David Carpenter: How Luck Helped the Trailside Killer Evade the FBI for Years

By: Shane Lambert
Original time of writing: March 3rd, 2025

YouTube Channel: The Infographics Show
Publication date: March 3rd, 2025
Episode: Why FBI FAILED To Catch The Trailside Killer Sooner

 

I recently stumbled across a gripping documentary on The Infographics Show titled "Why FBI FAILED To Catch The Trailside Killer Sooner." It dives into the chilling crimes of David Carpenter, a San Francisco serial killer who stalked lone hikers in the 1970s and ‘80s. At 94, he’s still alive in prison as of March 2025, yet his story remains oddly under-the-radar. What shocked me most? How a single eyewitness blunder – and a stroke of luck – threw the FBI off his trail for years. Here’s why this case deserves more attention – and how it echoes other infamous killers like the Zodiac.

 

The Trailside Killer, David Carpenter, targeted trail hikers, primarily women, in secluded San Francisco-area parks decades ago. With his death likely nearing due to age and incarceration, could new evidence still emerge? His crimes resurfaced in 2019 headlines at People magazine (Robyn Merrett/April 17th, 2019), revealing a survivor whose child became a TV celebrity – a twist The Infographics Show highlighted too.

 

I’d never heard of this San Francisco serial killer before, making this one of the best The Infographics Show episodes I’ve seen recently. Curious about the case? Watch the documentary below and share your thoughts!

 

Comparisons to Infamous Serial Killers

The 1960s and 1970s San Francisco Bay Area conjures thoughts of The Zodiac Killer, but The Infographics Show compared Carpenter to Edmund Kemper, Ted Bundy, and John Wayne Gacy. I’d argue his crimes align more with The Zodiac Killer and The Original Night Stalker (Joseph James DeAngelo).

 

Here’s why:

• Zodiac Killer: Both stalked victims in parks (e.g., Zodiac’s Lake Berryessa attack) using knives and guns.
• Original Night Stalker: Sexual motives drove Carpenter, mirroring DeAngelo’s escalation.

 

These parallels make Carpenter a haunting figure in true crime history.

 

The Eyewitness Error That Stalled the Hunt – and Luck That Saved Him

Why did the FBI take so long to catch David Carpenter? The answer blends a flawed eyewitness account with sheer luck. Operating in secluded trails, Carpenter was spotted during an early murder by a hidden witness. Her description – a handsome young man – clashed with reality: Carpenter was nearly 50 and unremarkable-looking. This sent police chasing a phantom, while Carpenter’s ordinary appearance let him blend in, dodging suspicion time and again.

 

Eyewitness errors aren’t rare. Stress and distance can distort memory, as seen in cases like Ted Bundy’s, where his charm skewed perceptions. Studies show eyewitness accuracy drops under pressure – a lesson from Carpenter’s case that still resonates today. Luck only stretched so far, but it bought him years.

 

Trails Turned Deadly: Carpenter’s Hunting Grounds

Trail hiking is a recurring theme at Missing Persons Commentary. While Carpenter’s victims aren’t missing persons, his tactics – luring hikers to isolation – mirror risks I’ve explored in cases like Trenny Gibson’s 1976 disappearance. My trail hiking series [link] dives into such mysteries. Could serial killers explain some unsolved vanishings? Carpenter’s story suggests it’s possible.

 

For more on trail-related mysteries, check out my series on missing hikers here.

 

 

Have you heard of the Trailside Killer before? Let me know in the comments!

Duncan MacPherson: Missing Person Case Caught in the Crossfire of Business

By: Shane Lambert
Original time of writing: February 3rd, 2025

Duncan MacPherson was a former Canadian hockey player who died at the age of 23 in the Austrian Alps. His missing person case has been covered extensively in media, including at The Infographics Show and by the Canadian television show The Fifth Estate. His case is relevant to missing person investigations because it highlights how the details of a missing person's disappearance -- and even a death -- could be covered up by the for-profit sector.

Furthermore, as MacPherson was a former professional hockey player, he was not part of the marginalized sectors of society. If his death can be swept under the rug, then it could happen to anybody.

Duncan MacPherson. A former missing person, found after
14 years.

Unreturned Snowboard: The First Clue to a Tragic Mystery

On August 9th, 1989, MacPherson was snowboarding for the first time in Austria. He disappeared on the slopes and there were two big clues regarding his disappearance that should have been obvious close to August 9th, 1989.

MacPherson, on his last day alive, had a short-term rented snowboard, one that he would never return. This should have been a flag that something was amiss.

Furthermore, his vehicle sat unattended and unmoving near the slopes that he snowboarded on -- for weeks after he was last heard from. If his unreturned snowboard raised some questions as to his whereabouts, then any astute investigator would also have found his unmoving vehicle and perhaps raised awareness about the chance that he was in danger accordingly.

While snowboarding on August 9th, 1989, MacPherson had some kind of accident on the ski hill. His parents realized that something was wrong after they hadn't heard from their son for some time. Accordingly, they led the efforts to find their missing son, not really knowing if he was alive or dead.

