James Ray Cable
Kentucky Serial Killer and Rapist
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Kentucky, United States
TIME PERIOD
1977-1990
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
The case involves James Ray Cable, an American serial killer and rapist, who was active from 1977 to 1989 in Kentucky, committing multiple murders and sexual assaults. Cable was apprehended on April 26, 1990, after a 15-year-old girl escaped from his captivity and reported the crimes, which included the murders of two missing teenagers and the rape of several women. Significant evidence includes the girl's testimony and a diary belonging to Cable's accomplice, Phillip Clopton, which contained confessions related to the murders. Cable was convicted of multiple charges, including first-degree manslaughter and kidnapping, and received a sentence totaling 300 years in prison. He died in custody on December 3, 2013.
James Ray Cable is believed to have been involved in a series of murders and rapes in Kentucky, with speculation suggesting that he may have committed more crimes than the four confirmed victims. Some theorize that his violent behavior escalated after his initial conviction for child rape, leading to a pattern of criminal activity that included both sexual assault and murder. There is also speculation that his time in prison may have contributed to his violent tendencies, as evidenced by his attack on another inmate while incarcerated.
The Dark Legacy of James Ray Cable
The Beginnings of a Criminal Path
James Ray Cable's story, marked by violence and horror, began in the small town of La Grange, Kentucky, in 1948. Details about his early years remain elusive, but his criminal tendencies surfaced early. In 1971, Cable was accused of a heinous crime—raping a 7-year-old girl in Owensboro. His guilt was confirmed by a jury that sentenced him to life imprisonment. However, Cable's time behind bars was far from uneventful. On June 11, 1972, he made a bold escape from the Kentucky State Reformatory, only to be recaptured the same day, earning an escape conviction.
The First Murder
Cable's propensity for violence escalated within the confines of prison. In April 1977, he attacked Willie S. Daniels, a fellow inmate serving a life sentence for manslaughter and robbery, in the prison gymnasium. Striking Daniels with a steel rod, Cable inflicted fatal injuries. Daniels succumbed to his wounds in the prison hospital, and in 1978, Cable was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, adding ten years to his sentence.
Release and Recapture
Paroled in 1980, Cable's freedom was short-lived. By 1983, he was back in prison for parole violations, only to be released again in early 1986. His pattern of recidivism continued as he violated a court order in 1988, returning to prison for contacting his estranged wife.
The 1990 Kidnapping
Cable's criminal activities took a more sinister turn on April 5, 1990. Teaming up with Phillip Clopton, he kidnapped a 15-year-old girl from Louisville. They dragged her to a secluded campsite deep in the woods, where the nightmare unfolded. For three agonizing weeks, the girl endured brutal assaults, rapes, and whippings at the hands of Cable and Clopton. Cable even brazenly met his parole officer during this period, leaving Clopton to guard the girl. But on April 26, in a moment of carelessness, Clopton left her unchained. Seizing the opportunity, she grabbed his gun, shot him dead, and made a daring escape to alert authorities.
Confessions and Diary Revelations
The victim's testimony was chilling—Cable and Clopton had boasted of murdering two 14-year-old girls, Sherry Wilson and Bridgett Allen, missing since January 25. Clopton's death led investigators to his diary, which implicated Cable in the murder of 24-year-old Helen Booth in 1989. The diary also linked Cable to a severed arm discovered in March of the same year. Despite the mounting evidence, Cable could not be conclusively tied to the murder at that time. Nonetheless, he was convicted for the kidnapping and rape, receiving a staggering 300-year prison sentence.
DNA Breakthrough and Further Murders
In December 2003, a new chapter in Cable's monstrous saga began as DNA tests sought connections to unsolved crimes. By the following year, the results were damning. Cable's DNA matched three cold cases from the 1980s. The first was the murder of 18-year-old Sandra Kellems, who vanished on June 8, 1982, after leaving for a friend's house in Owensboro. Her body, discovered the next day, showed signs of sexual assault and blunt force trauma from a brick. Her purse was missing, but police preserved footprints at the scene.
Next was Oma Marie Bird, 26, found dead in an alleyway on December 11, 1986. Finally, Helen Booth, pregnant and bludgeoned to death, was discovered in Riverside Park on May 11, 1989. Her murder had long been a mystery, but Cable's DNA offered the grim solution.
Legal Proceedings and Death
The reopening of the Kellems and Bird cases in 2001 led to a breakthrough. Investigators matched Cable's DNA to evidence from both crime scenes. Prosecutors prepared for a trial, seeking the death penalty. However, Cable's fate took an unexpected turn. Although deemed competent to stand trial, his low IQ of 70 raised questions about sentencing him to death. Before a trial could proceed, Cable died in prison on December 3, 2013. Despite overwhelming evidence, he never confessed to the murders.
Sources
For further reading on James Ray Cable, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: James Ray Cable
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First Arrest
James Ray Cable arrested for raping a 7-year-old girl.
Escape from Prison
Cable escapes from Kentucky State Reformatory but is caught the same day.
First Murder
Cable kills Willie S. Daniels in prison gym, convicted of manslaughter.
Kidnapping Incident
Cable and accomplice kidnap a 15-year-old girl, leading to multiple assaults.
Arrest
Cable is arrested after the kidnapped girl escapes and alerts authorities.
DNA Evidence Links
DNA tests link Cable to three unsolved murders from the 1980s.
Trial Competency
Cable found competent to stand trial for multiple murders.
