The forthcoming special on Investigation Discovery, entitled The Woman in the Woods, will explore the chilling case of serial killer Dayton Leroy Rogers, who is connected to the deaths of at least eight women between the years of 1983 and 1987. His apprehension occurred after the fatal stabbing of a sex worker in a busy parking lot with numerous onlookers.
Prior to this incident, he had reportedly murdered and secretly buried seven women in a dumping ground situated on privately owned forest land just outside Molalla, Oregon. This horrific activity earned him the notorious title of the Molalla Forest Murderer.
The Woman in the Woods will detail both the heinous acts committed by Dayton Leroy Rogers and his eventual capture and conviction. This gripping episode is scheduled to air at 10:00 PM EST on ID. According to the episode synopsis:
“In 1987, women’s corpses are discovered in a wooded area near Molalla, Oregon; detectives face challenges in uncovering leads until they receive a breakthrough related to another case with striking similarities.”
As we prepare for the episode, let’s examine the circumstances that led to the arrest of this notorious murderer.
How Was Dayton Leroy Rogers Captured?
Long before authorities had any reason to suspect the seemingly ordinary family man, Rogers was committing heinous acts of violence against vulnerable women on the streets, targeting those who were often addicts, runaways, and sex workers. For years, he perpetrated murders, luring women to isolated spots where he would bind, brutalize, and ultimately kill them.
All the while, Dayton Leroy Rogers maintained an appearance of normalcy, being married, raising a child, and working as a small engine mechanic. It wasn’t until 1987 that his biting facade crumbled after he committed a murder witnessed by bystanders.
On August 7, 1987, in a parking lot off SE McLoughlin Blvd in Oak Grove, Clackamas County, he brutally attacked Jennifer Lisa Smith in his truck, stabbing her 11 times in various areas of her body. As she managed to fall from the vehicle, several witnesses came forward to provide accounts of the horrific crime. A witness from a nearby Denny’s restaurant alerted authorities about the attack.
Though bystanders attempted to block his escape, Rogers managed to flee following the murder. However, one determined witness pursued him through Milwaukie, Gladstone, Oregon City, and Canby, reaching speeds exceeding 100 mph. This witness noted Rogers’ driveway address, which ultimately led to his arrest by the police.
In 1988, Rogers was convicted of the murder of Jennifer Lisa Smith. This conviction was soon followed by six others as authorities uncovered the seven bodies from the Molalla Forest area. Despite receiving a death sentence on multiple occasions, it has been overturned each time.
Who Were Dayton Leroy Rogers’ Victims?
Dayton Leroy Rogers specifically targeted vulnerable women, primarily runaways, addicts, and those in the sex industry, making their disappearances less noticeable. This strategy allowed him to evade detection for years as no significant cases were established surrounding these missing persons.
Among his known victims are Jennifer Lisa Smith, Lisa Marie Mock, Maureen Ann Hodges, Christine Lotus Adams, Cynthia De Vore, Nondace “Noni”Cervantes, and Riatha Gyles. An unidentified eighth victim was also associated with him, but he faced no charges for that murder at the time.
Currently, Dayton Leroy Rogers is incarcerated and is likely to spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
For more in-depth coverage of this case, don’t miss the upcoming Investigation Discovery special, The Woman in the Woods.
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