California is often associated with picturesque sunsets and a laid-back atmosphere, attracting visitors seeking relaxation and the allure of potential stardom. However, beneath this surface lies a darker aspect. The state has been marked by the presence of infamous serial killers, etching a haunting chapter in American history.
While California’s reputation as a dreamy destination holds true, it has also witnessed the emergence of individuals who perpetrated heinous crimes. Serial killers in California have left their indelible mark as some of the most notorious, casting a shadow over its otherwise idyllic image. In this article, we will tell you about ten of the most notorious serial killers in California history.
Ed Kemper
Ed Kemper, infamously known as the Co-ed Killer, stands out as one of California’s most chilling serial killers. Towering at 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m) tall, his disturbing journey began when he murdered his paternal grandparents at the age of 15. Initially imprisoned, he skillfully convinced psychiatrists of his rehabilitation and non-threatening nature, leading to his release at a young age. Notably, his high intelligence was recognized, with an IQ test yielding a remarkable score of 145.
Kemper went on a killing spree from May 1972 to April 1973, killing eight women, including a 15-year-old high school student, his mother, and her best friend. He received the moniker, “The Co-ed Killer” due to his affinity for targetting female students who were hitchhiking and luring them to remote locations, where he murdered them with horrifying violence such as shooting, stabbing, smothering, or strangling. He carried the dead bodies to his home, severed off the heads, and then raped the corpses.
The Co-ed Butcher had a troubled relationship with his mother and showed no remorse. He waited for his mother to fall asleep and then slashed her head with a sledgehammer before eventually slitting her throat. Soon after he turned himself in, pleaded guilty during the trial, and asked for the death penalty by torture. However, he received a life sentence for eight counts of murder due to a halt on capital punishment by the Supreme Court of California.
Joseph James DeAngelo
Joseph James DeAngelo nicknamed The Golden State Killer is a serial killer, rapist, and burglar responsible for more than 13 murders, 51 rapes, and over 100 burglaries total. He was active in the state of California from March 1974 to May 1986.
During his crimes, he would enter victims’ homes and tie them using available materials before proceeding to rape and murdering them. Shockingly, even when victims had partners present, he would tie them up face down using shoelaces and other things to carry out his keep them helpless and bound while he carried on with his heinous acts.
The Golden State Killer also engaged in taunting and threatening behaviors, making obscene phone calls and potentially sending written messages to both his victims and law enforcement. For years, he managed to evade justice and his identity remained elusive, but in 2018, a possible suspect was identified. Joseph The suspect was James DeAngelo, a 72-year-old former police officer, and U.S. Navy veteran, who was charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder. He is currently imprisoned at Corcoran State Prison without the possibility of parole.
Richard Ramirez
Richard Ramirez, famously known as the Night Stalker, was a serial killer active in California between 1984 and 1985. Born in El Paso, Texas, he took the lives of at least 13 people while subjecting many of them to severe beatings and sexual assaults. Infamous for his chilling modus operandi, Ramirez employed a diverse array of weapons and murder methods, often leaving behind Satanic symbols at his crime scenes.
Ramirez’s second confirmed murder solidified his modus operandi of forcibly entering residences, carrying out exceptionally brutal killings, and often looting from his victims either prior to or following the murders. This criminal behavior primarily served to fuel his cocaine addiction and cover his living expenses. In one instance, in 1985, he ruthlessly bludgeoned a widowed grandmother with a lamp before resorting to a knife taken from her own kitchen, repeatedly stabbing her in a horrific act of violence.
The Night Stalker was finally apprehended by law enforcement on August 30, 1985. During his first court appearance, Ramirez raised his hand with a pentagram drawn on it, and exclaimed loudly, “Hail Satan!” He was convicted of 12 counts of first-degree murder, 14 counts of burglary, and 11 counts of rape on September 20, 1989. The night stalker ultimately met his demise in prison in 2013, while awaiting execution.
Herbert Mullin
Herbert Mullin, born on April 18, 1947, started off as an ordinary young man. However, his life took a dark turn, leading him down a path of schizophrenia and becoming a prolific serial killer. He developed obsessions with reincarnation, religion, and impending natural disasters, even creating a shrine to his deceased friend in his bedroom. Substance abuse, particularly large doses of LSD, worsened his deteriorating mental state. Throughout his incarceration and subsequent trial, Mullin claimed that his killings prevented a catastrophic earthquake and that voices, including his father’s, commanded him to commit the murders.
Mullin’s identity seemed to constantly shift as he adopted various personas, including a yoga disciple, amateur boxer, hippie, and even a sombrero-wearing Mexican. However, none of these fleeting identities provided the peace of mind he sought. Instead, he turned to murder, starting his killing spree in October 1972 near Felton, California. Mullin’s victims included a homeless man, a young hitchhiker named Mary Guilfoyle, Father Henri Tomsi of a Los Gatos Catholic Church, as well as acquaintances Jim Gianera, his wife, Kathy Francis, and her two sons. Four teenage boys he encountered at a state park also fell victim to his gunfire.
On February 13, Mullin fatally shot Fred Perez while he worked on his driveway, leading to his arrest. His writings revealed his twisted theories, and during the trial, he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Mullin even took the stand, espousing conspiracy theories and proclaiming himself the designated leader of his generation due to a connection with Einstein’s death. Despite the chaotic and deranged nature of Mullin’s defense, the jury found him sane and guilty of ten murders in August 1973. Herbert Mullin passed away at the age of 75 due to natural causes on August 18, 2022.
