Offender Record · OFF-2026-144
David Parker Ray (photo from the Radford University biography)
David Parker Ray
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
6'2"
Born
1939
Custody
Deceased
States
NM, US
Distinguishing features6'2" tall, described as soft-spoken and outwardly polite mechanic
Custody
Ray died of a heart attack on May 28, 2002, while held at Lea County Correctional Facility in Hobbs, New Mexico.
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
David Parker Ray was convicted in 2001 of kidnapping, criminal sexual penetration, and conspiracy involving the torture and sexual assault of multiple women near Elephant Butte, New Mexico. Ray operated a soundproofed torture trailer he called the 'Toy Box' and kidnapped and tortured women from the mid-1980s to 1999, when he was arrested after a victim escaped. He was sentenced to 224 years in prison and died of a natural cause in 2002 while incarcerated.
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 Jul 24, 1996, Elephant Butte, New Mexico
Kidnapping and criminal sexual penetration
New Mexico State Police / Torrance County District Court · Torrance County District Court, Estancia, New Mexico · Arrested Mar 22, 1999 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 12 consecutive counts; retrial conviction
Victim Kelli Garrett (also Kelly Van Cleave), formerly of Truth or Consequences, was kidnapped on July 24, 1996 after being drugged by Ray's daughter Jesse at a salon in Truth or Consequences. She was held captive and sexually tortured in Ray's trailer for approximately two days, then released near her home. Ray's orientation tape and torture devices were initially ruled inadmissible in the first trial, resulting in a mistrial, but were admitted in retrial. Ray was convicted on all 12 counts in the retrial in April 2000.
SourcesDavid Parker Ray; Beacon Behind Bars: The Toy Box Killer; FBI releases photo in New Mexico sex torture case
Offense date Feb 1999, Elephant Butte, New Mexico
Kidnapping, rape and criminal sexual penetration
New Mexico State Police / Valencia County District Court · Valencia County District Court, New Mexico · Arrested Mar 22, 1999 · Sentence: Case dismissed as part of plea bargain
Victim Angelica Montano went to Ray's residence near Elephant Butte to borrow cake mix for her boyfriend's birthday and was drugged, kidnapped, raped and tortured in the trailer for several days, then abandoned on the interstate highway near Truth or Consequences. She was picked up by an off-duty deputy sheriff but police did not initially investigate her report. This case was dismissed as part of Ray's plea bargain.
SourcesDavid Parker Ray; Surviving David Parker Ray, The 'Toy Box Killer'; Beacon Behind Bars: The Toy Box Killer
Offense date Mar 22, 1999, Albuquerque, New Mexico (abduction) and Elephant Butte, New Mexico (torture)
Kidnapping, rape and criminal sexual penetration
New Mexico State Police / Valencia County District Court · Valencia County District Court, Estancia, New Mexico · Arrested Mar 22, 1999 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Pleaded guilty as part of plea bargain; 224 years consecutive
Victim Cynthia Vigil-Jaramillo was kidnapped in Albuquerque in March 1999 by Ray using a fake police badge. She was transported to Ray's trailer near Elephant Butte and held captive for three days, chained to furniture and tortured with electric shocks and other devices. On March 22, 1999, she escaped wearing only a metal dog collar and chain locked around her neck, running down a highway and flagging down help. Her escape led to Ray's arrest and the discovery of the torture trailer. Ray pleaded guilty to these charges on September 21, 2001, as part of a plea bargain to secure leniency for his daughter.
SourcesFBI releases photo in New Mexico sex torture case; Surviving David Parker Ray, The 'Toy Box Killer'; FBI Joins Search of New Mexico Lake for Bodies of Sex-Torture Victims
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.
3
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
60
Victims suspected
Active years
1957–1999
Stated motive
Sexual, Power or control
Range from home
regional
Accomplice
Yes
Education
high school
Marital history
Divorced
Children
2
Military discharge
honorable
Died
2002-05-28 · 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.
New Mexico Department of Corrections · NM
Housed Ray at Lea County Correctional Facility (Hobbs Prison) from 1999 until his death on May 28, 2002
Source: Wikipedia
Valencia County District Court · NM
Agency case 1999-02, 1999-03-22
Prosecuted kidnapping, rape and criminal sexual penetration cases involving 1999 victims (Angelica Montano and Cynthia Vigil)
Source: KRQE News 13 Albuquerque, Wikipedia
Federal Bureau of Investigation · NM
FBI Albuquerque field office conducted investigation, searches at Elephant Butte Lake (2011) for possible victims; released seized evidence in 2011
Source: Fox News, Deseret News
Primary investigating agency for all three charged cases; arrested Ray on March 22, 1999
Source: KRQE News 13 Albuquerque, CBS News, Fox News
Albuquerque Police Department · NM
Investigated victim Cynthia Vigil's escape and case; maintains open cold case for disappearance of Jill Troia
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.
NM
Belen, New Mexico
approx. Nov 06, 1939 · Birth location; raised with sister by grandfather after grandmother died
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
approx. until Mar 22, 1999 · Ray frequented local bars in this resort town (approximately 5 miles from Elephant Butte) to identify and approach potential victims
New Mexico
approx. until Mar 22, 1999 · Automotive mechanic; worked for New Mexico Parks Department and State Parks maintenance
Elephant Butte, New Mexico
approx. until Mar 22, 1999 · Lived approximately 5-7 miles north of Truth or Consequences; maintained soundproofed torture trailer on property near Elephant Butte Lake
Hobbs, New Mexico
Mar 22, 1999 – May 28, 2002 · Lea County Correctional Facility, Hobbs, New Mexico Department of Corrections; held during trial and sentencing, died in custody of heart attack
Elephant Butte, New Mexico
Mar 22, 1999 – Mar 22, 1999 · Arrested on March 22, 1999, after victim Cynthia Vigil escaped; trailer searched and Ray taken into custody
US
United States
dates unknown · U.S. Army service, received honorable discharge; worked as general mechanic · army
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.
