Douglas Daniel Clark, the notorious “Sunset Strip Killer,” has died in prison at the age of 75. Clark, along with his partner in crime, Carol Bundy, was responsible for the gruesome murders of at least six women in Los Angeles during the 1980s. His death occurred on October 11, 2023, due to natural causes at San Quentin State Prison, as confirmed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The duo targeted young prostitutes and teenage runaways who worked on the Sunset Strip at night. The victims were sexually assaulted and brutally murdered, often by a gunshot to the head. Clark even decapitated some of the victims, keeping their heads as macabre mementos. He was also found guilty of performing sexual acts with their corpses.
Clark and Bundy were arrested in August 1980, with Clark famously attempting to act as his own lawyer during the trial. However, he lost the case and was sentenced to six consecutive death sentences for first-degree murder, along with additional prison time for mutilation/sexual contact with human remains and attempted first-degree murder.
Bundy, on the other hand, avoided the death sentence by agreeing to testify against Clark as part of a plea deal. She died in prison in December 2003 at the age of 61.
The victims of the “Sunset Strip Killers” should not be forgotten amidst the fascination with heinous serial killers. Some of the known victims include Gina Narano and Cynthia Chandler, both teenagers who were sexually assaulted and fatally shot in the head before being dumped in a Los Angeles garage. Karen Jones, another victim, was shot in the head and raped, with her body found in a wooded area off the Ventura Freeway. Exxie Wilson was also sexually assaulted and shot in the head, while Marnette Comer was sexually assaulted, fatally shot, and dumped near the Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Douglas Daniel Clark’s death marks the end of a dark chapter in Los Angeles’ history. While his crimes continue to captivate true crime enthusiasts, it is important to remember the lives that were lost and the lasting impact on their families and loved ones.
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