Offender Record · OFF-2026-135
Roy Norris (photo from the Radford University biography)
Roy Lewis Norris
Sex
Male
Race
White
Born
1948
Custody
Deceased
States
CA, VN
Custody
Norris died of natural causes on February 24, 2020, at California Medical Facility in Vacaville, California, at age 72. He was incarcerated in various California facilities from 1980 until his death, including time at Pelican Bay State Prison (as of 2007) and Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility.
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. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. 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
Roy Lewis Norris was convicted in 1980 of five counts of murder, kidnapping, and forcible rape for abducting, torturing, and murdering five teenage girls in Southern California between June and October 1979. Working with accomplice Lawrence Bittaker and driving a windowless cargo van, Norris kidnapped his victims while hitchhiking or waiting at bus stops, transported them to remote fire roads in the San Gabriel Mountains, and participated in extended torture and sexual assault before their deaths. He pleaded guilty to all five murders in exchange for avoiding capital punishment and testifying against Bittaker. Norris died of natural causes at California Medical Facility in Vacaville on February 24, 2020, at age 72, while serving a 45-years-to-life sentence.
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 Nov 1969, San Diego, California
Attempted rape
San Diego Police Department · Arrested Nov 1969
Norris forced himself into a woman's car and attempted rape while free on bail in San Diego. He was released on bail pending trial. The document does not specify the disposition of this charge.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Norris, Roy; Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris
Offense date Feb 1970, San Diego, California
Assault with a deadly weapon
San Diego Police Department · Arrested Feb 1970
While out on bail for the November 1969 attempted rape, Norris attempted to attack a woman in her home. Police arrived before he could harm her. He was subsequently arrested.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Norris, Roy; Roy Norris
Offense date May 1970, San Diego, California
Assault with a deadly weapon; charged with attack on San Diego State University student
San Diego Police Department · Arrested May 1970
While still out on bail for the previous charges, Norris attacked a young female student on the San Diego State University campus in May 1970, clubbing her with a stone and repeatedly slamming her head into a concrete sidewalk. The victim survived. Norris was charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Norris, Roy; Roy Norris
Offense date Aug 1975, Redondo Beach, California
Forcible rape
Los Angeles County · California Superior Court · California Penal Code § 261 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Sentenced to California Men's Colony
Three months after being released from Atascadero State Hospital on probation, Norris attacked and raped a 27-year-old woman, strangling her with her scarf. He was convicted of forcible rape and sentenced to California Men's Colony at San Luis Obispo where he met Bittaker.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Norris, Roy; Roy Norris
Offense date Jun 24, 1979, Redondo Beach, California
Kidnapping with bodily harm, forcible rape, and murder of 16-year-old Lucinda Lynn Schaefer
Los Angeles County District Attorney · Los Angeles Superior Court · California Penal Code §§ 187, 207, 261 · Arrested Nov 20, 1979 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 45 years to life (as part of plea bargain for five murders)
On June 24, 1979, Norris and Bittaker abducted 16-year-old Lucinda Lynn Schaefer walking near her church in Redondo Beach. They forced her into their van, duct-taped her mouth, bound her ankles and wrists, drove her to a fire road in the San Gabriel Mountains, raped her, and strangled her with a wire hanger. Her body was wrapped in plastic and thrown into a canyon. Her body was never recovered. Norris pleaded guilty to this murder as part of his plea bargain.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Norris, Roy; PEOPLE v. BITTAKER (1989); Lucinda Lynn Schaefer (1962-1979) - Find a Grave Memorial; Condemned inmate Lawrence Bittaker Dies of Natural Causes
Offense date Jul 08, 1979, Redondo Beach, California