However, they did not receive much help from any police services. Their own investigation led them to a ski resort area in the Alps near the Stubai Glacier Resort. Furthermore, the company that he rented the snowboard from claimed that the snowboard had been returned, which suggested that he left the ski hill in good health. This turned out to not be true.

Fourteen years later MacPherson's body was found on the skiing slopes. Forensic experts concluded that he and the snowboard had been mangled by a machine, presumably the one that groomed the slopes.

Furthermore, some have concluded that, after this event, he was also placed in a shallow snow-covered grave -- in a deliberate act to hide the body. When this 'grave' melted in 2003, it led to the discovery of his body, which included shattered limbs -- and a shattered snowboard.

Profit Over People? The Ski Resort Cover-Up Theory

As the case was presented at both The Infographics Show and The Fifth Estate, there was a motive to downplay MacPherson's disappearance. The ski resort was a big part of the local economy and any negative publicity could hurt revenue for any business associated with the ski hill. I think it's this possibility that is a big point to take away from this case.

But I think it would be wrong to conclude that the whole town sought to cover up MacPherson's disappearance because his parents did find locals who provided key clues regarding his case. However, apparently, some people think that missing people are bad for tourism and they prefer that these matters not be investigated.

What would have happened if the snowboard shop raised awareness as soon as the snowboard went unreturned, or even a couple of hours afterward? It's not clear if this would have saved MacPherson's life or not.

I think late-returned equipment in the rental industry is normal enough that it's not inherently alarming. If someone is given 24-hour leeway to return something before raising alarms, then in MacPherson's case I think he would have died anyway. However, there was no need for him to stay missing for so long and for his family to suffer the mental anguish of uncertainty. For this reason, his case is a shame and an example of profits being ahead of human suffering.

Between The Infographics Show's and The Fifth Estate's presentation, I would recommend the latter. It's embedded below while this link exits to the former's coverage of this case.

Review of the O.J. Simpson Trial episode on The Infographics Show

By: Shane Lambert (reviewer)
Original Time of Writing: January 25th, 2025

The Infographics Show did a deep dive into the O.J. Simpson case. Those in the 45+ crowd will likely vividly remember the case, involving the former NFL player and small-time actor. Those a little younger will probably be at least familiar with the case, as it was a media sensation and it has been looked back at time and time again.

On the night of June 12th, 1994, someone, presumably O.J. Simpson, killed Nicole Brown Simpson, O.J.'s ex-wife, and Ronald Goldman, a young man in the wrong place at the wrong time. O.J. Simpson was put on trial for the murders and acquitted with many looking back and commentating that race, instead of evidence, played a big role in the case.

The Infographics Show
Screenshot of the jury.

YouTube Channel: The Infographics Show
Episode: Everything You Didn't Know About O.J. Simpson's Murder Trial
Date: January 23rd, 2025

One thing I liked about this episode was just the barrage of facts about the case. The running time is two hours and two minutes. They cover more than just the bullet points. I did feel that some parts were too exhaustive but I won't be overly critical for that.

As for opinions, as presented in the episode, it's clear that they think O.J. Simpson was guilty, despite the verdict. However, this is nothing more than a standard opinion nowadays.

I also liked that they looked at the case concerning the Rodney King fiasco, involving the LAPD. This was a man, black, who lived in southern California. He received a royal beatdown at the hands of the police, an assault which an onlooker filmed. The four police officers were not held accountable (3 acquitted, and 1 failed to reach a verdict). This set off a furious episode in southern California among sectors of the black population, known as the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.

I do think that the 1992 LA Riots affected the O.J. Simpson case. I think that the American federal government had a vested interest in the outcome of the case and there probably was federal government influence on the trial, accordingly.

As O.J. Simpson and his legal became a symbol of racial justice of injustice, his acquittal ensured that there would not be immediate riots on a national scale. I actually think that helps explain how bad the prosecution was. The Infographics Show does cover the mistakes the prosecution made. Meanwhile, O.J.'s wealth explains how good the defense was. But I see the defense as having it made in this case with the federal government actually being on their side out of concern for national riots.

What I would like people to think about when they think about the O.J. Simpson case is the conflict of interest for the government. The government is responsible for prosecuting suspects. However, governments are also supposed to keep public order -- and avoid riots. If you agree that a guilty verdict for the suspect in this case means riots on a national scale, then you see the pickle that the government is in. They can't convict him or it could mean massive internal strife in the USA.

So what does the government do when charged with two goals that are, as far as this case goes, dichotomized? Watch the video for a good rundown of the case and note how bad the prosecution was --or how good they were (ie. tanking it was smart), depending on which dichotomized goal you frame your analysis of them with.

I would say the episode of The Infographics Show presents a good coverage of the facts. As far as opinions, they are always embedded in any kind of documentary and the episode offers opinions here and there, none of which did I find to be distracting.

You do have to make a commitment to watching this episode. It is a two-hour video whereas a lot of their other episodes are under 30 minutes.

Exits link YouTube: The Infographics Show's take on the O.J. Simpson Trial