Two park rangers in Oregon are kidnapped and marched down a rugged trail along the Pacific coast. One survived and the other didn’t. The hunt for their attacker leads authorities down one man’s disturbing path of murder, kidnapping, and robbery dating back decades.
Danny Blumenthal (Photo Source) The Daily Astorian
John “Jack” Kerwin (Photo Source) The Daily Astorian
Danny Blumenthal’s crashed pickup truck after manhunt for Larry Cole ended (Photo Source) The Daily Astorian
Larry Gene Cole at the time of his arrest in April 1999 (Photo Source) Seaside Signal
Larry Gene Cole at the time of his arrest in April 1999 (Photo Source) The Oregonian
John ‘Jack’ Kerwin as he appeared after his recovery in May 1999 (Photo Source)The Daily Astorian
Memorial for Danny Blumenthal in 1999 in Oswald West State Park (Photo Source) The Oregonian
Larry Gene Cole at his arraignment in 1999 (Photo Source) The Daily Astorian
Larry Gene Cole as he appeared in 1974 when he was added to the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List (Photo Source) The Free Lance-Star
Bonnie Ann Cole as she appeared in news articles in March 1974 (Photo Source) The World News
Larry Cole and Bonnie Ann Cole as they appeared at the time of their arrest in April 1974 for kidnapping and extortion (Photo Source) Richmond Times-Dispatch
Oswald West State Park Image (Photo Source) Tillamook Coast
Oswald West State Park Map (Source) Google Maps
Episode Source Material
- The Daily Astorian: Two park rangers shot, one dead. By staff via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Two park rangers shot, one dead. By staff via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: ‘Ranger Dan’s’ senseless death stuns community – Outrage, shock follow death of popular ranger. By Andrea Kennet and Mike Stark via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: ‘Ranger Dan’s’ senseless death stuns community – Outrage, shock follow death of popular ranger. By Andrea Kennet and Mike Stark via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Questions remain as suspect is arraigned. By Andrea Kennet via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Questions remain as suspect is arraigned. By Andrea Kennet via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Friends laud bravery, kindness of Kerwin. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Friends laud bravery, kindness of Kerwin. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Wounded ranger tells story to timely truck driver. By Jill Carnell via newspapers.com.
- The Oregonian: Second man sought in attack on pair of state park rangers. By Bryan Denson, Hal Bernton, and Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Oregonian: Second man sought in attack on pair of state park rangers. By Bryan Denson, Hal Bernton, and Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com. (2)
- East Oregonian: Flags lowered for ranger. By staff via newspapers.com.
- The Daily Astorian: Murder suspect once kidnapped woman. By staff via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Murder suspect once kidnapped woman. By staff via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Observer: Police seek man for questioning; Imbler woman remembers ranger. By staff via newspapers.com.
- The Register-Guard: Second man target of shooting probe. By staff via newspapers.com.
- The Oregonian: Suspect has a criminal record. By Bryan Denson and Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Oregonian: Suspect has a criminal record. By Bryan Denson and Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Kidnap victim recounts encounter with murder suspect. By Andrea Kennet via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Kidnap victim recounts encounter with murder suspect. By Andrea Kennet via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Ranger OK after surgery. By staff via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Ranger OK after surgery. By staff via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: In sorrow and support. By staff and readers via newspapers.com.
- The Oregonian: Accused’s earlier prey recalls fear. By Bryan Denson via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Oregonian: Accused’s earlier prey recalls fear. By Bryan Denson via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Bulletin: Alleged killer is familiar to the FBI. By staff via newspapers.com.
- Statesman Journal: Hospital releases wounded ranger. By staff via newspapers.com.
- The Oregonian: Monument constructed for two park rangers. By Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com.
- Corvallis Gazette-Times: Staffers claim local state parks still safe. By Jim Murez via newspapers.com.
- The Daily Astorian: Things can never be quite the same for ranger crew. By Jerry Tippens via newspapers.com.
- The Daily Astorian: Park service holds memorial for slain ranger. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Park service holds memorial for slain ranger. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (2)
- Statesman Journal: 500 Gather to say farewell to ranger. By staff via newspapers.com.
- The Oregonian: On the land he loved, a ranger is honored. By Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Oregonian: On the land he loved, a ranger is honored. By Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Remember Ranger Dan. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Remember Ranger Dan. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (2)
- Seaside Signal: Park murder suspect arraigned. By Kyle Odegaard via newspapers.com. (1)
- Seaside Signal: Park murder suspect arraigned. By Kyle Odegaard via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Gun found in ranger shooting case. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com.
