Serial killer admits slaying two in Aptos and Santa Cruz, authorities say

Santa Cruz District Attorney Jeff Rosell announced today that murderer Terry Childs, 61, pleaded guilty Friday to committing two murders that had remained unsolved for more than three decades: those of Joan Mack and Christopher Hall.

On October 11, 1984, Joan Mack’s body was found at Beer Can Beach. She had been stabbed to death.

On February 3, 1985, Christopher Hall was found shot to death in San Lorenzo Park. Investigations conducted at the time suggested the killing was drug-related.

Childs was sentenced by Judge Timothy Volkmann Friday to two terms of life without possibility of parole, to be served consecutive to each other.

Mack’s daughter Alexis, five years old at the time of her mother’s death, spoke eloquently at the court hearing of the loss of her mother and the resulting trauma she has dealt with

“I want to extend my sincerest gratitude for everyone involved with this case at the District Attorney’s Office and all else involved in contributing to making it possible for the defendant to step forward to do this. The events that took place today have been tremendously helpful in my healing process while also giving me the opportunity to be heard,” Alexis Mack said.

“We are thankful to our law enforcement team in Santa Cruz for their outstanding efforts in these two cases. Justice has been served and we were able to help bring closure to the victims’ families,” added Rosell.

Childs will serve these two new sentences consecutive to murder sentences he is already serving for murder convictions in Santa Cruz in 1987, Nevada in 1998 and Santa Clara in 2007.