Roger Kibbe
California Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Sacramento, California
TIME PERIOD
1977-1987
VICTIMS
8 confirmed
Roger Reece Kibbe, known as the "I-5 Strangler," was an American serial killer and rapist who operated primarily in California from 1977 to 1987, targeting women along freeways near Sacramento. He was convicted in 1991 for the murder of Darcie Frackenpohl and subsequently sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Following a plea bargain in 2009, Kibbe admitted to the murders of six additional women, resulting in six life sentences without parole. Significant evidence included his modus operandi of using parachute cord and duct tape to restrain and silence his victims, as well as DNA evidence linking him to the remains of Lou Ellen Burleigh, which were discovered in 2011. Kibbe died in custody at Mule Creek State Prison on February 28, 2021.
Roger Kibbe is believed to have killed more victims than the seven he was convicted of, with some speculating that the actual number could be as high as 20. Investigators have theorized that Kibbe may have had connections to other unsolved cases along the I-5 corridor, leading to ongoing discussions about potential links between his crimes and those of other serial killers active in the area during the same time period. Additionally, there is speculation that Kibbe may have concealed evidence or the remains of some victims, which has hindered the resolution of several cold cases.
The Sinister Trail of the I-5 Strangler
The Life and Crimes of Roger Kibbe
Born on May 21, 1939, in San Diego County, California, Roger Reece Kibbe would eventually earn a notorious nickname: the "I-5 Strangler." His life appeared unremarkable at first. Kibbe worked as a furniture salesman, but beneath this mundane veneer lay a dark and predatory nature that would claim the lives of at least eight women over the span of a decade.
A String of Tragic Encounters
Kibbe’s reign of terror spanned from 1977 to 1987, primarily along the freeways surrounding Sacramento, California. His first known victim, Lou Ellen Burleigh, crossed his path on September 10, 1977. She had left her Walnut Creek home for a job interview with Kibbe, only to never return. It would be 34 long years before justice found her remains, buried beneath layers of time and tragedy.
Kibbe's modus operandi was chillingly methodical. He would abduct his victims, using parachute rigging cords to bind them, and silence them with duct tape. After sexually assaulting them, he employed a garrote fashioned from the same cords to strangle them. A pair of scissors, once belonging to his mother, were used to cut their clothing in irregular patterns, and before leaving the crime scenes, he would often remove the duct tape by cutting off most of their hair.
The bodies of his victims were discovered in various locations, each telling its own grim story. Lora Rena Heedick was last seen on April 20, 1986, entering a car with a white, middle-aged man, her body found months later near Sacramento. Barbara Ann Scott was discovered beneath a tree on a golf course in Antioch on July 3, 1986. Stephanie Brown's body surfaced in a drainage ditch in San Joaquin County, alongside the peculiar scissors that served as a link to her killer. Charmaine Sabrah was found strangled in Ione on November 9, 1986, while Katherine Kelly Quinones, identified through fingerprints as Traci Lynn Gobel, was located near Lake Berryessa. Lastly, Darcie Renée Frackenpohl, a 17-year-old runaway, was discovered on September 19, 1987, in South Lake Tahoe.
The Investigation and Capture
Kibbe's first run-in with the law occurred in 1987, when he was arrested for assault and battery after attempting to handcuff Debra Ann Guffie, a prostitute. Her brave resistance and subsequent testimony led to Kibbe's conviction and an eight-month jail sentence. During this time, investigators meticulously pieced together the evidence against him, culminating in his arrest in 1988 for the murder of Darcie Frackenpohl.
In a desperate bid to avoid the death penalty, Kibbe confessed to the murders of six other women, resulting in six additional life sentences on November 5, 2009. His cooperation led detectives to a dry creek bed in 2003, where he unsuccessfully attempted to locate Lou Ellen Burleigh's body. The persistent efforts of law enforcement eventually paid off in 2011, when a detective discovered a bone at the site, conclusively identified through DNA as belonging to Burleigh.
The Final Chapter
Kibbe's life of crime met an abrupt end at Mule Creek State Prison on February 28, 2021. He was found strangled in his cell by his cellmate, Jason Budrow, a self-avowed Satanist serving a life sentence for murder. Budrow claimed the act was a mission to avenge Kibbe's victims. Despite the severity of his crime, prosecutors chose not to pursue the death penalty against Budrow, who received a second life sentence for Kibbe's murder.
An autopsy released by the Amador County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Kibbe died from manual strangulation, closing the book on the life of a man who had brought untold suffering to so many.
Legacy in Media
The chilling tale of the I-5 Strangler has captured the attention of media across various platforms. His crimes have been dissected in episodes of "Forensic Files," "The New Detectives," and "I, Detective." In 2012, MSNBC aired "Profiling Evil," featuring an interview with Kibbe conducted by forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz as part of Kibbe’s plea agreement. The series "On the Case with Paula Zahn" and the Oxygen Network's "The Mark of a Killer" have also showcased his infamous deeds. Each portrayal sheds light on the dark chapter Kibbe wrote in the annals of American criminal history.
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First Victim Disappearance
Lou Ellen Burleigh disappears after meeting Kibbe for a job interview.
Darcie Frackenpohl Disappearance
Darcie Frackenpohl, a runaway, goes missing in Sacramento.
Kibbe's First Arrest
Kibbe is arrested for assaulting a prostitute, leading to police investigation.
Murder Charge Filed
Kibbe is charged with the murder of Darcie Frackenpohl.
Sentencing
Kibbe is sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder of Darcie Frackenpohl.
Guilty Plea
Kibbe pleads guilty to the murders of six additional women in a plea deal.
Burleigh's Body Found
Detectives find the remains of Lou Ellen Burleigh after 34 years.
