Offender Record · OFF-2026-110
Rex Allen Krebs (photo from the Radford University biography)
Rex Allen Krebs
Also known as Rex Allan Krebs
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
5'1"
Born
1966
Custody
Incarcerated
States
ID, CA
Distinguishing featuresHeight 5'1" at age 16 (document)
Custody
Incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, East Block Housing Unit (death row)
Custody record at the facility
Transferred to San Quentin State Prison after sentencing on May 11, 2001 (news reports). Remains on death row under California's death penalty moratorium imposed in March 2019.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Rex Allen Krebs was born January 28, 1966, in Sandpoint, Idaho. He was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping to commit rape, rape by force, and sodomy by force in connection with the 1998 kidnapping and murder of Rachel Newhouse, a Cal Poly student, and the 1999 kidnapping and murder of Aundria Crawford, a Cuesta College student, both in San Luis Obispo County, California. Krebs was sentenced to death in May 2001 and remains incarcerated on death row at San Quentin State Prison under a California death penalty moratorium.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Feb 03, 1984, Sandpoint, Idaho
Assault and attempted rape of 12-year-old girl
Bonner County Sheriff's Department (Idaho) · Bonner County District Court (Idaho) · Idaho statutes · Arrested Feb 03, 1984 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Misdemeanor assault; 3 months jail (some sources report 18 months)
Krebs attacked a 12-year-old girl after getting her drunk, beat her, and attempted to rape her. He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault. Document states 3 months jail; some sources indicate 18 months in jail.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Krebs, Rex Allen; The Story of Murderer Rex Allan Krebs
Offense date May 24, 1987, Oceano, California
Rape by force (Oceano woman)
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department · San Luis Obispo County Superior Court · California Penal Code § 261 · Arrested Jun 18, 1987 · Charged (pending) Charged (pending) · Sentence: Pleaded no contest; 20 years (as part of plea bargain for multiple 1987 assaults)
An Oceano woman was raped on May 24, 1987, after a man forcibly entered her residence. Krebs was arrested on June 18, 1987, on suspicion of this and related offenses and pleaded no contest as part of a 1987 plea bargain.
SourcesTimeline: The Rex Krebs case; The Story of Murderer Rex Allan Krebs
Offense date May 24, 1987, San Luis Obispo County, California
Attempted rape and burglary (multiple 1987 charges)
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department · San Luis Obispo County Superior Court · California Penal Code § 664/261, § 459 · Arrested Jun 18, 1987 · Charged (pending) Charged (pending) · Sentence: Pleaded no contest; 20 years in prison; began November 3, 1987, at California Institution for Men at Chino; paroled September 2, 1997
Krebs pleaded no contest to charges of rape, sodomy, attempted rape, assault with intent to rape, and residential burglary committed in May-June 1987 in San Luis Obispo County. Sentenced to 20 years in October 1987; served 10 years before parole in September 1997.
SourcesThe Story of Murderer Rex Allan Krebs; Two decades later, Supreme Court upholds death sentence for the sexual assault and murder of two college students; Suspect has long criminal history (Google Groups archive); Rex Allan Krebs
Offense date Jun 15, 1987, Arroyo Grande, California
Rape by force (Arroyo Grande woman)
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department · San Luis Obispo County Superior Court · California Penal Code § 261 · Arrested Jun 18, 1987 · Charged (pending) Charged (pending) · Sentence: Pleaded no contest; 20 years (as part of plea bargain for multiple 1987 assaults)
An Arroyo Grande woman reported that a man burst into her bedroom while she was asleep at 1:30 a.m. and attempted to rape her on June 15, 1987. Krebs was arrested three days later and pleaded no contest as part of a 1987 plea bargain.
SourcesTimeline: The Rex Krebs case
Offense date Nov 12, 1998, San Luis Obispo, California
Rape by force of Newhouse
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department · San Luis Obispo County Superior Court (trial moved to Monterey County) · Docket F283378 · California Penal Code § 261(a)(2) · Arrested Mar 17, 1999 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Concurrent with murder conviction
Krebs raped Rachel Newhouse at an A-frame structure near Davis Canyon after kidnapping and beating her unconscious.
