The Doodler

San Francisco in the 1970s was a place of wonder for many people. It was an LGBTQIA+ inclusive city – though it still faced many, many hardships and challenges. But it was also a time of chaos, murder, and mayhem.

With the Zodiac taunting the police, and the Zebra killers causing all kinds of chaos, the introduction of The Doodler was very nearly missed. 

Between January of 1974 and September of 1975, six known victims fell prey to a homophobic serial killer. It is believed that this killer could have been responsible for up to 16 murders, and multiple assaults. 

The Doodler earned his nickname through the way he targeted his targets. He would scope out known gay bars and clubs, pick his target, and sketch them out on a cocktail napkin. He would then use this to attempt to pick the man up. Shortly thereafter, the man would be found dead. The Doodler had a type – white men, whom he presumed to be gay. 

Gerald Earl Cavanagh was born in Montréal Québec, Canada in 1923. Not much is known about his early life, or his past, though it is known that he left Canada at a young age. Following this, he did a 21-month stint with the U.S. Army near the tail end of World War II. Gerald would visit home once a year to visit his mother, though these visits ended when his mother passed in 1967. 

On January 24th, 1974, a 911 call came through stating that someone believed they found a body. 

49-year-old Gerald was found fully clothed, lying face-up on Ocean Beach, in San Francisco, California. It had appeared that he had died just a few hours prior to being discovered. 

The autopsy determined that Gerald had many defensive wounds, indicating that he had tried to fight off his attacker. He had been stabbed multiple times all along the front of his torso, and along his back. It appeared as though Gerald may have followed his attacker to Ocean Beach after being picked up. It was known for being a hookup spot at the time. 

Gerald would only be the first in several similar attacks. 

Jae Stevens was a well known figure around the San Francisco drag scene. They wowed crowds with their comedy acts, and their performances. They were absolutely beloved, and when they were discovered dead on June 25th, 1974, the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole mourned. 

Jae had been found in a very similar fashion to Gerald Cavanagh, near Golden Gate Park in the Spreckles Lake area. They were only 27 years old. 

It was suspected that Jae had gone to Spreckles Lake with their attacker, and that they’d tried to fight him off when things turned sour. 

Similar to Gerald’s case, officers had few leads to follow. They were generally grasping at straws. Despite San Francisco being a safer city for LGBTQIA+ individuals to reside, homophobia-induced violence was still a huge risk, and the police were not very sympathetic or understanding of this. 

A few days following the discovery of Jae’s body, another body was discovered. 

Klaus Christmann was a German-American immigrant, who moved to San Francisco to try to make a better life for himself, and his family. He had fully intended on bringing his wife, and their children, over to the States when he had found a place for them to settle. They would never see him again.  

Klaus was found on July 7th, 1974, at Ocean Beach. As with the others, Klaus was found fully clothed, though his murder appeared to be far more violent than those of Gerald and Jae. 

Again, police had very few leads to go on. They believed that Klaus may have been closeted, as they found a “make-up tube” on his body when he was discovered. His wife denied these allegations when she was informed of his passing. 

After Klaus’ murder, it appeared as though the Doodler took a break. However, it is suspected that he committed other attacks, or possible murders, that have not been tied to him. 

Frederick Elmer Capin was born and raised in Washington state. He joined the Navy in order to leave an abusive home situation, where he earned medals for serving in the Vietnam War. His return from the war led him to San Francisco.

He spent some time adjusting, but ultimately realized that the city wasn’t right for him. He got in touch with his sister, and informed her of his intention to move back to Washinton, and start fresh there. Frederick never made it. 

On May 12th, 1975, the body of 32-year-old Frederick was found. Just like the three before him, he’d been stabbed repeatedly in the torso. 

Harald Gullberg was born in Sweden in 1908. At the age of 16, he forged papers in order to ship out of Sweden as a merchant sailor, and never looked back. He settled in the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen in 1955. Harald went back home once, in order to visit his dying mother. 

On June 4th, 1975, the body of 66-year-old Harald was found in a decomposed state in Lincoln Park. While linked to the other Doodler murders, his attack was a little different.

Harald had been found with his pants unzipped, and his killer had taken his underwear. He was also considerably older than the Doodler’s other targets. 

For many years, it was firmly believed that Harald was the Doodler’s last linked victim. 

Warren Andrews was identified in January of 2022 as a victim of the Doodler. Warren was a lawyer for the U.S. Postal Service. He was found murdered in April of 1975, before both Frederick Capin and Harald Gullberg. 

The scene, unlike the others, offered evidence. There, police found a bloody rock, a branch, and a blood-spattered handkerchief. It was believed that the Doodler may not have had his usual weapon of choice – a knife – on him, and used what he could find. 

While these items could be hugely beneficial to the investigation, there’s a small problem – no one knows where these items are. 

Warren had clearly been beaten, and left for dead at the scene. He was unconscious, but alive, and rushed to hospital. Upon hearing of the attack, Warren’s family flew him home to Seattle. Two months later, he passed. 

Following these six murders, the Doodler apparently made a few attempts, which failed, leaving witnesses behind. Witnesses who were, and apparently still are, terrified to come forward. 

In July of 1975, two men were attacked in separate incidents, though, oddly enough, both involving the Fox Plaza Apartments. 

A man known only as The European Diplomat met the Doodler at the Truck Stop Diner. The European Diplomat noticed a man doodling animals on cocktail napkins. The European Diplomat struck up a conversation, where he learned the man was in art school. The two were flirting, and bantering, when it was suggested they take things elsewhere. 

