In the 1970s, California was a beacon of freedom and opportunity, its endless highways symbolizing adventure and escape. Yet, beneath this bright surface lurked a sinister undercurrent that turned these very roads into hunting grounds for some of the most notorious serial killers of the time. Southern California, in particular, became infamous for its "Freeway Killers," whose victims were predominantly young men—many of them hitchhikers or men leaving bars, disappearing into the night, never to return.
An Unseen Threat
Innocent and often anonymous, these victims were easy prey for predators prowling the highways. As bodies started to appear at an alarming rate, a chilling reality emerged: California’s freeways, symbols of movement and progress, were also silent witnesses to unimaginable horrors. The fragmented nature of law enforcement and limited media coverage meant that it took years to connect the dots. Initially, many of the victims were dismissed as runaways or misjudged due to societal stigma, particularly against the LGBTQ+ community. Yet, the grim truth would soon surface.
The Notorious Killers: Kearney, Bonin, and Kraft
Patrick Kearney, known as the Trash Bag Killer, was one such predator. His victims were often hitchhikers or young men he picked up along the highway, lured in by his friendly demeanor before being subjected to horrific violence. Kearney’s reign of terror was coldly calculated, his victims discarded like trash. When he was finally apprehended, the grisly truth of his crimes shocked the state.
William Bonin, dubbed the Freeway Killer, left a trail of death in his wake. His victims were young, vulnerable men who were brutally tortured and murdered, often with the help of accomplices. Bonin’s lack of remorse, as detailed in chilling testimonies from those who assisted him, highlighted the depths of his depravity. His arrest and trial in the early 1980s brought an end to his killing spree, but not before leaving a devastating impact on the families and communities involved.
While Kearney and Bonin were taken off the streets, the killings didn’t stop. Randy Kraft, another Freeway Killer, continued the spree into the 1980s. Kraft’s crimes were even more twisted—his victims often endured prolonged torture, and investigators found a disturbing “scorecard” cataloging his murders. Though he was eventually linked to at least 16 deaths, experts suspect that Kraft may have killed as many as 67 young men.
A Haunting Discovery
On August 29th, 1979, at a Union 76 gas station in Long Beach, authorities made a gruesome discovery that sent shockwaves through the state. The dismembered remains of 24-year-old English tourist Keith Anthony Jackson were found discarded in the trash. The scene was reminiscent of Kearney’s methods, but with Kearney already behind bars, investigators feared they were dealing with a copycat or perhaps an entirely new killer. This discovery was only the beginning of a series of horrors that would haunt California's highways for years to come.
The Highway Killer: Larry Eyler
While California grappled with its own serial predators, another killer, Larry Eyler, began his reign of terror across the Midwest. Known as the Highway Killer, Eyler targeted young men, often picking up hitchhikers before brutally murdering them. Eyler’s abusive upbringing and deeply troubled psyche fueled his spree, which lasted from the early 1980s until his arrest in 1984. His methods were brutal, and like his California counterparts, Eyler showed no remorse for the lives he destroyed.
Turning Points and Revelations
The arrests of Kearney, Bonin, and Kraft marked key turning points in California’s battle against its freeway predators. Their trials brought to light the complex and often disturbing dynamics between predators and their victims, revealing cycles of abuse, psychological trauma, and indifference to human life. The investigation into these killers also highlighted serious flaws in law enforcement at the time. Poor communication between jurisdictions and a lack of coordinated efforts allowed many killers to operate for years without being caught.
The tragic toll of these killers led to significant reforms in the way violent crimes were investigated. The FBI’s establishment of the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP) in 1985 revolutionized how law enforcement agencies shared information, making it easier to track and capture serial offenders who crossed state lines.
The Grim Legacy
The legacy of California’s Freeway Killers is a haunting reminder of the dangers that lurked along the state’s highways during the 1970s and 1980s. Although justice was served—Kearney, Bonin, and Kraft were all incarcerated, with Kraft still on death row—the pain and suffering they inflicted will never be erased. The victims’ families and communities are forever scarred by the horrific acts committed during this dark chapter of California's history.
As we reflect on these tragedies, we are reminded of the countless unnamed victims who may still lie undiscovered and the predators who, even now, may remain at large. California’s highways, once symbols of opportunity and freedom, became the backdrop for some of the most chilling crimes in American history. The story of the Freeway Killers serves as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the resilience of those left behind.
In the end, the fight for justice continues. Modern advancements in forensic science and law enforcement collaboration offer hope that future killers will be caught before they can inflict the same level of terror. But the shadows of the past still linger, a reminder that danger can lurk in the most unexpected places.