SourcesPeople v. Rex Allan Krebs - California Supreme Court Opinion; Supreme Court Affirms Rex Allan Krebs Conviction and Death Penalty
Offense date Nov 12, 1998, San Luis Obispo, California
Murder of Rachel Newhouse (first degree)
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department · San Luis Obispo County Superior Court (trial moved to Monterey County) · Docket F283378 · California Penal Code § 187 · Arrested Mar 17, 1999 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death by lethal injection
Rachel Newhouse, 21-year-old Cal Poly student, was attacked by Krebs wearing a skull Halloween mask on November 12, 1998, as she walked home from Tortilla Flats bar near the Jennifer Street Bridge in San Luis Obispo. Krebs beat her unconscious, dragged her down stairs to his truck, drove her to an A-frame structure near Davis Canyon, and hog-tied, raped, and strangled her to death. Her blood was found on the Jennifer Street Bridge. Her remains were buried near the A-frame house. Krebs also took personal items including a keychain and clothing.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Krebs, Rex Allen; People v. Rex Allan Krebs - California Supreme Court Opinion; Supreme Court Affirms Rex Allan Krebs Conviction and Death Penalty; Two decades later, Supreme Court upholds death sentence for the sexual assault and murder of two college students; Victims of San Luis Obispo Serial Killer Rex Krebs Found 20 Years Ago; Timeline: The Rex Krebs case; Rex Krebs – 20 years later
Offense date Nov 12, 1998, San Luis Obispo, California
Kidnapping Newhouse to commit rape
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department · San Luis Obispo County Superior Court (trial moved to Monterey County) · Docket F283378 · California Penal Code § 209(b) · Arrested Mar 17, 1999 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Concurrent with murder conviction
Krebs kidnapped Rachel Newhouse by force at the Jennifer Street Bridge after attacking her and forcing her into his pickup truck.
SourcesPeople v. Rex Allan Krebs - California Supreme Court Opinion; Two decades later, Supreme Court upholds death sentence for the sexual assault and murder of two college students
Offense date Mar 11, 1999, San Luis Obispo, California
Kidnapping Crawford to commit rape and sodomy
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department · San Luis Obispo County Superior Court (trial moved to Monterey County) · Docket F283378 · California Penal Code § 209(b) · Arrested Mar 17, 1999 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Concurrent with murder conviction
Krebs broke into Aundria Crawford's home after stalking her residence and kidnapped her, taking her to his Avila Beach house.
SourcesPeople v. Rex Allan Krebs - California Supreme Court Opinion; Two decades later, Supreme Court upholds death sentence for the sexual assault and murder of two college students
Offense date Mar 11, 1999, San Luis Obispo, California
Rape by force of Crawford (two counts)
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department · San Luis Obispo County Superior Court (trial moved to Monterey County) · Docket F283378 · California Penal Code § 261(a)(2) · Arrested Mar 17, 1999 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Concurrent with murder conviction
Krebs raped Aundria Crawford at his Avila Beach house after kidnapping her and breaking into her home.
SourcesPeople v. Rex Allan Krebs - California Supreme Court Opinion; Supreme Court Affirms Rex Allan Krebs Conviction and Death Penalty
Offense date Mar 11, 1999, San Luis Obispo, California
Murder of Aundria Crawford (first degree)
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department · San Luis Obispo County Superior Court (trial moved to Monterey County) · Docket F283378 · California Penal Code § 187 · Arrested Mar 17, 1999 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death by lethal injection
Aundria Crawford, 20-year-old Cuesta College student, was abducted on March 11, 1999, after she was stalked by Krebs who broke into her home. Krebs drove her to his Avila Beach house where he bound, raped, and tortured her. When Crawford attempted to escape, she saw Krebs's face, so he chased her down and strangled her to death. Her body was wrapped in chicken wire and buried in a 4-foot-deep grave approximately 20 feet from the back door of his house. Evidence including CDs, VHS tapes, and her eight ball keychain were found at Krebs's residence.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Krebs, Rex Allen; People v. Rex Allan Krebs - California Supreme Court Opinion; Supreme Court Affirms Rex Allan Krebs Conviction and Death Penalty; Two decades later, Supreme Court upholds death sentence for the sexual assault and murder of two college students; Victims of San Luis Obispo Serial Killer Rex Krebs Found 20 Years Ago; Rex Allan Krebs; Rex Krebs – 20 years later
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
2
Victims convicted
2
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1998–1999
Victim profile
