Mack Ray Edwards
Child Molester and Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Los Angeles County, California
TIME PERIOD
1953-1970
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
Mack Ray Edwards, an American child molester and serial killer, committed a series of heinous crimes in Los Angeles County, California, between 1953 and 1970, resulting in the sexual assault and murder of at least six children. His criminal activities included the kidnapping of three sisters—Valerie, Cindy, and Jan Cohen—on March 6, 1970, from their home in Sylmar, California, where he forced them to write a note to their parents before taking them to a remote area in Angeles National Forest. Edwards was apprehended shortly after the kidnapping, and he was subsequently convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping, receiving a death sentence. However, he died by suicide in his prison cell on October 30, 1971, before his execution could be carried out. Significant evidence in the case included the discovery of one victim's body under the Santa Ana Freeway, and Edwards later claimed to have disposed of other victims' remains in similar locations.
Mack Ray Edwards is believed to have had multiple victims beyond the confirmed six, with some theorizing that he may have been responsible for numerous unsolved child disappearances in the Los Angeles area during his active years. Investigators and the public speculate that his profession as a heavy equipment operator allowed him to access remote locations for disposing of bodies. Additionally, there is speculation that his suicide in prison was a calculated move to avoid facing justice for his crimes.
The Dark Legacy of Mack Ray Edwards
The Gruesome Tale of a Serial Killer
Mack Ray Edwards, born on October 17, 1918, in Montgomery County, Arkansas, carved a path of terror across Los Angeles County, California, that would span nearly two decades. Known for his depraved acts against children, Edwards was a child molester and serial killer responsible for the deaths of at least six children between 1953 and 1970. His life ended not by the hands of justice, but by his own, as he committed suicide in his prison cell on October 30, 1971.
Early Life and Move to California
Edwards' journey to infamy began long before his heinous crimes. In 1941, he relocated to Los Angeles County and soon joined the United States Army Corps of Engineers, where he honed his skills as a combat engineer. Five years later, in 1946, he married Mary Howell. The couple settled in several cities within Los Angeles County, including Pico Rivera, El Monte, and Azusa. There, Edwards maintained a facade of normalcy, inviting neighborhood children to ride his horses and even taking them on camping trips.
By the 1950s, Edwards had joined the International Union of Operating Engineers and worked as a heavy equipment operator for the California Department of Transportation and other agencies. His work on freeway construction sites provided him with a chilling opportunity to hide his horrific deeds. In the 1960s, Edwards moved to Sylmar, Los Angeles, with his wife and their two adopted children.
A String of Horrors
Edwards' reign of terror began in 1953. He molested and murdered three children between then and 1956, and his crimes resumed with three more victims in 1968 and 1969. He later confessed that his crimes were driven by a twisted desire for sexual gratification. Disturbingly, he claimed to have disposed of one victim's body beneath the Santa Ana Freeway and others under the Ventura Freeway.
In a chilling incident in 1970, Edwards, along with a 15-year-old accomplice, kidnapped three sisters, Valerie, Cindy, and Jan Cohen, from their home in Sylmar, California. The girls, aged 12, 13, and 14, were forced to write a note to their parents claiming they were running away before being taken to Bouquet Canyon in the Angeles National Forest. When two of the sisters managed to escape, Edwards released the third. Realizing his inevitable capture, Edwards walked into a San Fernando Valley police station on March 6, 1970, and surrendered. He handed over a loaded handgun and confessed to planning to molest and kill the girls, as well as admitting to the murders of six other children.
The Weight of Guilt
Edwards' confession to Sergeant George Rock revealed a man tormented by his conscience. He described how his guilt had affected his ability to eat, sleep, and work, fearing he might cause a costly accident with the heavy equipment he operated. Edwards expressed relief that the Cohen sisters escaped, stating, "I'm glad they got away because [otherwise] it would have been nine [murders] instead of six."
In a Van Nuys Superior Court, Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and three counts of kidnapping. Despite his insistence on his guilt, the judge initially refused to accept his plea, leading to a prolonged legal process. While awaiting trial, Edwards attempted suicide twice, once by slashing his stomach and again by overdosing on tranquilizers.
During his trial, Deputy District Attorney David Kenner urged the jury to impose the death penalty, a punishment Edwards himself requested. He expressed a desire to trade places with the next man in line for the gas chamber, lamenting the trial's emotional toll on the victims' families. On June 5, 1970, Edwards was sentenced to death and transferred to San Quentin State Prison.
