How Dana Gray became one of the most feared women in America

Hawkins’ description proved crucial, helping law enforcement begin to piece together the terrifying pattern that had gripped the community. Dana’s downfall came when investigators traced the use of June Roberts’ credit cards in Temecula, California.

Follow the money

She had spent so extravagantly that the credit card company alerted Roberts’ family to the unusual activity. Detectives then visited the stores where the cards had been used, interviewing cashiers and gathering a physical description of Dana. They discovered she had recently dyed her hair and that she had a young boy named Jason, details that would help finally bring her to justice.

It became clear early on that Dana had killed three elderly women in order to get hold of their credit cards. At first, Dana admitted to the thefts but continued to deny the killings. She initially entered an insanity plea, a move that placed the very real possibility of a death sentence on the table.

By 1988, however, she reversed course, pleading guilty to the murders of Beebe and Roberts and the attempted murder of Hawkins. Facing overwhelming circumstantial evidence and the looming threat of capital punishment, Dana ultimately accepted a deal: life in prison without the possibility of parole. She made only one demand: the state would not prosecute her for the killing of Norma Davis.

When Dana was asked why three women had to die for her to buy things, she replied, “I got desperate to buy things. Shopping puts me at rest.”

Dana Sue Gray today

Looking through what Dana had actually bought, investigators found receipts for swimsuits, cowboy boots, a ski mask, vodka, and a luxurious spa massage. The list also included Opium perfume, fancy shoes, and sneakers for both men and women — a bizarre assortment that painted a picture of her extravagant impulses.

On October 16, 1998, Gray was sentenced to life without parole and was sent to the California Women’s Prison in Chowchilla, where she remains incarcerated.

She is not the most famous female serial killer in the country, but her story has appeared in several documentaries over the years. On February 2, 2025, the true-crime TV series Very Scary People aired an episode titled “The Angel of Death,” focusing on the life and murders of Dana Sue Gray.

A 2014 article claimed that she has occasionally sent items to murderabilia websites. At one point, she reportedly attempted to sell a pair of white panties for $250 and a prison-worn T-shirt decorated with a drawing of a blue butterfly.

Behind the prison walls

Behind prison walls, Dana has turned her attention toward advocating for the rights of female inmates. In particular, she argues that women serving life without the possibility of parole — so-called “LWOPs” — are consistently pushed aside when it comes to opportunities for rehabilitation and meaningful change.

Continue READING