The Zodiac Killer
The Zodiac Killer is an infamous serial killer who terrorized America during the 1960s and 1970s. His heinous crimes took place in the vicinity of San Francisco, where he targeted and murdered at least five individuals, often couples, in remote locations. Cheri Jo Bates was his first known victim, and he left behind a chilling confession with a warning message.
The Zodiac Killer gained significant attention due to his peculiar relationship with the media. Shortly after committing his initial murder, he began sending encrypted messages to various newspapers, taunting the police. His signature was a distinctive circle with a plus sign, representing his symbol. One of his notorious communications included a cipher that read, “This is the Zodiac speaking. By the way, have you cracked the last cipher I sent you? My name is…” It was followed by a sequence of 13 symbols intended to conceal his identity. Despite extensive efforts, the code remains unsolved to this day.
The case of the Zodiac Killer remains an open investigation, with numerous individuals coming forward as potential suspects over the years. However, no conclusive evidence has emerged to confirm the true identity of the Zodiac Killer. Notable suspects include Arthur Leigh Allen, whose handwriting sample did not match the killer’s, and more recently, Earl Van Best, Jr., who was accused by his son in a revealing book titled “The Most Dangerous Animal of All.
The Scorecard Killer
Randy Kraft, also known as the Scorecard Killer and the Southern California Strangler perpetrated a horrifying series of crimes from 1972 to 1983, involving the rape, torture, and murder of at least sixteen young men. He is also suspected to have killed and raped 51 more young men.
Kraft picked up young men, got them drunk, and interrogated his victims before eventually killing them. He earned the chilling moniker of the “Scorecard Killer” due to a disturbing revelation made upon his arrest. Investigators uncovered a coded list known as the “scorecard,” containing 61 entries. This sinister scorecard featured cryptic references that hinted at the identities of his victims.
This Scorecard killer was finally arrested in 1983 when two California Highway Patrol officers suspected he was driving while drunk after he made an illegal lane change. To their horror, they discovered the lifeless body of a 25-year-old marine who had been strangled to death inside Kraft’s vehicle. Further investigations brought the rest of his murders to light, following which he was convicted of murder, mutilation, and sodomy. Currently, Randy Kraft resides at San Quentin State Prison in California, awaiting execution.
The Doodler
The Doodler remains an enigmatic figure, an unidentified serial killer from California thought to be responsible for 6 to 16 murders within San Francisco’s gay community from January 1974 to September 1975. His distinctive nickname, “The Doodler,” stems from his peculiar habit of sketching his victims before perpetrating his heinous acts.
The first victim, Geral Cavanaugh, was tragically discovered at Ocean Beach, San Francisco, bearing multiple stab wounds that caused immense suffering. Shortly after, Joseph “Jay” Stevens, a “female impersonator,” met a similar fate, succumbing to wounds inflicted by this elusive killer. It is believed that they crossed paths at a gay club, where The Doodler sought out his victims.
Despite extensive investigations, the true identity of The Doodler has remained shrouded in mystery. Descriptions of the suspect suggest a Black man, aged between 19 and 25, standing approximately six feet tall with a slender physique. In a renewed effort to crack the cold case, authorities released additional evidence, a fresh police sketch, and an audio recording in February 2019, aiming to prompt new leads and potential breakthroughs in the investigation.
Stockton Killer
Wesley Brownlee, known as the Stockton serial killer is the most recent addition to the list of serial killers in California. His first known victim was Juan Miguel Vazquez Serrano, shot and killed in East Oakland in April 2021. After a gap of more than a year, he went on to kill six and injure one more person in 2022.
The investigators failed to identify the motive as none of his victims were robbed or beaten before they were killed. In October 2022, authorities apprehended 43-year-old Wesley Brownlee while he was actively seeking his next victim. During his arrest, a handgun was discovered in Brownlee’s vehicle, further implicating him in the series of murders.
Lawrence Bitttaker
Lawrence Bittaker, alongside his accomplice Norris, instilled fear throughout the Los Angeles area of California during a six-month killing spree in 1979, claiming the lives of five young women. Their connection began while serving time in prison, where their shared interest in sadism forged a bond. The duo earned the chilling moniker of the “Tool Box Killers” due to their choice of weapons during their horrifying crimes. They relied on a range of tools typically found in a household toolbox, including pliers, ice picks, and sledgehammers, to inflict torture and carry out the murders of their victims.
Bittaker’s sinister strategy involved luring unsuspecting young women into his van, where he and Norris would employ a range of tools from their infamous “toolbox” to carry out their heinous acts. The duo even recorded audio tapes of their abhorrent actions, which, when played during their trial, elicited such disgust that some individuals became physically ill. Presently, Bittaker remains imprisoned on California’s death row, where he is infamously known as “Pliers,” reflecting the sadistic nature of his crimes.
Chester Turner
Chester Dewayne Turner is a convicted African-American serial killer notorious for his heinous crimes in Los Angeles, California. Turner was linked to a total of 13 murders between 1987 and 1998 through DNA evidence., including two that resulted in the death of unborn children
Before his conviction for the murders, he had already been sentenced to eight years in a California state prison for sexually assaulting a 47-year-old woman. Astonishingly, his DNA sample matched two additional victims of unsolved murders which prompted the police to look further into his background. Following this, nine previously unsolved murders were matched to Turner using DNA evidence.
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