A Final Act
On October 30, 1971, Edwards ended his own life by hanging himself with an electrical television cord in his prison cell. His death left many questions unanswered, including the full extent of his crimes.
Known Victims
Stella Darlene Nolan, 8, disappeared from a flea market in Norwalk on June 20, 1953. Edwards confessed to kidnapping, raping, and strangling her, later stabbing her to death when he found her still alive.
Gary Rochet, 16, was shot at his home on November 26, 1968. Edwards admitted to the murder, which occurred during a botched kidnapping attempt of Rochet’s sister.
Donald Allen Todd, 13, vanished from Pacoima, California, on May 16, 1969. His body was discovered later, showing signs of sexual abuse and gunshot wounds.
Edwards also confessed to killing Donald Lee Baker, 13, and Brenda Jo Howell, 11, in 1956, along with Roger Dale Madison, 15, in 1968. Despite extensive searches, their bodies were never recovered, and Edwards was not charged with these murders.
Possible Victims and Unanswered Questions
Edwards hinted at more victims, claiming to have killed between eighteen and twenty-two children, though he later retracted these statements. Investigators have speculated on his involvement in several unsolved cases, including the disappearances of Thomas Eldon Bowman, Bruce Kremen, Karen Lynn Tompkins, and Dorothy Gale Brown. Edwards' connection to these cases remains unproven, leaving a haunting legacy of potential victims whose fates may forever remain a mystery.
Sources
For further information, please visit the original Wikipedia article.
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First Known Murder
Mack Ray Edwards kidnaps and murders 8-year-old Stella Darlene Nolan.
Additional Murders
Edwards murders 13-year-old Donald Lee Baker and 11-year-old Brenda Jo Howell.
Murder of Gary Rochet
Edwards breaks into Gary Rochet's home and murders him.
Murder of Donald Allen Todd
13-year-old Donald Allen Todd disappears and is later found murdered.
Arrest
Edwards surrenders to police after kidnapping three sisters and confesses to multiple murders.
Preliminary Hearing
Edwards attempts to plead guilty to charges but is denied by the judge.
Trial Resumes
Edwards' trial resumes after multiple suicide attempts while in custody.
Sentenced to Death
Edwards is sentenced to death in the gas chamber for his crimes.
Suicide in Prison
Mack Ray Edwards hangs himself in his cell at San Quentin State Prison.
Mack Ray Edwards, an American child molester and serial killer, committed a series of heinous crimes in Los Angeles County, California, between 1953 and 1970, resulting in the sexual assault and murder of at least six children. His criminal activities included the kidnapping of three sisters—Valerie, Cindy, and Jan Cohen—on March 6, 1970, from their home in Sylmar, California, where he forced them to write a note to their parents before taking them to a remote area in Angeles National Forest. Edwards was apprehended shortly after the kidnapping, and he was subsequently convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping, receiving a death sentence. However, he died by suicide in his prison cell on October 30, 1971, before his execution could be carried out. Significant evidence in the case included the discovery of one victim's body under the Santa Ana Freeway, and Edwards later claimed to have disposed of other victims' remains in similar locations.
Mack Ray Edwards is believed to have had multiple victims beyond the confirmed six, with some theorizing that he may have been responsible for numerous unsolved child disappearances in the Los Angeles area during his active years. Investigators and the public speculate that his profession as a heavy equipment operator allowed him to access remote locations for disposing of bodies. Additionally, there is speculation that his suicide in prison was a calculated move to avoid facing justice for his crimes.
The Dark Legacy of Mack Ray Edwards
The Gruesome Tale of a Serial Killer
Mack Ray Edwards, born on October 17, 1918, in Montgomery County, Arkansas, carved a path of terror across Los Angeles County, California, that would span nearly two decades. Known for his depraved acts against children, Edwards was a child molester and serial killer responsible for the deaths of at least six children between 1953 and 1970. His life ended not by the hands of justice, but by his own, as he committed suicide in his prison cell on October 30, 1971.
Early Life and Move to California
Edwards' journey to infamy began long before his heinous crimes. In 1941, he relocated to Los Angeles County and soon joined the United States Army Corps of Engineers, where he honed his skills as a combat engineer. Five years later, in 1946, he married Mary Howell. The couple settled in several cities within Los Angeles County, including Pico Rivera, El Monte, and Azusa. There, Edwards maintained a facade of normalcy, inviting neighborhood children to ride his horses and even taking them on camping trips.
