10 Disturbing Facts About David Ray, The American Toy-Box Killer

David Ray was an American abductor, torturer, rapist and suspected serial murderer who lived from November 6, 1939 to May 28, 2002. Also known as Toy-Box Killer, his accomplices accused him of killing many women while the police suspected that the women he murdered were not less than sixty, yet no bodies were found to substantiate this.

Described by the FBI as one of the most intelligent criminals the world has ever known, David Parker Ray stands out in the twisted world of depraved humans who derive pleasure from the pain and tears of others. From rape to torture and murder, the American serial killer did it all. Before his arrest in 1999, it was said that the man had committed over 60 murders, with his victims being mainly young women.

David Ray received a long sentence in 2001 after a court found him guilty of torture and kidnapping, however, nature had an alternative judgment for him a year later as he died of a heart attack while still in prison. His death may do little to assuage his victims and their families but one thing is certain, the world had been rid of one less monster.

Summary of David Ray’s Biography

  • Full name: David Parker Ray
  • Nickname: Toy-Box Killer
  • Gender: Male
  • Date of birth: November 6, 1939
  • Place of Birth: Belen, New Mexico, U.S.
  • Date Apprehended: March 22, 1999
  • Criminal penalty: 224 years imprisonment
  • Date of Death: May 28, 2002
  • Ethnicity: White
  • Nationality: American
  • Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
  • Sexual Orientation: Straight
  • Marital Status: Divorced four times
  • David Ray’s Children: 2 including Glenda Jean “Jesse” Ray (his daughter)
  • Siblings: Peggy (younger sister)

1. He Had A Rough Childhood

David Ray had quite a rough childhood. Born in November 1939, he was raised by his grandfather and was rarely visited by his violent alcoholic father. As a teen, he was often abused physically by his father who also furnished him with magazines containing sadomasochistic pornography.

These are probably responsible for the mundane sexual fantasies which the young man ended up growing to have and which he spent his entire life practicing.

2. He Owned a Sex Torture Chamber Called a Toy Box

image source

The serial rapist and suspected killer owned a motor home which he converted into a torture chamber wherein he carried out most of his heinous crimes. Called a Toy Box, this chamber was furnished with an assortment of torture equipment and weapons including whips, chains, clamps, pulleys, leg-spreader bars, sex toys, surgical blades, saws, syringes and so much more.

Ray further ensured that the motor home was soundproof to prevent drawing attention and it also had its own electricity generator with which he administered electrical shocks to his victims.

3. David Ray Had Accomplices

It is given that some serial killers usually operate solo, nonetheless, quite a number of them are able to get assistance from other depraved minds like theirs. Ray belonged to the latter group who not only had the mind to conceive the most unimaginable crimes but also had the personnel required to execute his terror.

Among his known accomplices were his girlfriend Cindy Hendy and a young man named Dennis Roy Yancy. Cindy Hendy helped Ray to drug and lure unsuspecting victims to the Toy Box. Yancy, after he was arrested, admitted to strangling one of his own former girlfriends whom Ray had kidnapped and tortured.

Cindy Hendy received a 36-year sentence while Dennis Yancy was handed two-consecutive 15-year sentences.

David Ray's Accomplices
Accomplices of David Ray image source

4. His Daughter Was Also An Accomplice

This goes to show that evil might just be a hereditary trait. Glenda Jean Ray, who was just known as Jesse, is David Ray’s daughter. Jesse helped her father accomplish most of his evil activities although she had initially warned the authorities about her father’s suspected criminal deeds.

The police later found the allegations to be unfounded and therefore did not give it further attention. Jesse later switched sides to become her father’s partner in crime, helping him to lure women into his Toy Box where their woes began.

5. He Usually Targeted People of Low Social Standing

In order to keep himself safe, the infamous sadist and serial rapist usually preyed on a group of women he believed were less likely to be looked for by anyone if they went missing. He also found it much easier to get these women to come along with him to his torture chamber.

In addition to that, David Ray also figured out that even if these women were brave enough to accuse him of any wrongdoing, due to their social standing, they were less likely to be believed by the authorities.

6. Ray Kept His Victims Informed

Information is power, they say, but for the notorious sadist, rapist, and torturer, it was just another tool of torture. Among the variety of equipment in his Toy Box was a homemade gynecologist’s chair furnished with an overhead mirror. With the mirror, Ray’s helpless victims were able to see exactly what was happening to them.

