Gerald Parker, born in 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona, was a notable serial murderer known for his horrific methods and the long-term damage his crimes had on victims' families. He became known as the "Bedroom Basher" after committing violent crimes against women in Orange County, California. His first recorded attack happened in 1979, leaving Jane P. in a coma for several weeks. He went on to commit a number of other violent crimes, including Aida Demirjian's murder and Dianna D'Aiello's abduction. Despite eluding capture, DNA testing in 1996 established his involvement in the killings of five women and the loss of D'Aiello's pregnant child. Parker confessed to his crimes and was sentenced to death in 1999. His case demonstrates the necessity of forensic technology in solving cold cases, as well as the grave implications of false convictions in the justice system.
Mommy, something's wrong with Mommy. What's wrong with Mommy?
Gerald Parker. Typed Letter Signed. Commercial #10 (4.125” x 9.5”) envelope. Sacramento, CA. February 18, 2025. Content unknown. SEALED.
Classification: Serial killer
Characteristics: Home-invading rapist
Number of victims: 6
Date of murders: 1978 - 1979
Date of birth: 1955
Victims profile: Sandra Kay Fry, 17 / Kimberly Gaye Rawlins, 21 / Marolyn Kay Carleton, 31 / Debora Kennedy, 24 / Debra Lynn Senior, 17 / A unborn child
Method of murder: Beating
Location: Orange County, California, USA
Status: Sentenced to death on January 22, 1999
The Bedroom Basher:
How DNA Evidence Uncovered the Dark Secrets of a Notorious Serial Killer
and Kevin Green's 16-Year Ordeal as a Wrongly Convicted Man
Early Life and Background
Gerald Parker was born in 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona. His early life was marked by tragedy and instability; his mother died during childbirth when he was eight years old, and his father abandoned the family shortly thereafter. Following these events, Parker lived with his grandmother for a brief period before moving in with an older cousin. During his youth, he had several encounters with the law, including being sent to Juvenile Hall for substance abuse issues such as glue sniffing. He later attended Boys Republic, a school for troubled adolescents, where he showed some promise academically.
In 1973, Parker joined the Marine Corps and served in various locations including Adak Naval Air Facility and Camp Pendleton. His military career ended abruptly when he was dishonorably discharged due to a felony conviction.
Criminal Activities
Parker’s criminal activities began to escalate in the late 1970s. Between 1978 and 1979, he committed a series of violent crimes against women in Orange County, California. He became known as the “Bedroom Basher” due to the nature of his attacks which often involved breaking into victims’ homes and assaulting them.
His first known attack occurred on July 19, 1979, when he entered the apartment of Jane P., assaulted her with a piece of wood, and raped her. This attack left Jane in a coma for weeks and required extensive medical intervention.
On February 2, 1980, Parker attacked Aida Demirjian in an underground parking garage using a metal pipe. This brutal assault resulted in severe injuries to Demirjian but she managed to survive after seeking help from nearby residents.
Parker’s most heinous crime involved Dianna D’Aiello on February 15, 1980. He abducted her at gunpoint after she had just attended her father’s funeral. Although she survived the attack, her full-term fetus died due to injuries sustained during the assault.
Arrest and Conviction
Despite committing multiple violent crimes during this period, Parker evaded capture until DNA technology advanced sufficiently to link him to these cold cases. In 1996, DNA evidence confirmed Parker’s involvement in the murders of five women and the death of D’Aiello’s unborn child.
A Santa Ana court sentenced serial killer and rapist Gerald Parker to death for a killing spree that was originally blamed on an innocent man who served 16 years in prison. Kevin Green, D'Aiello's ex-husband, was sentenced to life in prison for that case and served 16 years before he was exonerated in 1996 when DNA evidence linked Parker to the attack. Strangely, D'Aiello still believes Green beat and raped her shortly before Parker did. She had testified against Green at his trial, even though his attorneys argued that her recollection couldn't be trusted.
Parker confessed to these crimes after being apprehended and was subsequently sentenced to death on January 21, 1999. The case also highlighted significant miscarriages of justice; Kevin Lee Green was wrongfully convicted for D’Aiello’s murder prior to Parker’s identification as the true perpetrator.
During sentencing hearings held later that year, family members of Parker’s victims expressed their anguish over their losses while also finding some closure now that justice had been served against Parker.
Conclusion
Gerald Parker remains one of California’s most notorious serial killers due to his brutal methods and the long-lasting impact of his crimes on victims’ families. His case underscores both the importance of advancements in forensic science for solving cold cases and the tragic consequences of wrongful convictions that can occur within the judicial system.
VIDEO: Into the Killing Ep 47: Bedroom Basher | https://youtu.be/Ws-NnICGR4k
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