80-Year-Old Stockton Man Arraigned in 1994 Double Murder Cold Case

STOCKTON, Calif. — A Stockton 1994 double murder cold case has taken a major turn more than three decades later.

Authorities say 80-year-old Donald Lee Clark has been arrested and arraigned in connection with the 1994 deaths of Eugene Cates and Lawrence Loehr. Both victims were 23 years old when officers found them dead after responding to an assault report in Stockton.

Clark has not been convicted. He is accused in the case and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Two Young Men Were Found Dead in 1994

The case dates back to May 23, 1994.

CBS Sacramento reported that officers responded to the 10000 block of Thornton Road after a report that someone had been assaulted. When officers arrived, they found Cates and Loehr dead.

Stocktonia reported that the scene was a Spanos Park construction site south of Bear Creek High School. According to that report, Loehr worked security at the site. Cates had finished work at a nearby Chevron station and stopped by to visit him.

The two men were reportedly close friends. San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said both were criminal justice students at San Joaquin Delta College and had hopes of working in law enforcement. Both were also engaged at the time of their deaths, according to Stocktonia.

The Case Stayed Cold for More Than 30 Years

Police investigated the double homicide for years. Investigators collected evidence and interviewed multiple people, but no suspect was identified at the time, CBS Sacramento reported.

That changed after renewed work by the Stockton Police Department Cold Case detectives, the San Joaquin County Cold Case Task Force, and the California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services. KCRA reported that investigators recently identified Clark as the suspect in the killings.

Stocktonia reported that Freitas credited recent technological advances with helping investigators revisit the case and move it forward. He did not publicly release every detail about the evidence.

Donald Lee Clark Arrested in Stockton

KCRA reported that Clark was arrested in Stockton on Wednesday by members of the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

CBS Sacramento reported that Clark was booked into jail on homicide counts after Stockton police identified him as a suspect in the cold case.

According to Stocktonia, Clark was arraigned Friday in San Joaquin County Superior Court. The report said he faces two murder counts and several enhancements, including allegations tied to multiple murders, firearm use, and use of a deadly weapon.

Prosecutors Say Clark Could Face Death Penalty or Life Without Parole

The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office said Clark is the suspect in the murders of Lawrence “Larry” Loehr and Eugene Cates, according to the office’s public release.

Stocktonia reported that Freitas said Clark could face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

KCRA reported that Clark appeared before a judge Friday. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to return to court on June 1.

DA: Justice Was Delayed, But Not Forgotten

Freitas spoke about the long wait for the victims’ families after the arrest.

He said the families had waited an “agonizing” 32 years and added, “Justice may have been delayed, but it was never forgotten.”

For the families of Cates and Loehr, the arrest marks a major development in a case that remained unsolved for most of their loved ones’ adult lives.

Investigators Say Multi-Agency Work Helped Move the Case Forward

The arrest came after several agencies worked together.

KCRA named Stockton Police Department Cold Case detectives, the San Joaquin County Cold Case Task Force, and the California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services as part of the renewed investigation.

Stocktonia also reported that Freitas praised the Stockton Police Department, the Cold Case Task Force, and state forensic officials. He said the task force has now helped investigate multiple cold cases since its creation.

What Happens Next

Clark’s next court date is scheduled for June 1, according to KCRA. He remains held without bail as the case moves through San Joaquin County Superior Court.

The allegations against Clark still need to be tested in court. Prosecutors must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

Central Valley Entertainment will continue following updates in this Stockton cold case, including future court hearings, new filings, and any additional information released by investigators.

Quick Facts

Case: 1994 Stockton double murder cold case
Suspect: Donald Lee Clark, 80
Victims: Eugene Cates and Lawrence Loehr
Victims’ ages: Both were 23
Location: Stockton / Spanos Park construction site area
Date of killings: May 23, 1994
Arrest: April 2026 in Stockton
Court status: Arraigned; held without bail
Next court date: June 1
Important note: Clark is accused, not convicted.

What Is Confirmed

Authorities have confirmed that Donald Lee Clark was arrested in connection with the 1994 deaths of Eugene Cates and Lawrence Loehr.

KCRA, CBS Sacramento, Stocktonia, and the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s public release all identify Clark as the suspect in the cold case.

Reports also confirm that the case involved multiple agencies, including Stockton police, the San Joaquin County Cold Case Task Force, the California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services, and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

What Is Not Yet Confirmed

Authorities have not publicly released every detail about the forensic evidence that led investigators to Clark.

A motive has not been clearly confirmed in the public reports reviewed.

Clark has not been convicted. The case is still moving through court.