Dana Sue Gray

Dana Sue Gray was born Dana Sue Armbrust on December 6, 1957, in California to Beverly Arnett and Russell Armbrust. Her father worked as a hairdresser and had been married several times before, while her mother was described as highly image conscious and demanding. Dana was born after several miscarriages, a fact that reportedly contributed to intense pressure and expectations placed upon her during childhood.

Her parents divorced when she was two years old, after which she had little contact with her father. Dana’s childhood was marked by behavioral problems. She struggled academically, had difficulty forming friendships, and was frequently disciplined at school. She engaged in attention seeking behavior, including theft and forgery, and was repeatedly suspended.

When Dana was fourteen, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Witnessing the medical care her mother received influenced Dana’s decision to pursue nursing. After her mother’s death in 1975, Dana briefly lived with her father but was forced to leave following disputes involving drug use. In subsequent years, she became involved with a skydiving instructor, with whom she had a turbulent relationship that included multiple terminated pregnancies and later miscarriages. These events contributed to periods of depression and the use of psychiatric medications.

Dana graduated from Newport Harbor High School in 1976 and later completed nursing school in 1981. She worked as a labor and delivery nurse and was regarded as physically active and competitive, excelling in skydiving, windsurfing, and golf. Despite professional success, her personal life remained unstable. She was fired from at least one nursing position for stealing narcotics.

In October 1987, Dana married Tom Gray. During the marriage, she accumulated significant debt and became estranged from parts of her family due to disputes over inheritance. She left her husband in early 1993 and moved in with her lover, Jim Wilkins, and his young son. Financial problems worsened, leading to bankruptcy filings and foreclosure threats. In November 1993, Dana was fired from Inland Valley Regional Medical Center for misappropriating opioid medications.

Dana Sue Gray’s murder spree occurred over a brief but violent period in early 1994, primarily targeting elderly women living alone in gated communities in Riverside County, California. Her crimes were financially motivated, driven by compulsive spending and mounting debt.

The first alleged victim was Norma Davis, age eighty six, who was found dead on February 16, 1994, having been killed approximately two days earlier. Davis had been stabbed in the neck and chest inside her home, with no signs of forced entry. Gray had known Davis personally and had access to her home. Despite strong suspicions, Gray was never prosecuted for this murder as part of a plea agreement.

On February 28, 1994, Gray murdered June Roberts, age sixty six, after gaining entry to her home under the pretense of borrowing a book. Gray unplugged the telephone, strangled Roberts with the phone cord, and then stole her credit cards. She immediately embarked on a shopping spree in Temecula, purchasing luxury items and drawing attention from merchants and credit card companies.

On March 16, 1994, Gray killed Dora Beebe, age eighty seven, in Sun City, California. Gray approached Beebe at her home, asked for directions, and was invited inside. Once inside, she attacked and killed Beebe. Within hours, Gray used Beebe’s credit cards and checks to make additional purchases.

On March 10, 1994, Gray also attacked Dorinda Hawkins at an antique store. Hawkins was strangled with a telephone cord but survived. She later provided a detailed description of her attacker, which became crucial to the investigation.

Detectives connected the crimes through credit card fraud patterns, witness descriptions, and surveillance from retail stores. Gray was arrested on March 17, 1994, while preparing dinner at her residence. A search of her home revealed property belonging to multiple victims. Faced with overwhelming evidence and the possibility of the death penalty, Gray ultimately pleaded guilty on September 9, 1998, to murdering two women and attempting to murder another, in exchange for the state agreeing not to prosecute her for the murder of Norma Davis.

On October 16, 1998, Dana Sue Gray was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. She remains incarcerated at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla. Her crimes caused widespread fear within the Canyon Lake community and remain among the most notorious elder targeted killings in California history.