Today in History: The "Toy Box Killer" David Parker Ray was born on this day (November 6) in 1939. He was called the “Toy Box Killer” because of his soundproofed truck trailer that he converted into a torture chamber which he referred to as his “toy box.” Once in his truck, Ray subjected his female victims to horrific torture. It is believed that he may have killed 60 people this way.
The "Toy Box" was actually quite expensive to set up. "To create his trailer, Ray allegedly spent upwards of $100,000 on torture devices and tools. Reportedly, Ray constructed elaborate contraptions to confine his victims, such as a fur-lined coffin and a makeshift pillory. He also crafted devices to electrocute his victims and others to hold them in place. In addition to medical instruments and sex toys, Ray’s box contained elaborate locks and pulleys to prevent his captives from escaping." Source
Ray appears to have had his daughter, Glenda Jean Ray, and Dennis Roy Yancy help him in his crimes. This makes one wonder why so many killers have three names: Gary Leon Ridgway, John Wayne Gacy, Paul John Knowles, Henry Lee Lucas, James Earl Ray, John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, Mark David Chapman, Jared Lee Loughner, Wade Michael Page, James Eagan Holmes, Herman Webster Mudgett (Henry Howard Holmes or H. H. Holmes), James Francis Ray, Carl Eugene Watts, John Arthur Ackroyd, Stephen Wayne Anderson, William Dale Archerd, John Eric Armstrong, Arthur Gary Bishop, Oscar Ray Bolin, Gary Ray Bowles, Charles Anthony Boyd, Robert Eugene Brashers, Michael Bear Carson, Alfred Leonard Cline, Jessie Lee Cooks, Andrew David Edwards, Bobby Jack Fowler, William Clyde Gibson, David Alan Gore, Ricky Lee Green, Anna Marie Hahn, Dewayne Lee Harris, Bobby Joe Long, Lee Boyd Malvo, John Allen Muhammed, Gordon Stewart Northcott, Andrey Romanovich Chikatilo etc.
Another thing to ponder is why are so many serial killers born in November? A recent study found 26 serial killers were born in November, compared with an average of nine for other months. Derrick Bird, the Cumbria Killer was born on November, as was Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Belle Gunness, Dennie Nilsen (the British Jeffrey Dahmer), Kristen Gilbert (the Angel of Death), Charles Starkweather, Carl Eugene Watts and Rosemary West.
Did you know: Most serial killers were born in the 1940s and 1950s.
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