Kidnapping with bodily harm, forcible rape, and murder of 18-year-old Andrea Joy Hall
Los Angeles County District Attorney · Los Angeles Superior Court · California Penal Code §§ 187, 207, 261 · Arrested Nov 20, 1979 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 45 years to life (as part of plea bargain for five murders)
On July 8, 1979, Norris and Bittaker picked up 18-year-old Andrea Joy Hall hitchhiking on the Pacific Coast Highway near Redondo Beach. They bound her in the van, drove her to a fire road in the San Gabriel Mountains, raped her repeatedly, and killed her. Bittaker thrust an ice pick through her ear into her brain, then through the other ear. Norris participated in restraining and assaulting her. Her body was strangled and thrown over an embankment. Her body was never recovered. Norris pleaded guilty to this murder.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Norris, Roy; PEOPLE v. BITTAKER (1989); Andrea Joy Hall (1960-1979) - Find a Grave Memorial; Condemned inmate Lawrence Bittaker Dies of Natural Causes
Offense date Sep 03, 1979, Hermosa Beach, California
Kidnapping with bodily harm, torture, and murder of 13-year-old Jacqueline Leah Lamp
Los Angeles County District Attorney · Los Angeles Superior Court · California Penal Code §§ 187, 207 · Arrested Nov 20, 1979 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 45 years to life (as part of plea bargain for five murders)
On September 3, 1979, Norris and Bittaker abducted 13-year-old Leah Lamp together with 15-year-old Jackie Gilliam at a bus stop in Hermosa Beach. The girls were held captive for two days at a fire road in the San Gabriel Mountains. Lamp was not sexually assaulted as extensively as Gilliam but was tortured. Norris struck Lamp repeatedly with a sledgehammer while Bittaker strangled her. Her skeletal remains were later recovered. Norris pleaded guilty to this murder.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Norris, Roy; PEOPLE v. BITTAKER (1989); Condemned inmate Lawrence Bittaker Dies of Natural Causes
Offense date Sep 03, 1979, Hermosa Beach, California
Kidnapping with bodily harm, forcible rape, torture, and murder of 15-year-old Jacqueline Doris Gilliam
Los Angeles County District Attorney · Los Angeles Superior Court · California Penal Code §§ 187, 207, 261 · Arrested Nov 20, 1979 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 45 years to life (as part of plea bargain for five murders)
On September 3, 1979, Norris and Bittaker picked up 15-year-old Jackie Gilliam and 13-year-old Leah Lamp at a bus stop in Hermosa Beach, offering them a ride to the beach. Instead, they drove them to a fire road in the San Gabriel Mountains where they held the girls captive for two days, subjecting them to rape and torture recorded on audio tape. Gilliam was stabbed with an ice pick in both ears, then strangled with a coat hanger and pliers. Her skeletal remains were later recovered with an ice pick still embedded in her skull. Norris participated in the torture and murder.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Norris, Roy; PEOPLE v. BITTAKER (1989); Condemned inmate Lawrence Bittaker Dies of Natural Causes
Offense date Oct 31, 1979, Sunland-Tujunga, California
Kidnapping with bodily harm, forcible rape, torture, and murder of 16-year-old Shirley Lynette Ledford
Los Angeles County District Attorney · Los Angeles Superior Court · California Penal Code §§ 187, 207, 261 · Arrested Nov 20, 1979 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 45 years to life (as part of plea bargain for five murders)
On October 31, 1979, Norris and Bittaker picked up 16-year-old Shirley Lynette Ledford hitchhiking home from a Halloween party in Sunland-Tujunga. Bittaker was known to her, as he frequented the McDonald's restaurant where she worked. Bittaker bound and gagged her with construction tape in the van. Norris drove while Bittaker tortured her with pliers, hammers, and ice picks while recording the assault on audio tape. Norris participated in the stabbing and torture. Norris then strangled Ledford with a coat hanger twisted with pliers until she died. Her body was left displayed in an ivy bed in a residential yard in Hermosa Beach, found by a jogger the next morning. Audio tape of her torture was recovered.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Norris, Roy; PEOPLE v. BITTAKER (1989); Condemned inmate Lawrence Bittaker Dies of Natural Causes
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.