1980Soundproofed 22-foot white semi-trailer (truck trailer) Ray called his 'Toy Box'
approx. until Mar 22, 1999
Modified and soundproofed semi-trailer parked behind Ray's residence near Elephant Butte Lake; equipped with restraints, torture devices, gynecological exam table, mirrors, recording equipment, chemicals, and syringes. Ray reportedly spent approximately $100,000 on construction and equipping of the trailer.
Timeline
Nov 06, 1939
David Parker Ray born in Belen, New Mexico.
1957
Ray claimed to his first wife that he committed his first homicide, kidnapping a woman, tying her to a tree, torturing and murdering her.
Jul 23, 1993
Ray recorded an audio cassette tape that he played for victims, describing torture procedures and establishing control through recorded instructions.
Jul 24, 1996
Victim Kelli Garrett kidnapped by Ray's daughter Jesse Ray at a salon in Truth or Consequences after being drugged; held in Toy Box for approximately two days and sexually tortured.
Feb 1999
Victim Angelica Montano kidnapped, raped and tortured in Ray's trailer near Elephant Butte, then abandoned on interstate highway but not believed when reporting to police.
Mar 22, 1999
Victim Cynthia Vigil-Jaramillo escapes from Ray's home near Elephant Butte wearing only a metal dog collar and chain locked around her neck; Ray and accomplice Cindy Hendy arrested the same day.
Apr 10, 1999
Judge Neil Mertz rules that David Parker Ray must stand trial on charges of kidnapping and sexual torture; evidence ruled sufficient for prosecution to proceed.
Mar 28, 2000
Ray's first trial begins in Torrance County on charges of kidnapping and sexual assault of Cynthia Vigil.
Apr 2000
In retrial for Kelli Garrett case, Ray convicted on all 12 counts of kidnapping, sexual abuse and conspiracy after victim testimony and videotape evidence admitted.
Jul 2000
First trial results in mistrial after jury cannot reach unanimous verdict; two jurors find victim Kelli Garrett's testimony 'unbelievable.'
Nov 2000
Retrial for Kelli Garrett case begins; judge who had presided over first trial passes away, causing delay in proceedings.
Sep 21, 2001
Ray sentenced to 224 consecutive years in prison at hearing in Truth or Consequences after pleading guilty to charges involving multiple victims as part of plea bargain.
May 28, 2002
David Parker Ray dies of a heart attack in Lea County Correctional Facility in Hobbs, New Mexico, while being transported for police interrogation.
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 · KRQE News 13 Albuquerque ·
Surviving David Parker Ray, The 'Toy Box Killer'“Ray was sentenced to more than 223 years in prison for sexually torturing two women, including Cynthia. Hendy was also convicted and served nearly 20 years before being released in 2019.”
News report · The Beacon FHHS ·
Beacon Behind Bars: The Toy Box Killer“Ray was sentenced in 2001 to 224 years in prison. He took a plea bargain in exchange for leniency for his daughter.”
News report · Fox News ·
FBI Joins Search of New Mexico Lake for Bodies of Sex-Torture Victims“Glenda Jean Ray pleaded no contest to kidnapping charges in 2001 and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison, plus five years of probation in connection to her father's sex torture case.”
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Ray, David Parker“David Parker Ray born November 6, 1939 in Belen, New Mexico; arrested March 22, 1999; convicted 1999; sentenced 224 consecutive years; died May 28, 2002.”
News report · All That's Interesting ·
David Parker Ray, The 'Toy Box Killer' Who May Have Murdered Over 50 Women“He served in the U.S. Army and later received an honorable discharge. Ray was married and divorced four times.”
News report · NBC News ·
Missing Albuquerque woman in sex torture search“In 2001, Ray was convicted of kidnapping and torturing the Colorado woman, and he pleaded guilty to kidnapping and rape charges in the case of the woman who fled naked.”
Offender registry · Wikipedia ·
David Parker Ray“Ray kidnapped, raped, and tortured an unknown number of women over many decades at his trailer in Elephant Butte, New Mexico, occasionally assisted by accomplices including his daughter Glenda Jean Ray and partner, Cindy Hendy.”
News report · Yahoo Entertainment ·
Toy Box Killer: What Was David Parker Ray Convicted Of?“David Parker Ray, known as the Toy Box Killer, was convicted of abducting, torturing, and raping two women in New Mexico, sentenced to over 223 years in prison.”
Offender registry · PeoplePill ·
David Parker Ray: American serial killer - Biography, Education, Career, and Life“He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, where his service also included work as a general mechanic.”
News report · Gavin Reese ·
David Parker Ray“Ray worked as a mechanic and was even part of the army and was given an honorable discharge for the service he had provided.”
News report · Deseret News ·
FBI releases photo in New Mexico sex torture case“Ray was arrested in March 1999 after Cynthia Vigil Jaramillo, naked and wearing only a dog collar and chain, fled Ray's home.”
News report · CBS News ·
Torture Suspect Must Stand Trial“A judge Friday ruled David Parker Ray must stand trial in the kidnap and sexual torture of two New Mexico women.”
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