- The Daily Astorian: Grand jury charges Cole with 19 felonies. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Grand jury charges Cole with 19 felonies. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Memorial naming delicate issue for state parks. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Memorial naming delicate issue for state parks. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Surviving Ranger shares his story and his thanks. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Surviving Ranger shares his story and his thanks. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (2)
- Seaside Signal: Blumenthal family says thank you. By staff and family via newspapers.com. (1)
- Seaside Signal: Blumenthal family says thank you. By staff and family via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Oregonian: Remembering Danny. By staff and family via newspapers.com.
- The Oregonian: Injured ranger tells how he played dead. By staff via newspapers.com.
- The Daily Astorian: Suspect in ranger murder enters ‘not guilty’ plea. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Suspect in ranger murder enters ‘not guilty’ plea. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Murder suspect denies additional firearm charge. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com.
- The Daily Astorian: Park ranger trial postponed six months. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com.
- The Daily Astorian: Park ranger murder trial is delayed. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com.
- The Oregonian: Court prepares for man accused of killing ranger. By Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Oregonian: Court prepares for man accused of killing ranger. By Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: ‘I asked him not to kill me’ – Park ranger describes ordeal after gunman shot his partner. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: ‘I asked him not to kill me’ – Park ranger describes ordeal after gunman shot his partner. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Cole denies any role in shooting of rangers. By Leeann Neal via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Cole denies any role in shooting of rangers. By Leeann Neal via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Oregonian: Jury gets case in attack on two park rangers. By Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com.
- The Oregonian: Man, 54, convicted of killing ranger. By Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Oregonian: Man, 54, convicted of killing ranger. By Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Surviving ranger relieved by guilty verdict. By Leeann Neal via newspapers.com.
- The Daily Astorian: Cole sentencing delayed for report. By staff via newspapers.com.
- The Daily Astorian: Cole to be sentenced for ranger killing. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com.
- The Oregonian: State park ranger’s killer gets life term. By Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Oregonian: State park ranger’s killer gets life term. By Jonathan Nelson via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Ranger killer to spend life in jail. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Ranger killer to spend life in jail. By Brad Bolchunos via newspapers.com. (2)
- The Daily Astorian: Cole awaits prison choice. By Leeann Neal via newspapers.com. (1)
- The Daily Astorian: Cole awaits prison choice. By Leeann Neal via newspapers.com. (2)
- Oregon Department of Corrections: Oregon State Penitentiary Reports In-custody Death. By staff.
- AP News: Man convicted in 1999 killing dies in Oregon prison. By staff.
- The Oregonian: Man serving life sentence for kidnapping, killing park ranger in 1999 dies. By Savannah Eadens via newspapers.com.
- The World News: Ex-Roanoke couple charged with kidnaping local woman. By staff Via newspapers.com
- The Associated Press: Ex-convict, wife charged in Roanoke woman’s kidnap. By staff Via newspapers.com
- The Roanoke Times: Ex-Roanoke Couple Sought in Kidnaping. By Richard Lawson Via newspapers.com (1)
- The Roanoke Times: Ex-Roanoke Couple Sought in Kidnaping. By Richard Lawson Via newspapers.com (2)
- The Free Lance-Star: Added to list. By staff Via newspapers.com
- The Associated Press: Man Wanted in Kidnaping On FBI List. By staff Via newspapers.com
- United Press International: Cole Captured on FBI’s List Only One Day. By staff Via newspapers.com
- The Associated Press via Danville Register and Bee: Couple Wanted in Virginia Kidnaping Held In Buffalo. By staff Via newspapers.com
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: Kidnaping Hunt Was ‘Intensive’ by Frank Walin Via newspapers.com (1)
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: Kidnaping Hunt Was ‘Intensive’ by Frank Walin Via newspapers.com (2)
- The World-News: Kidnap victim tells of terror in W. Va. By Mag Poff Via newspapers.com (1)
- The World-News: Kidnap victim tells of terror in W. Va. By Mag Poff Via newspapers.com (2)
- The Associated Press: Long Terms Are Imposed in Kidnaping of Woman. By staff Via newspapers.com
- U.S. Bureau of Prisons: Larry Gene Cole Inmate Profile
- Justia U.S. Law: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Bonnie Ann Cole v. United States of America. July 19, 1978. November 29, 1978.
- Park Predators Interview with John “Jack” Kerwin. Conducted by Delia D’Ambra. January 2026.