The Dark Path of David Allen Rundle

In the mid-1980s, the Sacramento Valley region of California became the hunting ground for a disturbed young man named David Allen Rundle. Born on January 4, 1965, in Nevada County, California, Rundle's life would take a dark turn, culminating in a string of brutal murders that left three families shattered and a community on edge.

Early Life

David Allen Rundle seemed like an average child growing up in Idaho after his family moved there shortly after his birth. His father, a chief warrant officer for the United States Navy, provided a stable home, but beneath the surface, turmoil brewed. At the tender age of 14, Rundle succumbed to drug addiction, a habit that would haunt him throughout his life. Compounding his troubles, his mother sexually abused him during his teenage years, a trauma that scarred him deeply.

The family later relocated to Georgia, where Rundle briefly attended high school before dropping out. Eventually, they moved to Colfax, California, where Rundle severed ties with his family. By 1984, he had married, but the responsibility of impending fatherhood proved too much, and he abandoned his pregnant wife. He found work as a floor installer, but his life was anything but stable.

The Murders

In May 1986, under the influence of marijuana, Rundle prowled the Sacramento River area, a place frequented by the homeless. There, he encountered 21-year-old Elizabeth Latorre Lactawen. Rundle convinced her to engage in sexual activity, and in a secluded spot, he strangled her, leaving her lifeless body beneath the Pioneer Bridge in Sacramento. It wasn't long before her body was discovered on May 10 by an anonymous informant who alerted authorities.

The investigation into Lactawen's murder quickly gained traction. Witnesses described the suspect as a male, approximately 17 years old and 5 feet 10 inches tall. A reward of $2,500 was offered for information leading to his capture. Rundle, however, continued his killing spree.

On September 7, 1986, in Colfax, Rundle abducted 18-year-old Caroline Marie Garcia from a bus stop as she waited for a ride to Roseville. He took her to a remote area near Rollins Lake Road, where he viciously raped, beat, and strangled her. Garcia's bloody clothing was later found near Interstate 80 in Weimer, but her body remained missing for several weeks.

The following month, on October 7, Rundle claimed his youngest victim, 15-year-old LanciAnne Sorensen. He forced her to remove her pants, which he used to bind her hands, before raping and strangling her. Sorensen's body was found along an Interstate 80 off-ramp in Loomis.

Arrest and Confession

As investigators scoured Rollins Lake Road for clues in Garcia's disappearance, fate intervened. On September 11, Rundle inadvertently crashed into a police vehicle before fleeing the scene. This incident allowed police to identify him, prompting Rundle to flee to Carson City, Nevada. There, on November 20, 1986, authorities apprehended him and extradited him back to California.

In custody, Rundle confessed to the murders of Garcia, Lactawen, and Sorensen. He led detectives to Garcia's body near Rollins Lake, confirming their fears. During interviews, Rundle blamed his actions on mental illness, childhood abuse, and a debilitating addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Trial and Imprisonment

Rundle's time in prison was tumultuous. On April 16, 1987, his cellmate, Melton Eugene Voight, attacked him, leaving Rundle with a skull fracture. Voight faced relocation to Folsom State Prison, while Rundle spent ten days in the hospital.

In 1989, Rundle faced justice. He received the death penalty for the murders of Garcia and Sorensen, a sentence that left jurors in tears as it was handed down. Additionally, he was given a life sentence for the murder of Lactawen. Today, David Allen Rundle remains incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, awaiting the final reckoning for his heinous crimes.

Sources

For more detailed information, visit David Allen Rundle's Wikipedia page.