SERIAL KILLER: The Doodler
In the 1970s, few places on earth were more queer-friendly than San Francisco. But it wasn’t all drag queens and rainbows in the City by the Bay, and when the bodies of gay men started turning up one after another, fear spread like wildfire and it got harder and harder to distinguish rumor from fact.
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The Doodler victims. From top left to right: Gerald Cavanaugh, Harald Gullberg, Frederick Capin, Joseph “Jae” Stephens, Warren Andrews, Claus Christmann.
Credit: Find a Grave.
Retired Homicide Inspector Sergeant Dan Cunningham.
Credit: San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images.
Melissa Stevens holding a photo of her brother Joseph “Jae” Stevens.
Credit: San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images.
Ron Huberman, the first openly gay investigator with the San Francisco DA’s Office.
Credit: San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images.
San Francisco Police Department Homicide Investigator Rotea Gilford.
Credit: San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images.
San Francisco Police Department Homicide Investigator Earl Sanders.
Credit: San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images.
Timeline:
January 27, 1974
January 27, 1974
Gerald Cavanaugh’s body is found in the water off of a beach in San Francisco.
June 25, 1974
June 25, 1974
Joseph “Jae” Stevens’ body is found in Golden Gate Park.
July 7, 1974
July 7, 1974
Claus Christmann’s body is found close to where Gerald’s body was found on the beach.
April 27, 1975
April 27, 1975
Warren Andrews is found nearly dead from blunt force trauma at Lands End. He passed away a few months later.
May 1975
May 1975
An anonymous diplomat survives an attack by the Doodler.
May 12, 1975
May 12, 1975
Frederick Capin’s body is found on the beach in San Francisco.
June 4, 1975
June 4, 1975
Harald Gullberg’s body is found in the bushes near the Lincoln Park Golf Course.
Ulloa Street Beach
Where Gerald Cavanaugh’s body is found in the water.
Golden Gate Park
Where Joseph “Jae” Stevens’ body is found.
Finnochio’s
The former location of the club where Joseph “Jae” Stevens regularly performed.
Bojangles
The former location of the gay bar where Claus Christmann and Frederick Capin were last seen.
Lincoln Park Golf Course
Where Harald Gullberg’s body is found hidden in bushes.
Lands End Lookout
Where Warren Andrews was found, clinging to life.
Resources:
San Francisco PD’s 24-hour tip line
If you have any information about murders connected to the Doodler, please call the San Francisco PD’s 24-hour tip line at 415-575-4444 or text them at TIP411. You can remain anonymous. There is a $250,000 reward for information leading to the solving of the cases.
LGBTQ+ Resources and Organizations
Please take a minute to check out these resources and organizations in support of the LGBTQ+ community:
- The Trevor Project
- It Gets Better Project
- GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network)
- SAGE (Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders)
- National Center for Transgender Equality
- PFLAG (Parent, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
- Matthew Shepard Foundation
- Anti-Violence Project
We’d love to speak with you and see how we can support.
If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
Episode Source Material
- The Doodler (podcast). (Episodes 1-8). Released March 16, 2021 – June 12, 2022. Accessed via Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-doodler/id1535882542
- The Times-Herald (Vallejo, CA): Actor Held in Killing by Associated Press. Published January 28, 1974. Accessed February 10, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1140287622
- The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA): Witnesses sought in beach killing. Published January 29, 1974. Accessed February 10, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/460403612
- The San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): Drawing A Line To A Forgotten Serial Killer by Kevin Fagan. Published March 16, 2021. Accessed February 12, 2025. https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/doodler-true-crime-podcast/chapter-one
- The San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): 44 years ago, The Doodler killed 5 men in San Francisco. Here’s what police think he’d look like now by Katie Dowd. Published February 6, 2019. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/doodler-age-progression-photo-sfpd-13594549.php
- SF Weekly (San Francisco, CA): Yesterday’s Crimes: The Serial Killer Who Stalked Gay Men in the Castro. Published October 8, 2015. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.sfweekly.com/archives/yesterdays-crimes-the-serial-killer-who-stalked-gay-men-in-the-castro/article_7a114a2f-1a25-560f-aea9-9bad57502312.html
- The Awl (unknown): The Untold Story of the Doodler Murders by Elon Green. Published December 11, 2014. Accessed February 11, 2025 via Internet Archive. https://web.archive.org/web/20180111233226/https://www.theawl.com/2014/12/the-untold-story-of-the-doodler-murders/
- CNN (Atlanta, GA): This serial murder case has been cold for more than 40 years. Now police say they have a suspect by Nick Watt. Published n.d. Updated June 21, 2018. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/20/us/doodler-cold-case-murders/index.html?no-st=1529514074
- The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA): Entertainer stabbed to death in GG Park. Published June 25, 1974. Accessed February 10, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/460933976
- Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA): Five stabs kill Concord man in SF park area. Published June 27, 1974. Accessed February 10, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/746840493
