, and Regan Martin, 14. Taken to a property owned by Gore's parents, the girls were held captive. Waterfield, unnerved by a sighting of his sister, left the scene, leaving Gore to carry out his brutal acts alone. Lynn Elliott managed a desperate escape attempt but was tragically shot by Gore in the driveway, witnessed by a neighborhood boy. This witness alerted the police, leading to a tense standoff, Gore's arrest, and the rescue of Regan Martin, who was found in the attic, bound and traumatized.
The Legal Reckoning
The arrest of David Alan Gore on July 26, 1983, marked the beginning of a lengthy legal process. On August 10, 1983, a grand jury indicted him on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery. His trial, relocated to St. Petersburg for impartiality, concluded on March 16, 1984, with a conviction for first-degree murder. The jury, nearly unanimous, sentenced him to death.
Meanwhile, Fred Waterfield was convicted on January 21, 1985, of the murders of Byer and LaVallee, receiving two life sentences.
Appeals and Execution
Gore's appeals process extended over decades, with his death sentence being affirmed by the Florida Supreme Court on July 5, 2007. Finally, on April 12, 2012, at Florida State Prison, the state executed David Alan Gore by lethal injection. In his final moments, he expressed remorse: "I'm sorry. I've had remorse... I'm not the man I was back then. I don't fear death."
The Legacy of Violence
Fred Waterfield remains incarcerated, steadfast in proclaiming his innocence. His family continues to advocate for his release, despite the conviction.
This dark chapter in Florida's history serves as a chilling reminder of the depths of human depravity and the enduring pain inflicted upon victims and their families.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Murders Committed
David Gore and Fred Waterfield kidnap and murder Ying Hua Ling and her mother Hsiang Huang Ling.
Judith Daley Murdered
Gore disables Judith Daley's car and abducts her, later raping and murdering her.
Two More Victims
Gore and Waterfield abduct, rape, and murder 14-year-old hitchhikers Angelica LaVallee and Barbara Ann Byer.
Final Abduction
Gore abducts Lynn Elliott and Regan Martin; Lynn escapes but is shot by Gore.
Bodies Discovered
Gore leads police to the remains of three murder victims, admitting to six murders.
Charges Filed
A grand jury charges Gore with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery.
Gore Convicted
Gore is convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
Death Sentence Confirmed
The Florida Supreme Court confirms Gore's death sentence.
Gore Executed
David Alan Gore is executed by lethal injection after 28 years on death row.