Douglas Edward Gretzler (May 21, 1951 – June 3, 1998)[3] was an American serial killer who, together with accomplice Willie Steelman, committed seventeen murders in the states of Arizona and California in late 1973.

His suicide came just days after his father discovered he had stolen upcoming examination papers and handed copies of the answers to other students as a prank, resulting in the school banning him from all senior year activities.

Initially, Gretzler relished his role as a father, although he soon began to tire of the continuous responsibility; however, he was never harsh or directly neglectful to the child, instead opting to leave her in the care of his wife as he spent increased amounts of time away from home.

[18] In January 1965, Steelman was convicted of three counts of forgery and involving a minor in a crime; he was placed in the custody of the California Youth Authority, who in turn sent him to the Pine Grove Work Camp, where he remained for seven months.

[20] Steelman was granted parole after serving just two months' imprisonment at the CMC; he was released on September 16, 1968, and returned to Lodi, obtaining employment as a shipping clerk and, according to his sister, informed many individuals he had "turned [his] life around".

Disgusted with Steelman's refusal to improve his lifestyle,[21] his wife left him on New Year's Day 1973—informing him she was no longer prepared to excuse and forgive his behavior and of her frustration with their constantly being broke and evicted in addition to her paychecks consistently financing his heroin addiction.

[38] Concerned both that Robbins and Mestites could ultimately link them to the disappearances of Unrein and Adshade, and aware the two teenagers they had released would soon inform police of their ordeal, Gretzler and Steelman decided to return to Phoenix.

The following morning, the trio drove to a local store in Robbins' Chevrolet convertible as Mestites remarked of her relief "Ken and Bob" were "out of [her] life", and her need to "do some coke" that afternoon prior to conducting a reading to direct her future.

"[50] Shortly thereafter, in the presence of these individuals at a deserted canyon close to Gates Pass,[51] Steelman dragged Sierra from the trunk at gunpoint, forced him to hand over his T-shirt, then ordered him to his knees as he accused him of being a "pig" and a "narc".

[11] After destroying any potential incriminating evidence at the crime scene, Gretzler and Steelman packed some of Michael's clothes into a suitcase before stealing the Sandbergs' credit cards, a camera and other items of material value from the house.

By the afternoon of November 5, the three had reached Pine Valley, California, where Gretzler and Steelman agreed to Scott's request to discontinue riding with them, allowing him to exit the vehicle close to Interstate 8.

All were ordered to sit in a semi-circle inside a large walk-in closet in the master bedroom with Gretzler observing the hostages as Steelman forced Walter to drive to the United Market to retrieve money from a floor safe he knew the Parkins kept at the supermarket.

[63] One of the first responders to the scene would later state the first sight he observed as he arrived at Orchard Road was two distraught males in their late teens or early twenties themselves chasing and attempting to catch and comfort a young woman "running in and out of the house", frantically flailing and screaming "Oh my God!"

[n 10] Upon returning to Orchard Road, a sergeant named Steven Mello searched a hallway leading to the family bathroom, where he discovered the remaining seven casualties inside the walk-in closet.

[81] While investigating the murders of the Parkin and Earl families and Mark Lang, police found several witnesses who gave a description of the two criminals, including the owners of the motel in which the two had spent the night of November 5, and who had paid for the room with a dud check in the name of one Michael B. Sandberg.

From this, the California State Department contacted their colleagues in Arizona, who determined that the car was registered to one Michael Bruce Sandberg, who resided in the Villa Paraiso apartment complex in Tucson.

[85][n 11] Just hours after the discovery of the nine victims at Orchard Road, a Tucson investigator named David Arrelanes secured updated arrest warrants for Gretzler and Steelman in relation to the Mestites and Robbins murders, with bail for the fugitives set at $220,000 each.

[86] At a press conference held late in the evening of November 7, San Joaquin County Sheriff Michael Canlis informed the media the chief suspect in the Victor murders was one Willie Steelman, adding his department had reason to believe he was also responsible for "two recent killings in Phoenix."

[88] On the morning of November 8, Steelman purchased a copy of the Sacramento Bee from the hotel lobby, only to observe his mug shot on the front page and to read he and Gretzler were the prime suspects in eleven homicides.

Realizing returning to the Sandbergs' Datsun was too risky, Steelman decided the two should try and convince a young female acquaintance named Melinda Ann Kashula—whom he had encountered the previous afternoon at a massage parlor—to accompany the two to Florida.

Minutes later, Steelman encouraged Gretzler to return to the Clunie Hotel via taxi to retrieve their belongings, adding his own picture had been published on the front page of the Sacramento Bee, but that the media were unaware of his own physical appearance.

Several shell casings discarded by Steelman alongside a highway following the Orchard Road murders were later recovered and forensically proven to have been discharged by the firearm in his possession at the time of his arrest.

Upon locating the Sandbergs' vehicle on the evening of November 8,[39] investigators discovered a bloodstained pair of boots and jeans and a brown grocery sack filled with numerous wallets, purses, credit cards, driving licenses and items of jewelry belonging to those murdered at the Parkin residence.

[91] Both Gretzler and Steelman were extensively questioned by Sacramento County investigators in relation to the Orchard Road murders before they were transferred to the custody of San Joaquin authorities on the evening of November 8.

[101] Following several legal maneuvers from both defense counsels, Papas agreed to a joint requested motion for a change of venue, ruling on May 21, 1974, that the trial was to be held in Santa Rosa.

In an apparent effort to convince the jury into believing he was insane, Steelman then launched into a tirade of outlandish claims portraying himself as a "fighter of the oppressed people" driven to violence by seeing "brothers die in the streets trying to change things" and that he had begun dropping acid to alleviate his pain caused by injustices perpetrated by the government.

Dingeldine argued first, recounting the evidence the state had presented and pouring scorn over the defense contention of insanity before asking the jurors to return two counts of guilty of first degree murder.

Two days later, both counsels delivered their closing arguments before the jury: Dingeldine spoke first, outlining the evidence which contradicted Gretzler's claim to have never set foot in the Sandberg residence before requesting two verdicts of guilty of first degree murder.

Prison records indicate repeated conflicts with guards and fellow inmates alike, resulting in numerous spells in solitary confinement, although he and Gretzler remained on affable terms, and never fought each other.

[138] Immediately prior to his execution, Gretzler asked those present for forgiveness, and as his final words, said the following:[80] From the bottom of my soul, I'm so deeply sorry and have been for years for murdering Patricia and Michael Sandberg.