Feb 27 min read

David Parker Ray, The ‘Toy Box Killer’- Murdered Over 50 Women!

Introduction:

Step into the twisted chronicle of David Parker Ray, a disturbing figure whose notoriety as the 'Toy Box Killer' sends shivers down the bravest spines. Picture a childhood shadowed by turbulence, foreshadowing the malevolence that would unfold.

Fast forward to the 1990s, and the 'Toy Box' emerges, a trailer concealing unspeakable horrors in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Here, Ray transformed sadistic fantasies into gruesome reality, subjecting over 50 women to inhuman torment. As we go deep down this blog, the dark jumble of David Parker Ray's life will unravel, revealing a chilling narrative that continues to echo through the corridors of crime history.

Dark Jumble of David Parker Ray's Life:

The Early Years:

David Parker Ray, born on November 6, 1939, in Belen, New Mexico, had a challenging early life. His dad, Cecil Leland Ray, a mechanic from Oregon, and his mom, Nettie Opal Parker, from Texas, struggled financially. David and his younger sister, Peggie Pearl Ray, lived with their strict grandparents, Russell and Dolly Parker, on a small ranch.

Growing up, David faced a tough situation. His dad, who was sometimes violent and drank a lot, would occasionally visit and give him magazines with disturbing pictures. In school at Mountainair High in New Mexico, he was bullied for being shy around girls, leading him to use alcohol and drugs.

During his teenage years, David's thoughts took a dark turn. At 14, his sister discovered his troubling drawings and explicit pictures, causing a rift between them. David claimed to have started harming women as a teenager and even talked about violent acts in a recording from 1993.

After high school, David Parker Ray served in the United States Army, working as a mechanic and receiving an honorable discharge. He spent his entire adult life working for the New Mexico Parks Department in Truth or Consequences. This town, about 5 miles from Elephant Butte, had bars that David Parker Ray frequented, becoming part of a disturbing pattern that would later contribute to the horrors he inflicted on others.

Ray’s Personal Life:

Ray got involved with Cindy Hendy, a 37-year-old woman working at a state park in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. She was running away from charges in Washington State for theft and drugs. They connected romantically and shared violent fantasies. In a recording from 1993, Ray mentioned that his captives would have to engage in sexual activities with Hendy.

David Parker Ray had a complicated personal life, going through four divorces and having two children. One of his children, Glenda "Jesse" Jean Ray, was also his accomplice. In 1986, Jesse tried to warn the FBI about her father's criminal activities. She claimed that David Parker Ray was kidnapping and hurting women, selling them to people in Mexico. However, her statements were vague, making it hard for the FBI to arrest David Parker Ray at that time. The chilling details of David Parker Ray's relationships and family connections added another layer of complexity to his dark and disturbing activities.

Beginning of Strong Criminal Activities:

In the 1950s, David Parker Ray's encounters with the law began, marking the onset of his criminal activities. He faced charges ranging from burglary to assault, setting the stage for a troubled adulthood. These early brushes with law enforcement hinted at the turbulent path that would lead him toward infamy.

Despite the troubled beginnings, David Parker Ray's criminal pursuits escalated in the following decades. By the time the 1990s arrived, he had amassed a criminal history that foreshadowed the monstrous acts that would later shock the nation. Ray's early years were a breeding ground for the malevolence that would reach its horrifying climax in the 'Toy Box' chapter of his life.

The 'Toy Box': A Gruesome Trial

From the mid-1950s to the late 1990s, David Parker Ray did terrible things to many women in New Mexico. He had a horrifying plan called the "Toy Box" operation, where he kidnapped and harmed these women in a torture chamber.

Here's how Ray carried out this dreadful plan: First, he would approach the chosen girl, pretending to be an undercover cop. He would tell her she was in trouble for sex work and then put her in the back of his car, taking her to his nearby soundproof trailer, which he called his “Toy Box.” Once inside, the girl would be chained to a table.

For the next few days, Ray, along with his girlfriend and accomplice Cindy Hendy, would continue to do awful things to the victims. They used whips, medical tools, sexual instruments, and electric shocks to torment them. Before starting the torture, David Parker Ray would play a cassette tape with a recording explaining what the victims were about to endure.

On the cassette, Ray insisted that the victim should call him “Master” and the woman with him “Mistress.” They were not allowed to speak unless spoken to first. He would then describe in detail how he would harm and abuse the victim. It was a truly horrifying and cruel ordeal that these poor women had to endure at the hands of David Parker Ray and his accomplice.