He also had a vile pre-recorded audio tape which he played for his victims on their first day. The recording usually contained a graphic description and detailed explanation of the horror that was about to befall them.

7. David Ray Lived a Normal Life Despite His Activities

There is nothing normal about a sadist who spends his leisure time torturing and killing women. However, to the uninformed, David Ray was just a regular guy who had a job like everyone else. Unlike the creepy sinister-looking idle monster you would imagine him to be, Ray had a day job as a mechanic.

He had earlier served in the military as a mechanic after which he received an honorable discharge. In fact, his technical ability as a mechanic helped him to transform his trailer home into the perfect torture dungeon.

8. He Had Sex Parties

Even though one of his neighbors facilitated the escape of his first known victim and his eventual arrest, some of them were in the know of his heinous activities. It turns out that David Ray also held sex parties inside his torture trailer.

In attendance were his equally depraved friends and neighbors who were also allowed to have sex with some of his victims. The sex shows also involved having dogs rape the victims to the perverted delight of his guests.

9. He Was a Very Intelligent Man

Many would agree to the fact that David Ray had no good in him, but one thing is sure, he was very good at covering his tracks. Even though he was said to have committed over 60 murders, Ray was never convicted of murder. In fact, the only evidence that linked him to all those murders was found in his diaries after his arrest. In the diaries, he wrote detailed accounts of all the women he had allegedly tortured and murdered.

Following his arrest in 1999, about 100 FBI agents were deployed to search his property and surroundings. However, no single trace of human remains was found. Nearly 2 decades after, the FBI has still not succeeded in tying him to any of the murders.

10. His Last Victim Brought About His Waterloo

Thankfully, David Ray’s long streak of terror came to an end on March 22, 1999, after his very last victim Cynthia Vigil was fortunate to escape from the Toy Box. Prior to that, Ray had let many of his victims to go, nevertheless, he ensured that he totally erased the memories of their nightmare. This, however, was not the case for Vigil as she had a good recollection of what had occurred.

On that fateful morning, Ray left for his day job, leaving Vigil in the Toy Box with his girlfriend Cindy Hendy. Vigil, who had already spent 3 days in the torture chamber, was able to fight off Cindy after unlocking the chains on her hands. She then dashed out of the trailer with nothing on her, except the iron dog collar on her neck. She made her way to a nearby home where the occupants took her in and gave her a robe. They quickly called 911 and the rest, as they say, is history.

FAQs 

Who is David Ray’s Daughter?

David Ray had a daughter named Glenda Jean “Jesse” Ray. She reported her father’s activities to the FBI back in 1986 but when nothing was done about it, she teamed up with him, helping him accomplish most of his evil activities by luring women into his Toy Box where their woes began.

She was eventually arrested alongside her father in 1992 and tried on charges of kidnapping. Subsequently, she was sentenced to 2 years and six months in prison, with an additional five years to be served on probation.

Where is David Ray’s Daughter Now?

Since Glenda Jean “Jesse” Ray got out after serving her parole in jail, she has been completely off the radar. According to a redditor named joseph-curwen, “she is living happily under an assumed name.”

What Were the Names of David Ray’s Victims?

David Ray’s victims are believed to be many but because he drugged them with agents to induce amnesia, most of the ones who survived his torture could not remember what happened to them and as a result, never made a report. However, among the ones who came forward after he was arrested are:

  • Cynthia Vigil
  • Angelica Montano
  • Kelli Garrett (also called Kelli Van Cleave)

Where Was David Ray’s House

The Toy-Box Killer lived in the small New Mexico town of Elephant Butte, located close to the state park and lake. He had access to a great amount of abandoned land, as well as the reservoir, where the police believe he might have deposited the bodies of his victims.

When Was David Ray Documentaries Released on Netflix?

A documentary on David Ray titled David Parker Ray: The Toy Box Killer was released in the United States on December 10, 2019, on the YouTube channel called NightDocs. However, it is not on NETFLIX.

Obianuju Okafor
Obianuju Okafor
With over 4 years of experience as a lifestyle and celebrity news content developer, Obianuju keeps her insights fresh by following up on the latest pop culture news and trends. When she's not working, she's likely still reading or watching the most interesting stuff online

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