- Concord Transcript (Concord, CA): Concord man S.F. murder victim. Published June 26, 1974. Accessed February 10, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/745717008
- Oakland Tribune (Oakland, CA): Victim of Murder is Identified. Published June 27, 1974. Accessed February 10, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/717529072
- The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA): Performer’s clothing found. Published June 26, 1974. Accessed February 10, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/460937510
- The San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): One Man’s American Dream Ends In His Bloodbath by Kevin Fagan. Published March 23, 2021. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/doodler-true-crime-podcast/chapter-two
- The San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): Four Murders. A Pattern. The Cops Are Catching On by Kevin Fagan. Published March 30, 2021. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/doodler-true-crime-podcast/chapter-three
- The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA): Beach victim identified. Published July 23, 1974. Accessed February 10, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/460723668
- Independent (Long Beach, CA): Man’s body found stabbed to death by Associated Press. Published July 8, 1974. Accessed February 10, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/721611719
- The San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): Sketch Snares Suspects, But Cases Far From Solved by Kevin Fagan. Published April 13, 2021. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/doodler-true-crime-podcast/chapter-five
- The San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): Killer Notches Fifth Victim – Then He Gets Sloppy by Kevin Fagan. Published April 6, 2021. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/doodler-true-crime-podcast/chapter-four
- The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA): Help asked in identifying John Doe No. 81. Published June 6, 1975. Accessed February 10, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/460597192
- San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): Tattoos May Identify Slain Man. Published July 9, 1975. Accessed February 10, 2025 via Newsbank.com. https://sfchronicle.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2%3A142051F45F422A02%40NGPA-CASFC-151B8EF157D07D2A%402442603-151A9979782B6B29%403-151A9979782B6B29%40?search_terms=%22john%2Bdoe%2Bno%2B81%22&text=%22john%20doe%20no%2081%22&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%255B0%255D=142051F45F422A02&pdate=1975-07-09
- SF Weekly (San Francisco, CA): Police Offer $100K For Leads on 1970s ‘Doodler’ Serial Killer by Ida Mojadad. Published February 6, 2019. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.sfweekly.com/archives/police-offer-100k-for-leads-on-1970s-doodler-serial-killer/article_1951f96f-5b03-5917-9082-68158a331bee.html
- San Francisco Police Department (San Francisco, CA): $250,000 Reward Leading to the identification, apprehension and conviction of a serial homicide suspect. Published January 20, 2023. Accessed February 11, 2025.
- San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): The Mystery Witness in S.F. Gay Murders by Peter Kuehl and Don Wegars. Published July 9, 1977. Accessed February 11, 2025 via Newsbank.com. https://sfchronicle.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2%3A142051F45F422A02%40NGPA-CASFC-15194AAD16F4D419%402443334-1514EE5C86B3728D%403-1514EE5C86B3728D%40?search_terms=%22the%2Bdoodler%22%2B%22murders%22&text=%22the%20doodler%22%20%22murders%22&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%255B0%255D=142051F45F422A02&pdate=1977-07-09
- The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA): Survivors frustrate cops in multi-killings. Published July 8, 1977. Accessed February 11, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/460604626
- San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): The Gay Killers by Maitland Zane. Published January 20, 1976. Accessed February 10, 2025 via Newsbank.com. https://sfchronicle.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2%3A142051F45F422A02%40NGPA-CASFC-1514930CAFAA9528%402442798-151403F99EFF54FB%401-151403F99EFF54FB%40?search_terms=%22the%2Bdoodler%22%2B%22murders%22&text=%22the%20doodler%22%20%22murders%22&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%255B0%255D=142051F45F422A02&pdate=1976-01-20
- Oakland Tribune (Oakland, CA): Gay Victims ‘Won’t Testify’. Published July 8, 1977. Accessed February 11, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/717577997
- The Times (San Mateo, CA): Millbrae Man Hurt in SF. Published April 29, 1975. Accessed February 11, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/39042337
- San Francisco Police Department (San Francisco, CA): SFPD Provides Update on “Doodler” Cold Case Investigation 19-014. Published February 6, 2019. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.sanfranciscopolice.org/news/sfpd-provides-update-doodler-cold-case-investigation-19-014
- The San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): Possible Confession Sparks Search For A Psychiatrist by Kevin Fagan. Published April 20, 2021. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/doodler-true-crime-podcast/chapter-six
- The San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA): A Sixth Victim? And Maybe More Outside The Bay Area by Kevin Fagan. Published April 27, 2021. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/doodler-true-crime-podcast/chapter-seven
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