Abduction and Torture:

Ray subjected his victims to horrifying acts of sexual torture, using tools like whips, chains, pulleys, straps, clamps, and even surgical blades, electric shock machines, and saws. He terrorized many women for years, often with the help of accomplices.

Inside Ray's torture room, a modified and soundproofed cargo trailer called the "Toy Box," located just outside his property in Elephant Butte, New Mexico, he kept a chilling array of sex toys, torture tools, syringes, and detailed diagrams showing ways to inflict pain. There, he had a homemade electrical generator to electrocute his victims. The trailer, which cost David Parker Ray $100,000, was extensively equipped with devices to satisfy his sadistic desires.

Ray went to great lengths to confine his victims, creating elaborate contraptions like a fur-lined coffin and a makeshift pillory. He installed complex locks and pulleys to prevent escape, even mounting a mirror on the ceiling above the obstetric table where he restrained his victims, ensuring they witnessed the heinous acts he committed. Ray wanted his victims to see everything he did to them.

Additionally, he used wooden contraptions to immobilize victims while subjecting them to rape by his dogs and sometimes other friends. Ray often played audio tape recordings of his voice for his victims, further tormenting them. Shockingly, he occasionally released captives, leaving them by the side of a country road after heavily drugging them to induce amnesia. This sinister act aimed to prevent the victims from reporting the assaults:

“I get off on mind games. After we get completely through with you, you're gonna be drugged up real heavy, with a combination of sodium pentothal and phenobarbital. They are both hypnotic drugs that will make you extremely susceptible to hypnosis, autohypnosis, and hypnotic suggestion. You're gonna be kept drugged for a couple of days while I play with your mind. By the time I get through brainwashing you, you're not gonna remember a fuckin' thing about this little adventure.”

Possible Murders:

Although Ray was found guilty of his crimes, we may never fully understand how cruel David Parker Ray truly was. The authorities believe that the 'Toy Box Killer' might have caused the deaths of over 50 women. Unfortunately, because there isn't enough solid proof, many victims are still unknown, and their families haven't found the justice they seek.

Investigation and Arrest:

Ray's reign of terror came to an end in March 1999 when a brave victim, 22-year-old Cynthia Vigil, managed to escape ‘Toy Box’ and provide crucial information to the authorities. The ensuing investigation revealed the horrifying truth about the 'Toy Box,' and law enforcement moved swiftly to apprehend David Parker Ray.

Another victim, Angelica Montano, shared a story similar to Vigil's. She went to Ray's house after Hendy invited her to pick up a cake mix, but things took a dark turn. Montano was held captive, enduring rape and torture. Eventually, she convinced them to let her go along the highway. An off-duty officer picked her up, but he didn't believe her and left her at a bus stop. Even when she later called the police, there was no follow-up.

Kelli Garrett, another victim, was identified from a 1996 videotape. She was found alive in Colorado, recognized by a tattoo on her ankle. Garrett testified that, after a fight with her husband, she spent the night playing pool with friends. Ray's daughter, Jesse, who knew Garrett, took her to a bar in Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico. Garrett may have been drugged, and instead of taking her home, Jesse brought her to Ray's house. Garrett endured two days of torture before being returned home by Ray, who lied to her husband about finding her on a beach. Garrett, confused and scared, didn't contact the police, leading to a divorce from her husband, and she moved to Colorado. Later, she shared her story on Cold Case Files.

The FBI sent a hundred agents to investigate Ray's property, finding no human remains. While awaiting trial, Ray spoke to FBI profilers, expressing fascination with Colleen Stan's kidnapping and other sexually motivated abductions. The FBI had been in contact with Ray as early as 1989 regarding his business involving bondage-related sexual devices.

In November 2002, David Parker Ray was sentenced to years in prison after being convicted on multiple counts, including kidnapping and sexual torture. Despite the conviction, the closure for the families of the victims remains incomplete, as the full extent of Ray's crimes may never be fully unraveled.

Legacy and Impact:

The 'Toy Box Killer' case serves as a stark reminder of the darkness that can reside in the human psyche. David Parker Ray's heinous acts not only scarred the lives of his victims but also left an indelible mark on the community and law enforcement. The case prompted a reevaluation of protocols and procedures, leading to improvements in the handling of missing persons cases and the identification of unidentified victims.

Conclusion:

David Parker Ray, the 'Toy Box Killer,' remains a haunting figure in the annals of criminal history. The chilling details of his crimes and the lasting impact on the lives of survivors underscore the importance of vigilance and awareness in the face of such darkness. As society grapples with the aftermath of this heinous chapter, the memory of Ray's atrocities serves as a somber reminder of the need for continued efforts to prevent and address such horrors in the future.