5
Victims convicted
5
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1979–1979
Victim profile
Young women, Teenagers, Hitchhikers, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual, Thrill, Power or control
Range from home
regional
Accomplice
Yes
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
some high school
Marital history
Never married
Children
0
Military discharge
other than honorable
Died
2020-02-24 · natural
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
San Diego Police Department · CA
Arrested Norris for attempted rape (Nov 1969) and assault with deadly weapon (Feb-May 1970)
Source: Murderpedia, Radford University, Department of Psychology
Hermosa Beach Police Department · CA
Arrested Norris on parole violation and marijuana charge (Nov 20, 1979); led investigation
Source: Murderpedia, Wikipedia
California Medical Facility · CA
Prison hospital in Vacaville where Norris died of natural causes (Feb 24, 2020)
Source: KTVU
California Men's Colony · CA
State prison in San Luis Obispo where Norris served rape sentence (1975-1978) and met Bittaker
Source: Murderpedia, Radford University, Department of Psychology
Los Angeles Police Department · CA
Received tip about murders from prison acquaintance's attorney; coordinated investigation
Source: Murderpedia, Wikipedia
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office · CA
Prosecuted murders and negotiated plea bargain; avoided death penalty in exchange for testimony
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation · CA
State corrections authority overseeing Norris's incarceration and parole hearings (45-years-to-life sentence)
Source: KTVU, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Atascadero State Hospital · CA
Psychiatric institution where Norris was held as mentally disordered sex offender (1970-1975)
Source: Murderpedia, Radford University, Department of Psychology
Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility · CA
Prison in San Diego County where Norris was held; transferred to CMF before death
Source: KTVU
Related Offenders
People on other Known Offender records whom the cited records connect to this person.
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
San Diego, California
1965 – 1969 · U.S. Navy, stationed in San Diego · navy
Atascadero, California
1970 – 1975 · Atascadero State Hospital, confined as mentally disordered sex offender
San Luis Obispo, California
1975 – Jan 15, 1979 · California Men's Colony, convicted of forcible rape
Los Angeles, California
approx. Jan 1979 – Nov 1979 · Worked as an electrician using his Navy training
Los Angeles, California
Jan 15, 1979 – Nov 20, 1979 · Lived with his mother in a trailer park after parole
Crescent City, California
approx. 2007 – Feb 24, 2020 · Pelican Bay State Prison (as of 2007 document)
Vacaville, California
approx. Jan 2020 – Feb 24, 2020 · California Medical Facility where he died
VN
Vietnam
approx. 1969 – 1969 · Four months served, no combat · navy
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.
1977 silver GMC cargo van – Windowless cargo van nicknamed 'Murder Mac'
approx. 1979 – 1979
Used for abductions and murders of all five victims June-October 1979. Van contained tools used for torture including pliers, ice picks, hammers, and sledgehammer. Audio recordings made in van.
Timeline
Feb 05, 1948
Roy Lewis Norris born in Greeley, Colorado.
1965
At age 17, Norris dropped out of high school and joined the U.S. Navy.
1969
Norris received administrative discharge from the Navy for psychological problems and severe schizoid personality.
1969
Norris served four months in Vietnam but saw no combat.
Nov 1969
Norris arrested in San Diego for attempted rape after forcing himself into a woman's car; released on bail.
1970
Norris confined to Atascadero State Hospital as a mentally disordered sex offender.
Feb 1970
While out on bail, Norris arrested again for attempting to attack a woman in her home; police intervened before harm occurred.
May 1970
Norris attacked a female student at San Diego State University, clubbing her with a stone and slamming her head repeatedly into concrete sidewalk; charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
1975
Norris released on probation from Atascadero State Hospital; doctors claimed he was no longer a danger to others.
Aug 1975
Three months after release, Norris attacked and raped a 27-year-old woman in Redondo Beach, strangling her with her scarf.
Sep 1975
Norris convicted of forcible rape and shipped to California Men's Colony at San Luis Obispo.
1978
Norris met Lawrence Bittaker at California Men's Colony; they bonded over shared violent fantasies involving rape and torture of teenage girls.
Jan 15, 1979
Norris released from California Men's Colony on parole.