By the 1950s, Edwards had joined the International Union of Operating Engineers and worked as a heavy equipment operator for the California Department of Transportation and other agencies. His work on freeway construction sites provided him with a chilling opportunity to hide his horrific deeds. In the 1960s, Edwards moved to Sylmar, Los Angeles, with his wife and their two adopted children.
A String of Horrors
Edwards' reign of terror began in 1953. He molested and murdered three children between then and 1956, and his crimes resumed with three more victims in 1968 and 1969. He later confessed that his crimes were driven by a twisted desire for sexual gratification. Disturbingly, he claimed to have disposed of one victim's body beneath the Santa Ana Freeway and others under the Ventura Freeway.
In a chilling incident in 1970, Edwards, along with a 15-year-old accomplice, kidnapped three sisters, Valerie, Cindy, and Jan Cohen, from their home in Sylmar, California. The girls, aged 12, 13, and 14, were forced to write a note to their parents claiming they were running away before being taken to Bouquet Canyon in the Angeles National Forest. When two of the sisters managed to escape, Edwards released the third. Realizing his inevitable capture, Edwards walked into a San Fernando Valley police station on March 6, 1970, and surrendered. He handed over a loaded handgun and confessed to planning to molest and kill the girls, as well as admitting to the murders of six other children.
The Weight of Guilt
Edwards' confession to Sergeant George Rock revealed a man tormented by his conscience. He described how his guilt had affected his ability to eat, sleep, and work, fearing he might cause a costly accident with the heavy equipment he operated. Edwards expressed relief that the Cohen sisters escaped, stating, "I'm glad they got away because [otherwise] it would have been nine [murders] instead of six."
In a Van Nuys Superior Court, Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and three counts of kidnapping. Despite his insistence on his guilt, the judge initially refused to accept his plea, leading to a prolonged legal process. While awaiting trial, Edwards attempted suicide twice, once by slashing his stomach and again by overdosing on tranquilizers.
During his trial, Deputy District Attorney David Kenner urged the jury to impose the death penalty, a punishment Edwards himself requested. He expressed a desire to trade places with the next man in line for the gas chamber, lamenting the trial's emotional toll on the victims' families. On June 5, 1970, Edwards was sentenced to death and transferred to San Quentin State Prison.
A Final Act
On October 30, 1971, Edwards ended his own life by hanging himself with an electrical television cord in his prison cell. His death left many questions unanswered, including the full extent of his crimes.
Known Victims
Stella Darlene Nolan, 8, disappeared from a flea market in Norwalk on June 20, 1953. Edwards confessed to kidnapping, raping, and strangling her, later stabbing her to death when he found her still alive.
Gary Rochet, 16, was shot at his home on November 26, 1968. Edwards admitted to the murder, which occurred during a botched kidnapping attempt of Rochet’s sister.
Donald Allen Todd, 13, vanished from Pacoima, California, on May 16, 1969. His body was discovered later, showing signs of sexual abuse and gunshot wounds.
Edwards also confessed to killing Donald Lee Baker, 13, and Brenda Jo Howell, 11, in 1956, along with Roger Dale Madison, 15, in 1968. Despite extensive searches, their bodies were never recovered, and Edwards was not charged with these murders.
Possible Victims and Unanswered Questions
Edwards hinted at more victims, claiming to have killed between eighteen and twenty-two children, though he later retracted these statements. Investigators have speculated on his involvement in several unsolved cases, including the disappearances of Thomas Eldon Bowman, Bruce Kremen, Karen Lynn Tompkins, and Dorothy Gale Brown. Edwards' connection to these cases remains unproven, leaving a haunting legacy of potential victims whose fates may forever remain a mystery.
Sources
For further information, please visit the original Wikipedia article.
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 Known Murder
Mack Ray Edwards kidnaps and murders 8-year-old Stella Darlene Nolan.
Additional Murders
Edwards murders 13-year-old Donald Lee Baker and 11-year-old Brenda Jo Howell.
Murder of Gary Rochet
Edwards breaks into Gary Rochet's home and murders him.
Murder of Donald Allen Todd
13-year-old Donald Allen Todd disappears and is later found murdered.
Arrest
Edwards surrenders to police after kidnapping three sisters and confesses to multiple murders.
Preliminary Hearing
Edwards attempts to plead guilty to charges but is denied by the judge.
Trial Resumes
Edwards' trial resumes after multiple suicide attempts while in custody.
Sentenced to Death
Edwards is sentenced to death in the gas chamber for his crimes.
Suicide in Prison
Mack Ray Edwards hangs himself in his cell at San Quentin State Prison.