On May 14, 1983, 25-year-old Marine Corps corporal Terry Lee Gambrel was found dead in the passenger seat of a car stopped by California Highway Patrol on Interstate 5 in Mission Viejo, California. Gambrel, stationed at El Toro and originally from Crothersville, Indiana, was discovered partially concealed under a jacket; the scene included empty beer bottles and pills. An autopsy confirmed death by strangulation.

The vehicle’s driver was identified as 38-year-old Randy Steven Kraft of Long Beach, California, who was arrested at the scene. Investigators linked Kraft to a pattern of killings across California, Oregon and Michigan, and charged him in at least one other California murder. Authorities said evidence from Kraft’s car and home tied him to multiple homicides dating back to 1979.

Gambrel is remembered as having deep family ties, including a twin brother, half-siblings and a surviving mother, and as a member of Austin Community Church. Does anyone have information that could shed more light on Terry’s last movements or his time stationed at El Toro?