Jan 15, 1979
Norris moved in with his mother in Los Angeles and began working as an electrician.
Jun 24, 1979
Norris and Bittaker abducted, raped, tortured, and murdered 16-year-old Lucinda Lynn Schaefer in Redondo Beach.
Jul 08, 1979
Norris and Bittaker abducted, raped, tortured, and murdered 18-year-old Andrea Joy Hall in Redondo Beach.
Sep 03, 1979
Norris and Bittaker abducted, raped, tortured, and murdered 15-year-old Jacqueline Doris Gilliam and 13-year-old Jacqueline Leah Lamp near Hermosa Beach; held captive for two days.
Oct 31, 1979
Norris and Bittaker abducted, raped, tortured, and murdered 16-year-old Shirley Lynette Ledford in Sunland-Tujunga; audio recording made of her torture.
Nov 1979
Norris confided details of the murders to prison friend Joseph Jackson; Jackson reported the information to Los Angeles Police Department.
Nov 20, 1979
Norris arrested by Hermosa Beach Police for marijuana possession and parole violation after detectives observed him dealing drugs.
Nov 30, 1979
Norris brought before detectives and District Attorney and confronted about kidnapping, rape, torture and murder charges; confessed and agreed to plea bargain.
Mar 18, 1980
Norris pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder.
May 07, 1980
Norris sentenced to 45 years to life imprisonment with possibility of parole after serving minimum 30 years, in exchange for testimony against Bittaker.
Feb 24, 2020
Roy Lewis Norris died of natural causes at California Medical Facility in Vacaville at age 72.
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.
Other · Find a Grave ·
Lucinda Lynn Schaefer (1962-1979) - Find a Grave Memorial“Birth: 9 Jul 1962, Death: 24 Jun 1979 (aged 16), Glendora, Los Angeles County, California, USA”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris“Roy Lewis Norris (February 5, 1948 – February 24, 2020), also known as the Tool Box Killers, were two American serial killers who committed the kidnapping, rape, torture and murder of five teenage girls in Southern California over a five-month period in 1979.”
News report · Newsweek ·
All You Need to Know about Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris Today“He pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder on March 18, 1980. He was sentenced to 45 years to life on May 7, 1980.”
Other · Find a Grave ·
Andrea Joy Hall (1960-1979) - Find a Grave Memorial“Birth: 21 Oct 1960, Death: 8 Jul 1979 (aged 18), Glendora, Los Angeles County, California, USA”
News report · Murderpedia ·
Roy Norris“Norris was released on January 15, 1979 and moved in with his mother in Los Angeles, this is where it is believed he began an incestuous relationship. He was arrested again when he stabbed a supermarket employee in the parking lot of the business.”
News report · KTVU ·
Roy Lewis Norris, second of 'Tool Box Killers' dies at California prison“Roy Lewis Norris, 72, was pronounced dead at 8:40 p.m. on Monday. A serial killer convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering five teenage girls in Southern California in 1979, has died of natural causes at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, prison officials announced on Tuesday.”
Law enforcement release · California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ·
Condemned inmate Lawrence Bittaker Dies of Natural Causes“The two were responsible for the June 24, 1979, death of Lucinda Lynn Schaefer, 16; the July 8, 1979, death of Andrea Joy Hall, 18; the Sept. 2, 1979, deaths of Jacqueline Doris Gilliam, 15, and Jacqueline Leah Lamp, 13; and the Oct. 31, 1979, death of Shirley Lynette Ledford, 16.”
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Norris, Roy“Roy Norris charged with robbery, kidnapping, forcible rape, sex perversion, criminal conspiracy, and five counts of murder. Sentenced to 45 years in prison, with a minimum of 30 years to serve before parole.”
Court record · FindLaw, Supreme Court of California ·
PEOPLE v. BITTAKER (1989)“From June through October of 1979, defendant and Roy Norris kidnapped and murdered five teenage girls in the Los Angeles area. Most of the killings involved the rape and torture of the victims.”
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