The European Diplomat took the man to his apartment in Fox Plaza, where the man then asked to use the restroom. When he came back out, The European Diplomat’s back was turned, and he didn’t see the man weilding a knife. The man attacked, making a comment along the lines of: “You guys are all alike”. 

The Doodler then stabbed The European Diplomat six times in the back. The blade broke, allowing The European Diplomat to fight back. He flung the Doodler into a wall, at which point he took off running. The European Diplomat, dripping blood, then walked himself to the hospital, and reported his attack. 

He ultimately survived. 

In October of 1975, a similar scenario would repeat, this time with a different witness.

Somehow, the Doodler found himself on the same floor of Fox Plaza that The European Diplomat had taken him to. Somehow, he conned his way into another man’s apartment, where he proceeded to tie the man up, in preparation to stab him, still muttering about guys like “this” being all the same. The man, however, had other ideas. 

He began screaming so loudly the neighbours were irritated. They began pounding on the walls. Spooked, the Doodler fled. 

Around this same time, the Doodler attacked a man known only as The Actor. The Actor was ready to take the Doodler to bed, when he saw a knife fall out of his pocket. This time, it would be The Actor who fled. 

With three witnesses, a composite sketch was created. They detailed the man as a young Black man, between the ages of 19 and 23. He was wearing a black knit cap, had a slim face, and high cheekbones. He also had wide-set eyes, which always appeared calm. 

With six murders and three attacks, investigators were hoping to catch the Doodler in due time. However, the three witnesses refused to come forward.

Despite being a safer city, San Francisco was still not openly accepting of LGBTQIA+ individuals. All three men had friends, families, and careers to consider – all of which could, and likely would, be harmed if they were to come forward, forcing them to come out publicly. It wasn’t a risk they were willing to take, even to catch a killer. 

The investigation would have to move forward without their testimonies. 

In November of 1975, an officer by the name of James Andre Boles spotted a man during his habitual patrol that set off all the red flags in his mind. The man also bore a striking resemblance to the composite sketch. 

Boles approached the man, and asked him to go up against the wall. Upon a pat down search, Boles found a sawed-off baseball bat up the man’s sleeve. The man also had a curved knife, called a kukri, in his pants. 

Boles arrested the man, booked him, and then found additional evidence – a pawn shop slip. The slip had been for a watch. The watch had once belonged to Fred Capin.

Boles filed his report, and waited for an update, or a reply. None came. 

It turned out that the man Boles had arrested had an extensive history with law enforcement for robbery, burglary, and prison time. However, there was little else to link him to the Doodler. He did not have any artistic ability, and the timing of his whereabouts didn’t match up. Even the pawn shop slip was a dead end. Frederick’s apartment had been burgled prior to his murder, and he’d reported the watch stolen. 

By this time, news media had picked up on the murders, and the attacks. With statements in regards to being lured in by drawings, the murderer was given his infamous moniker – the Doodler. However, things didn’t really pick up until the composite sketch was finally released to the public. 

Shortly after the release of the sketch, police received a call with a tip. The tip included the name, and the license plate number of a suspect. With this to go on, police were surprised when another call, about the same man, came in – this time from the administrative assistant of a psychiatrist’s office. 

The administrative assistant stated that the man she was calling about – now considered a main suspect – was being treated by her boss. The man had told the psychiatrist that he had committed the Ocean Beach murders, which had been attributed to the Doodler. 

A few days later, the psychiatrist himself called police, and stated that he was working at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California. The psychiatrist stated that the man in question had come in, seeking help for self-hatred, and homosexual feelings. During his sessions, the man had told the psychiatrist many incriminating things, including that he had committed the Ocean Beach killings. 

The man later vehemently denied these statements, and denied being the Doodler. 

When police spoke to the man in 1976, he made his denials very clear. He also claimed to have been “cured” of his “illness”  and “tendencies” by a “Dr. Priest”. While cooperative, the suspect never made any admissions, and police could not move forward with the case without the testimonies of the three survivors.

In 1977, two other potential suspects arose, but were never definitively linked. 

The main suspect, who has never been named publicly, still remains the main, and most likely, suspect of the Doodler attacks. 

In February of 2019, a $100,000 reward was offered by police for information leading to the arrest of the Doodler. They also released an age-enhanced sketch of what he may look like now. Detectives on the case also stated that they were hopeful forensic genealogy may help them apprehend the killer. 

The best lead that’s presented itself after all these years is the potential identity of the “Dr. Priest.” 

A psychologist who was practicing in the Bay Area in the 1970s was identified as Dr. Howard Preece. Dr. Preece practiced conversion therapy, which aligns with statements initially made by the suspect, the doctor himself, and the administrative assistant. However, it has never been confirmed that Dr. Preece was the psychiatrist who made the call, or if the main suspect was ever his patient. 

When the connection between Warren Andrews and the Doodler was made in 2022, the San Francisco Police Department put out the following statement: “This same person interviewed by police in 1976 is still the focus of our investigation in 2022.” 

It’s clear that police firmly believe they know the identity of the Doodler. Someone know something. They’re just waiting for them to come forward. 

If anyone has any information, investigators ask that you call the San Francisco Police Department’s 24-hour tip like at 415-575-4444, or text a tip to TIP411. Tipsters can remain anonymous. 

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Sources:

The Doodler series – Kevin Fagan – San Francisco Chronicle
Police ID Possible 6th Victim of San Francisco ‘Doodler,’ Serial Killer Who Targeted Gay Men in the ’70s – Christine Pelisek – People
Lights Out podcast – 87: The Doodler Killer
Red Web podcast – Serial Killer Case Reopened After 40 Years | The Doodler
Doodler Wikipedia page