Kibbe's Death
Roger Kibbe is found dead in prison, ruled a homicide by strangulation.
Roger Reece Kibbe, known as the "I-5 Strangler," was an American serial killer and rapist who operated primarily in California from 1977 to 1987, targeting women along freeways near Sacramento. He was convicted in 1991 for the murder of Darcie Frackenpohl and subsequently sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Following a plea bargain in 2009, Kibbe admitted to the murders of six additional women, resulting in six life sentences without parole. Significant evidence included his modus operandi of using parachute cord and duct tape to restrain and silence his victims, as well as DNA evidence linking him to the remains of Lou Ellen Burleigh, which were discovered in 2011. Kibbe died in custody at Mule Creek State Prison on February 28, 2021.
Roger Kibbe is believed to have killed more victims than the seven he was convicted of, with some speculating that the actual number could be as high as 20. Investigators have theorized that Kibbe may have had connections to other unsolved cases along the I-5 corridor, leading to ongoing discussions about potential links between his crimes and those of other serial killers active in the area during the same time period. Additionally, there is speculation that Kibbe may have concealed evidence or the remains of some victims, which has hindered the resolution of several cold cases.
The Sinister Trail of the I-5 Strangler
The Life and Crimes of Roger Kibbe
Born on May 21, 1939, in San Diego County, California, Roger Reece Kibbe would eventually earn a notorious nickname: the "I-5 Strangler." His life appeared unremarkable at first. Kibbe worked as a furniture salesman, but beneath this mundane veneer lay a dark and predatory nature that would claim the lives of at least eight women over the span of a decade.
A String of Tragic Encounters
Kibbe’s reign of terror spanned from 1977 to 1987, primarily along the freeways surrounding Sacramento, California. His first known victim, Lou Ellen Burleigh, crossed his path on September 10, 1977. She had left her Walnut Creek home for a job interview with Kibbe, only to never return. It would be 34 long years before justice found her remains, buried beneath layers of time and tragedy.
Kibbe's modus operandi was chillingly methodical. He would abduct his victims, using parachute rigging cords to bind them, and silence them with duct tape. After sexually assaulting them, he employed a garrote fashioned from the same cords to strangle them. A pair of scissors, once belonging to his mother, were used to cut their clothing in irregular patterns, and before leaving the crime scenes, he would often remove the duct tape by cutting off most of their hair.
The bodies of his victims were discovered in various locations, each telling its own grim story. Lora Rena Heedick was last seen on April 20, 1986, entering a car with a white, middle-aged man, her body found months later near Sacramento. Barbara Ann Scott was discovered beneath a tree on a golf course in Antioch on July 3, 1986. Stephanie Brown's body surfaced in a drainage ditch in San Joaquin County, alongside the peculiar scissors that served as a link to her killer. Charmaine Sabrah was found strangled in Ione on November 9, 1986, while Katherine Kelly Quinones, identified through fingerprints as Traci Lynn Gobel, was located near Lake Berryessa. Lastly, Darcie Renée Frackenpohl, a 17-year-old runaway, was discovered on September 19, 1987, in South Lake Tahoe.
The Investigation and Capture
Kibbe's first run-in with the law occurred in 1987, when he was arrested for assault and battery after attempting to handcuff Debra Ann Guffie, a prostitute. Her brave resistance and subsequent testimony led to Kibbe's conviction and an eight-month jail sentence. During this time, investigators meticulously pieced together the evidence against him, culminating in his arrest in 1988 for the murder of Darcie Frackenpohl.
In a desperate bid to avoid the death penalty, Kibbe confessed to the murders of six other women, resulting in six additional life sentences on November 5, 2009. His cooperation led detectives to a dry creek bed in 2003, where he unsuccessfully attempted to locate Lou Ellen Burleigh's body. The persistent efforts of law enforcement eventually paid off in 2011, when a detective discovered a bone at the site, conclusively identified through DNA as belonging to Burleigh.
The Final Chapter
Kibbe's life of crime met an abrupt end at Mule Creek State Prison on February 28, 2021. He was found strangled in his cell by his cellmate, Jason Budrow, a self-avowed Satanist serving a life sentence for murder. Budrow claimed the act was a mission to avenge Kibbe's victims. Despite the severity of his crime, prosecutors chose not to pursue the death penalty against Budrow, who received a second life sentence for Kibbe's murder.
An autopsy released by the Amador County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Kibbe died from manual strangulation, closing the book on the life of a man who had brought untold suffering to so many.
Legacy in Media
The chilling tale of the I-5 Strangler has captured the attention of media across various platforms. His crimes have been dissected in episodes of "Forensic Files," "The New Detectives," and "I, Detective." In 2012, MSNBC aired "Profiling Evil," featuring an interview with Kibbe conducted by forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz as part of Kibbe’s plea agreement. The series "On the Case with Paula Zahn" and the Oxygen Network's "The Mark of a Killer" have also showcased his infamous deeds. Each portrayal sheds light on the dark chapter Kibbe wrote in the annals of American criminal history.
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
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First Victim Disappearance
Lou Ellen Burleigh disappears after meeting Kibbe for a job interview.
Darcie Frackenpohl Disappearance
Darcie Frackenpohl, a runaway, goes missing in Sacramento.
Kibbe's First Arrest
Kibbe is arrested for assaulting a prostitute, leading to police investigation.
Murder Charge Filed
Kibbe is charged with the murder of Darcie Frackenpohl.
Sentencing
Kibbe is sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder of Darcie Frackenpohl.
Guilty Plea
Kibbe pleads guilty to the murders of six additional women in a plea deal.
Burleigh's Body Found
Detectives find the remains of Lou Ellen Burleigh after 34 years.
Kibbe's Death
Roger Kibbe is found dead in prison, ruled a homicide by strangulation.