Young women, Students, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual
Range from home
local
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
some high school
Marital history
Never married
Children
1
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
CA
Soledad, California
approx. 1987 – 1997 · Soledad State Prison (most of 10-year sentence served at Soledad)
Grover Beach, California
approx. Mar 1987 – Jun 1987 · Moved to California; worked for 84 Lumber Company; arrested after brief residency
San Luis Obispo, California
Jun 18, 1987 – Oct 03, 1987 · San Luis Obispo County Jail pending sentencing on 1987 rape and burglary charges
Chino, California
Nov 03, 1987 – Sep 02, 1997 · California Institution for Men at Chino; served 10 years of 20-year sentence
Atascadero, California
Jun 1997 – Sep 1997 · Lived on Bajada Avenue near Traffic Way; moved out after neighbors learned of sex offender status through Megan's Law
San Luis Obispo, California
Sep 1997 – Mar 1999 · Settled in San Luis Obispo County area after parole; worked at San Luis Obispo lumberyard and for 84 Lumber Company
Davis, California
approx. Nov 1998 – Mar 1999 · Maintained A-frame structure near Davis Canyon home where Rachel Newhouse was held and killed
Avila Beach, California
approx. Nov 1998 – Mar 1999 · Maintained residence/property near Avila Beach where Aundria Crawford was held and killed
San Luis Obispo, California
approx. Mar 17, 1999 – May 1999 · San Luis Obispo County Jail after arrest for parole violations
Monterey, California
approx. Mar 2000 – May 2001 · Monterey County jail during trial (trial relocated from San Luis Obispo due to local publicity)
San Quentin, California
Jul 2001 – present · Death row, East Block Housing Unit; transferred after May 11, 2001 sentencing
ID
Sandpoint, Idaho
Jan 1966 – 1976 · Birthplace and childhood residence until age 10
Sandpoint, Idaho
1976 – 1987 · Returned to live with father after mother remarried
Idaho
May 1984 – Oct 1984 · Bonner County Jail and boot camp program for 1984 grand theft auto and assault charges; 18 months total
Idaho
Sep 1997 – Dec 1997 · Briefly returned to Idaho after parole
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1987 unknown unknown pickup truck – Pickup truck used in 1987 sexual assaults and 1998-1999 murders
approx. 1987 – 1999
Rachel Newhouse's DNA and blood recovered from this truck during 1998 attack
Timeline
Jan 28, 1966
Rex Allen Krebs born in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Feb 03, 1984
Krebs arrested for assault and attempted rape of a 12-year-old girl in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Jul 17, 1984
Krebs arrested for felony grand theft auto in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Mar 1987
Krebs moves to Grover Beach, California.
May 24, 1987
Krebs commits rape by force against an Oceano woman who is threatened at knifepoint during home invasion.
Jun 15, 1987
Krebs commits attempted rape against an Arroyo Grande woman during home invasion while she sleeps.
Jun 18, 1987
Krebs arrested in Grover City on suspicion of attempted rape, use of firearm, and burglary.
Oct 1987
Krebs pleads no contest to rape, sodomy, attempted rape, assault with intent to rape, and burglary charges; sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Nov 03, 1987
Krebs begins 20-year prison sentence at California Institution for Men at Chino.
Jun 1997
Krebs lives in Atascadero, California; moves out after neighbors learn of his sex offender status through Megan's Law.
Sep 02, 1997
Krebs paroled after serving 10 years of 20-year sentence; briefly returns to Idaho then relocates to San Luis Obispo area.
Nov 12, 1998
Krebs kidnaps, rapes, and murders Rachel Newhouse, 21-year-old Cal Poly student, in San Luis Obispo.
Mar 11, 1999
Krebs kidnaps, rapes, and murders Aundria Crawford, 20-year-old Cuesta College student, in San Luis Obispo.
Mar 15, 1999
Police discover evidence at Aundria Crawford's apartment suggesting abduction by intruder.
Mar 16, 1999
Parole agent David Zaragoza suspects Krebs after reading about Crawford's abduction in The Tribune.
Mar 17, 1999
Krebs arrested for parole violation (possession of gun and alcohol); remains discovered on property.
Mar 20, 1999
Law enforcement stakes out Krebs' job; discovers BB gun and arrests him.
Apr 23, 1999
Human remains discovered on and near Krebs' property confirmed as Rachel Newhouse and Aundria Crawford.
Apr 24, 1999
Krebs charged in connection with the murders of Rachel Newhouse and Aundria Crawford.
May 13, 1999
Krebs arraigned in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court; enters not guilty plea.
May 16, 1999
Krebs formally charged with rape and murder.
Mar 2000
Krebs trial begins in Monterey County Superior Court (relocated from San Luis Obispo due to local publicity).
Apr 02, 2001
Jury finds Krebs guilty of first-degree murder of Rachel Newhouse and Aundria Crawford.
May 11, 2001
Krebs sentenced to death by lethal injection.
Jul 2001
Krebs transferred to San Quentin State Prison death row.
Nov 21, 2019
California Supreme Court affirms Krebs' conviction and death sentence.
