Douglas “Doug” Clark (March 10, 1948 – October 11, 2023) was an American serial killer, necrophile, and pedophile who, along with his accomplice Carol Bundy, terrorized Los Angeles in 1980. Dubbed the “Sunset Strip Killers,” the pair murdered at least seven victims—mostly young women, sex workers, and teenage runaways—in a spree marked by decapitation, necrophilia, and sexual sadism.
Clark was sentenced to death in 1983 but died in prison in 2023 before execution. Bundy died in prison in 2003.
Key Details of the Case
Early Life & Psychopathology
- Born into a privileged military family, Clark lived in 37 countries as a child.
- Attended the International School of Geneva, where he allegedly recorded sexual encounters without consent.
- Developed violent sexual fantasies involving rape, murder, and necrophilia.
- After a dishonorable Air Force discharge, he drifted before settling in LA, working as a boiler operator.
Relationship with Carol Bundy
- Met Bundy (a 36-year-old nurse) in 1979 at a bar; they entered a sadomasochistic relationship.
- Bundy helped Clark lure victims, including an 11-year-old neighbor for pornography.
- Clark escalated to murder, convincing Bundy to buy him guns to fulfill his necrophilic fantasies.
The Murders (1980)
Clark and Bundy’s known victims include:
- Two Unidentified Women (“Valencia Jane Does”)
- Found shot in a riverbed near Magic Mountain (Jan. 1980).
- Marnette Comer (17, runaway/sex worker)
- Found mummified near Sylmar (June 1980).
- Gina Marano (15) & Cynthia Chandler (16)
- Teen stepsisters picked up on the Sunset Strip, forced into oral sex, then shot and necrophilized.
- Karen Jones (24) & Exxie Wilson (20)
- Sex workers shot; Wilson was decapitated, and her head was kept in their fridge for sexual acts.
- John Murray (45, Bundy’s ex-lover)
- Decapitated by Bundy after threatening to expose them.
- “Newhall Jane Doe” & “Malibu Jane Doe”
- Unidentified victims, likely sex workers, shot and dumped.
- “Cathy” (Jane Doe 28)
- Partial remains found in Green Valley; Clark blamed Bundy.
Arrest & Trial
- Bundy confessed after killing Murray, leading to their August 1980 arrest.
- Clark represented himself, delaying proceedings with legal tactics.
- Convicted in 1983 on six counts of murder; sentenced to death.
- Bundy plea-bargained (52 years to life); died in prison in 2003.
- Clark died in 2023 (natural causes) on death row.
Legacy & Notoriety
- One of California’s most sadistic killer duos.
- Case highlighted necrophilia, child exploitation, and sex worker vulnerability.
- Featured in true crime documentaries (“The Killing Season,” “Most Evil”).
Why Did They Kill?
- Clark: Sexual sadism, necrophilic fetishes.
- Bundy: Psychological manipulation, dependency on Clark.
Final Thoughts
The Sunset Strip Killers remain a chilling example of how extreme deviance and partnership in crime can escalate into horror. Clark’s death ended a decades-long legal saga, but the case remains a dark chapter in LA’s true crime history.
Would you like deeper analysis on their psychological profiles or comparisons to other killer couples (e.g., the Hillside Stranglers)?
