San Francisco’s Forgotten Serial Killer - The Doodler

In the 1970s San Francisco a city full of culture and rising urban tension a serial killer quietly stalked the gay community.

Known only by his chilling nickname "The Doodler," this elusive figure remains unidentified to this day.

Despite being connected to as many as six murders and several violent assaults, his crimes never received the national attention of other serial killers of the time. The case is as frustrating as it is terrifying.

Full of missed opportunities, silence, stigma, and a predator who disappeared without a trace.

The Murders: A String of Deaths in the Castro and Ocean Beach

Between January 1974 and September 1975 at least five men were murdered, all of whom were white, middle-aged, and gay and found in remote or semi-remote locations in and around San Francisco.

Each victim had a very similar profile:

Gerald Earl Cavanagh (49) – Found on January 27, 1974 at Ocean Beach. He was fully clothed, lying face-up, and had been stabbed 17 times. Defensive wounds suggested a struggle.

Joseph Stevens (27) – A well-known female impersonator and comedian, found June 25, 1974, in Golden Gate Park. He had been stabbed in the chest and back.

Klaus Christmann (31) – A German national, father of two, found July 7, 1974 also in Golden Gate Park. His throat had been slashed, and he was stabbed more than 15 times. A note from detectives described this killing as particularly brutal and possibly rage-filled.

Frederick Capin (32) – A nurse and decorated Vietnam War veteran. His body was discovered May 12, 1975 on a beach near Lincoln Way. He had been stabbed multiple times and left in a pool of blood.

Harold Gullberg (66) – Found June 4, 1975 in a Lincoln Park field. His pants were unzipped, and he had been stabbed repeatedly. This case showed some inconsistencies from the earlier murders, such as age and location, leading some to speculate he may or may not have been a Doodler victim.