Mark Rogowski
Updated: 12/11/2025, 1:07:38 PM Wikipedia source
Mark Anthony "Gator" Rogowski (born August 10, 1966) is an American former professional skateboarder who was convicted of murder. He was mainly prominent in the 1980s and early 1990s. Rogowski's career ended when he pled guilty for assaulting, raping, and murdering Jessica Bergsten in 1991. His life was chronicled in a critically acclaimed 2003 documentary titled Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator by American filmmaker Helen Stickler.
Infobox
Born
Mark Anthony Rogowski (1966-08-10) August 10, 1966 (age 59)Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Other names
Gator
Occupation
Skateboarder
Criminal status
Incarcerated
Convictions
First degree murderForcible rape
Criminal penalty
31 years to life in prison
Tables
CDCR Parole Board Actions[22] · Parole attempts
January 22, 2010
January 22, 2010
Date
January 22, 2010
Action
Parole Suitability Hearing
Outcome
Inmate voluntarily waived the right to a hearing for 1 year
February 7, 2011
February 7, 2011
Date
February 7, 2011
Action
Parole Suitability Hearing
Outcome
Inmate was denied parole for 7 years
November 21, 2014
November 21, 2014
Date
November 21, 2014
Action
Inmate Petition to Advance
Outcome
The inmate's petition to advance his next parole suitability hearing date was approved
February 6, 2015
February 6, 2015
Date
February 6, 2015
Action
Parole Suitability Hearing
Outcome
Inmate voluntarily waived the right to a hearing for 1 year
March 9, 2016
March 9, 2016
Date
March 9, 2016
Action
Parole Suitability Hearing
Outcome
Inmate was denied parole for 7 years
December 2019
December 2019
Date
December 2019
Action
Parole Suitability Hearing
Outcome
Inmate was granted parole
April 2020
April 2020
Date
April 2020
Action
Governor's Reversal
Outcome
The inmate's grant of parole was reversed
June 2022
June 2022
Date
June 2022
Action
Parole Suitability Hearing
Outcome
Inmate was granted parole
November 2022
November 2022
Date
November 2022
Action
Governor's Reversal
Outcome
The inmate's grant of parole was reversed
November 7, 2024
November 7, 2024
Date
November 7, 2024
Action
Parole Suitability Hearing
Outcome
Inmate was denied parole for 3 years
| Date | Action | Outcome |
| January 22, 2010 | Parole Suitability Hearing | Inmate voluntarily waived the right to a hearing for 1 year |
| February 7, 2011 | Parole Suitability Hearing | Inmate was denied parole for 7 years |
| November 21, 2014 | Inmate Petition to Advance | The inmate's petition to advance his next parole suitability hearing date was approved |
| February 6, 2015 | Parole Suitability Hearing | Inmate voluntarily waived the right to a hearing for 1 year |
| March 9, 2016 | Parole Suitability Hearing | Inmate was denied parole for 7 years |
| December 2019 | Parole Suitability Hearing | Inmate was granted parole |
| April 2020 | Governor's Reversal | The inmate's grant of parole was reversed |
| June 2022 | Parole Suitability Hearing | Inmate was granted parole |
| November 2022 | Governor's Reversal | The inmate's grant of parole was reversed |
| November 7, 2024 | Parole Suitability Hearing | Inmate was denied parole for 3 years |
References
- "Mark "Gator" Rogowski, Skaterboarder: Jessica Bergsten's Killer"https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233818/http://sports.rightpundits.com/?p=5865
- "Legendary 80s skateboarder Mark 'Gator' Rogowski raped and murdered Jessica Bergsten - Shattered"https://www.monstersandcritics.com/true-crime/legendary-80s-skateboarder-mark-gator-rogowski-raped-and-murdered-jessica-bergstrom/
- "Cover Story: Mark "Gator" Rogowski"https://web.archive.org/web/20190302152534/http://www.thecommunitypaper.com/archive/2007/09_13/index.php
- S.I.C.; Skating In Chaos; Vol 1, No. 2http://archive.org/details/skating-in-chaos-vol-1-no-2-virginia-beach-va
- The San Diego Union-Tribunehttps://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-skateboarding-star-convicted-1991-murder-denied-pa-2011feb08-story.html
- "Thrasher Magazine - June 1984"https://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/magazine/june-1984/?tmpl=component
- "Transworld Skateboadring Magazine October 1987 Gator cover Gonz Vallely Miller | #1827717777"https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/transworld-skateboadring-magazine-1827717777
- The Village Voicehttps://web.archive.org/web/20231115162249/https://www.villagevoice.com/mark-gator-rogowski-free-fallin/
- The Washington Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20230306025118/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2003/sep/4/20030904-082330-4518r/
- Vicehttps://www.vice.com/en/article/never-v9n8/
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-14-ca-1818-story.html
- Tom Petty: Free Fallin'https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7549338/
- crime-in-sports.simplecast.comhttps://crime-in-sports.simplecast.com/episodes/188-killing-in-the-name-of-the-senselessness-of-mark-gator-rogowski-qHQV_U0e
- "Mark "Gator" Rogowski, Former Pro Skateboarder, Denied Parole for 1992 Calif. Murder-Rape"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mark-gator-rogowski-former-pro-skateboarder-denied-parole-for-1992-calif-murder-rape/
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-18-me-875-story.html
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-07-me-3382-story.html
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/21/movies/a-skateboard-king-who-fell-to-earth.html
- "Parole Denied For Local Skateboarding Legend"https://web.archive.org/web/20180915225711/https://www.10news.com/news/parole-denied-for-local-skateboarding-legend
- KTLAhttps://web.archive.org/web/20191224184952/https://ktla.com/2019/12/10/ex-skateboard-champion-could-get-parole-in-brutal-1991-rape-and-murder-in-san-diego-county/
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-27/parole-grant-reversed-for-gator-former-skateboard-superstar-convicted-for-1991-rape-murder/
- San Diego Union-Tribunehttps://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/story/2022-06-15/da-fighting-parole-granted-to-former-skateboard-star-convicted-of-1991-carlsbad-rape-murder
- "State of California Inmate Locator"https://apps.cdcr.ca.gov/ciris/details?cdcrNumber=H27508
- "Shattered | Watch Full Episodes & More!"https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/tv-shows/shattered/