Dana Sue Gray (born Dana Sue Armbrust on December 6, 1957, in Pasadena, California) entered a world of instability. Her parents, Beverly—a former MGM starlet and beauty queen—and Russell, a hairdresser with three failed marriages, were both 39 when she was born. After multiple miscarriages, they finally welcomed their “miracle” daughter, but their marriage crumbled when Dana was just 2. Beverly’s parenting blended material indulgence and emotional neglect, leaving Dana craving attention.
By her teens, Dana rebelled violently: forging notes to skip school, stealing money, destroying property, and experimenting with drugs. Despite mediocre grades and suspensions, she graduated from Newport Harbor High School in 1976.
A Glimpse of Stability—And Its Collapse
After high school, Dana pursued nursing, inspired by her mother’s battle with breast cancer. Tragically, Beverly died in 1973 (between Dana’s freshman and sophomore years), plunging Dana into grief. She briefly moved in with her father and stepmother but was kicked out after they found marijuana in her room.
Dana thrived in adrenaline-fueled hobbies—skydiving, windsurfing, and skiing—and leaned on boyfriends for financial support. One boyfriend, Rob, financed her nursing education but pressured her into two abortions, deepening her resentment. By 1981, Dana became a nurse, married Tom Gray (a high school friend), and settled in Canyon Lake’s gated community.
But trouble followed. Colleagues called her “patronizing” and “controlling”; her marriage soured under crushing debt from her luxury shopping addiction.
The Descent Into Darkness
By 1993, Dana’s life unraveled:
- She had an affair with Jim Wilkins, a bandmate of Tom’s.
- She suffered two miscarriages, worsening her depression.
- She was fired from her nursing job for stealing Demerol.
- Filed for bankruptcy amid foreclosure threats.
Desperate for control, Dana took out a life insurance policy on Tom and began plotting.
The Murders: A Deadly Shopping Spree
Norma Davis (February 14, 1994)
Dana’s first victim was 86-year-old Norma Davis, her step-grandmother (through her father’s remarriage). Norma was stabbed and strangled in her home. Dana stole her credit cards and splurged on a shopping spree.
June Roberts (February 28, 1994)
Two weeks later, Dana murdered 65-year-old June Roberts, a family friend, using her boyfriend’s 5-year-old son Jason as an alibi. She strangled June with a phone cord and looted her credit cards.
Dorinda Hawkins (March 10, 1994)
Dana attacked 58-year-old antique store owner Dorinda Hawkins, who survived and provided a key witness description.
Dora Beebe (March 16, 1994)
Her final victim, 87-year-old Dora Beebe, was bludgeoned with an iron and strangled. Dana forged checks to fund another spree.
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The Investigation Unfolds
Police connected the dots:
- Survivor Dorinda described a “blonde, nurse-like” attacker.
- Credit card trails led to Dana, now dyeing her hair to evade capture.
- Dana’s stepmother, Jerry, identified her from police sketches.
Dana’s stepmother, Jerry, identified her from police sketches.
Trial and Twisted Legacy
Psychiatrists diagnosed Dana with narcissistic psychopathy—she felt no remorse. Judge Patrick F. Magers sentenced her to life without parole, calling her crimes “horrendous, callous, and despicable.”
Behind bars, Dana became infamous for selling autographed underwear ($250/pair) and artwork online—proving her obsession with money and attention never faded.
Why This Case Haunts Us
Dana Sue Gray’s story shocks not just for its brutality, but its motive: killing to shop. Her victims—vulnerable, trusting elders—highlight how unchecked mental illness and greed can spiral into tragedy.
What do you think? Was Dana born broken, or did her chaotic upbringing forge a killer? Let me know in the comments!