Jan 07, 2020
San Luis Obispo County District Attorney announces California Supreme Court's affirmation of Krebs' conviction and death sentence.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Cal Coast News ·
Rex Krebs' death sentence upheld by the California Supreme Court“Krebs has been awaiting execution in San Quentin State Prison since July 2001. In 2001, Krebs received a death sentence for the 1998 and 1999 rapes and murders of Rachel Newhouse and Aundria Crawford.”
News report · Mustang News (California Polytechnic State University) ·
Two decades later, Supreme Court upholds death sentence for the sexual assault and murder of two college students“Rex Allen Krebs was found guilty of the abduction, rape and murder of Cal Poly student Rachel Newhouse and Cuesta College student Aundria Crawford. In 2001, he was sentenced to the death penalty. Krebs had been sentenced to 20 years in prison in 1987 for rape, sodomy, assault to commit rape, residential burglary, and felony grand theft, but he was released on parole 10 years into his sentence.”
News report · KSBY ·
State Supreme Court upholds conviction, death sentence in Rex Allan Krebs case“Krebs is currently being housed at San Quentin State Prison. Krebs was convicted of raping and murdering San Luis Obispo college students Rachel Newhouse and Aundria Crawford in 1998 and 1999 respectively. He was sentenced to death.”
News report · KEYT ·
Supreme Court Affirms Rex Allan Krebs Conviction and Death Penalty“The California Supreme Court issued a written opinion that affirmed the conviction and death penalty sentence in the case of Rex Allan Krebs for his horrific rape and murder of Rachel Newhouse in 1998 and Aundria Crawford in 1999.”
News report · They Will Kill You ·
The Story of Murderer Rex Allan Krebs“In 1987, at age 21, he was arrested in connection with violent sexual assaults and burglaries in San Luis Obispo County. He later pleaded no contest to charges related to rape, sodomy, attempted rape, assault with intent to rape, and burglary. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 1987. Krebs served about 10 years of that sentence and was paroled in September 1997.”
News report · Serial Killer Calendar ·
REX ALLAN KREBS: THE SADIST OF SAN LUIS“In September of 1997, the California Department of Prisons unleashed convicted rapist, Rex Allan Krebs, onto the public, because of model behavior and overcrowding. Krebs was diagnosed a sexual sadist.”
Court record · California Supreme Court ·
People v. Rex Allan Krebs - California Supreme Court Opinion“A jury convicted defendant Rex Allan Krebs of the first degree murder of Rachel Newhouse and Aundria Crawford, one count of kidnapping Newhouse to commit rape and one count of kidnapping Crawford to commit rape and sodomy, one count of rape by force of Newhouse and two counts of rape by force of Crawford.”
News report · Noozhawk ·
Victims of San Luis Obispo Serial Killer Rex Krebs Found 20 Years Ago“On April 23, 1999, the community's worst fears were confirmed — Newhouse and Crawford had been kidnapped, raped, tortured, and murdered at the hands of a convicted serial rapist, Rex Allan Krebs. Krebs took Newhouse to his truck and drove to an A-frame structure near his Davis Canyon home, where he hog-tied, sexually assaulted and murdered her. Krebs drove her to his Avila Beach house, where he bound, raped, and tortured her. Crawford was able to escape the house, only to be chased down and strangled to death by Krebs.”
News report · Timetoast/SLO Tribune ·
Timeline: The Rex Krebs case“May 24, 1987 Intruder rapes Oceano woman. June 15, 1987 Arroyo Grande woman raped. June 18, 1987 Krebs arrested in Grover City on suspicion of attempted rape, use of a firearm, and burglary.”
News report · KSBY ·
Rex Krebs – 20 years later“Once I confronted him with the blood evidence, he eventually confessed to kidnapping, raping and killing both Rachel and Aundria.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Krebs, Rex Allen“Born in Sandpoint, Idaho on 1/28/1966. Found guilty of first-degree murder on 04-02-01. Sentenced to death on 05-11-01. Pleaded guilty.”
News report · The Tribune ·
Suspect has long criminal history (Google Groups archive)“Rex Allan Krebs, whom police have identified as the prime suspect in the deaths of two young San Luis Obispo women, has spent more than 11 of the past 15 years in custody. Krebs, then 21, initially pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, sodomy, assault with the intent to commit rape, an attempted rape and three burglaries. In August, when he changed his plea to no contest, court transcripts indicate he had also been convicted of a misdemeanor sex offense in an unspecified jurisdiction outside the county. In October 1987, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
Rex Allan Krebs“Parole officer David Zaragoza paid a visit to Rex Allan Krebs, 33, a violent serial rapist who served ten years of a twenty-year sentence in Soledad State Prison. After sending Krebs back to jail for violating his parole, Zaragoza discovered Crawford's eight ball keychain on the premises.”
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