Death in Prison
James Ray Cable dies in prison before going to trial for murders.
The case involves James Ray Cable, an American serial killer and rapist, who was active from 1977 to 1989 in Kentucky, committing multiple murders and sexual assaults. Cable was apprehended on April 26, 1990, after a 15-year-old girl escaped from his captivity and reported the crimes, which included the murders of two missing teenagers and the rape of several women. Significant evidence includes the girl's testimony and a diary belonging to Cable's accomplice, Phillip Clopton, which contained confessions related to the murders. Cable was convicted of multiple charges, including first-degree manslaughter and kidnapping, and received a sentence totaling 300 years in prison. He died in custody on December 3, 2013.
James Ray Cable is believed to have been involved in a series of murders and rapes in Kentucky, with speculation suggesting that he may have committed more crimes than the four confirmed victims. Some theorize that his violent behavior escalated after his initial conviction for child rape, leading to a pattern of criminal activity that included both sexual assault and murder. There is also speculation that his time in prison may have contributed to his violent tendencies, as evidenced by his attack on another inmate while incarcerated.
The Dark Legacy of James Ray Cable
The Beginnings of a Criminal Path
James Ray Cable's story, marked by violence and horror, began in the small town of La Grange, Kentucky, in 1948. Details about his early years remain elusive, but his criminal tendencies surfaced early. In 1971, Cable was accused of a heinous crime—raping a 7-year-old girl in Owensboro. His guilt was confirmed by a jury that sentenced him to life imprisonment. However, Cable's time behind bars was far from uneventful. On June 11, 1972, he made a bold escape from the Kentucky State Reformatory, only to be recaptured the same day, earning an escape conviction.
The First Murder
Cable's propensity for violence escalated within the confines of prison. In April 1977, he attacked Willie S. Daniels, a fellow inmate serving a life sentence for manslaughter and robbery, in the prison gymnasium. Striking Daniels with a steel rod, Cable inflicted fatal injuries. Daniels succumbed to his wounds in the prison hospital, and in 1978, Cable was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, adding ten years to his sentence.
Release and Recapture
Paroled in 1980, Cable's freedom was short-lived. By 1983, he was back in prison for parole violations, only to be released again in early 1986. His pattern of recidivism continued as he violated a court order in 1988, returning to prison for contacting his estranged wife.
The 1990 Kidnapping
Cable's criminal activities took a more sinister turn on April 5, 1990. Teaming up with Phillip Clopton, he kidnapped a 15-year-old girl from Louisville. They dragged her to a secluded campsite deep in the woods, where the nightmare unfolded. For three agonizing weeks, the girl endured brutal assaults, rapes, and whippings at the hands of Cable and Clopton. Cable even brazenly met his parole officer during this period, leaving Clopton to guard the girl. But on April 26, in a moment of carelessness, Clopton left her unchained. Seizing the opportunity, she grabbed his gun, shot him dead, and made a daring escape to alert authorities.
Confessions and Diary Revelations
The victim's testimony was chilling—Cable and Clopton had boasted of murdering two 14-year-old girls, Sherry Wilson and Bridgett Allen, missing since January 25. Clopton's death led investigators to his diary, which implicated Cable in the murder of 24-year-old Helen Booth in 1989. The diary also linked Cable to a severed arm discovered in March of the same year. Despite the mounting evidence, Cable could not be conclusively tied to the murder at that time. Nonetheless, he was convicted for the kidnapping and rape, receiving a staggering 300-year prison sentence.
DNA Breakthrough and Further Murders
In December 2003, a new chapter in Cable's monstrous saga began as DNA tests sought connections to unsolved crimes. By the following year, the results were damning. Cable's DNA matched three cold cases from the 1980s. The first was the murder of 18-year-old Sandra Kellems, who vanished on June 8, 1982, after leaving for a friend's house in Owensboro. Her body, discovered the next day, showed signs of sexual assault and blunt force trauma from a brick. Her purse was missing, but police preserved footprints at the scene.
Next was Oma Marie Bird, 26, found dead in an alleyway on December 11, 1986. Finally, Helen Booth, pregnant and bludgeoned to death, was discovered in Riverside Park on May 11, 1989. Her murder had long been a mystery, but Cable's DNA offered the grim solution.
Legal Proceedings and Death
The reopening of the Kellems and Bird cases in 2001 led to a breakthrough. Investigators matched Cable's DNA to evidence from both crime scenes. Prosecutors prepared for a trial, seeking the death penalty. However, Cable's fate took an unexpected turn. Although deemed competent to stand trial, his low IQ of 70 raised questions about sentencing him to death. Before a trial could proceed, Cable died in prison on December 3, 2013. Despite overwhelming evidence, he never confessed to the murders.
Sources
For further reading on James Ray Cable, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: James Ray Cable
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 Arrest
James Ray Cable arrested for raping a 7-year-old girl.
Escape from Prison
Cable escapes from Kentucky State Reformatory but is caught the same day.
First Murder
Cable kills Willie S. Daniels in prison gym, convicted of manslaughter.
Kidnapping Incident
Cable and accomplice kidnap a 15-year-old girl, leading to multiple assaults.
Arrest
Cable is arrested after the kidnapped girl escapes and alerts authorities.
DNA Evidence Links
DNA tests link Cable to three unsolved murders from the 1980s.
Trial Competency
Cable found competent to stand trial for multiple murders.
Death in Prison
James Ray Cable dies in prison before going to trial for murders.