Post by Melissa Foxworthy on Dec 9, 2015 16:15:53 GMT -5
Born in Connecticut on January 8, 1947, Bonin was the middle child of three brothers. He grew up in a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic father and a grandfather who was a convicted child molester. Early on he was a troubled kid, and ran away from home when he was eight years old.
He was later sent to a juvenile detention center for various small crimes, where he allegedly was sexually molested by older teens. After leaving the center he began molesting children.
After high school, Bonin joined the U.S. Air Force and served in the Vietnam War as a gunner. When he returned home, he married, divorced and moved to California.
He was first arrested at age 22 for sexually assaulting young boys and spent five years in jail. After his release he molested a 14-year-old boy and was returned to prison for an additional four years. Vowing never to get caught again, he began killing his young victims.
From 1979 until his arrest in June 1980, Bonin, along with his accomplices, went on a raping, torturing and killing spree, often cruising California highways and streets for young male hitchhikers and school children.
After his arrest, he confessed to killing 21 young boys and young men. Police suspected him in additional 15 other murders.
Charged with 14 of the 21 killings, Bonin was found guilty and sentenced to death.
On February 23, 1996 Bonin was executed by lethal injection, making him the first person to be executed by lethal injection in California history.
Freeway Killer Victims
Thomas Lundgren, age 14, murdered on May 28, 1979. Accomplices Vernon Butts and William Pugh
Mark Shelton, age 17, murdered on August 4, 1979
Marcus Grabs, age 17, murdered on August 5, 1979. Accomplice Vernon Butts
Donald Hayden, age 15, murdered on August 27, 1979. Accomplice Vernon Butts
David Murillo, age 17, murdered on September 9, 1979. Accomplice Vernon Butts
Robert Wirostek, age 16, murdered on September 27, 1979
John Doe, age 14-20, murdered on November 30, 1979
Dennis Frank Fox, age 17, murdered on December 2, 1979. Accomplice James Munro
John Doe, age 15-20, murdered on December 13, 1979
Michael McDonald, age 16, murdered on January 1, 1980
Charles Miranda, age 14, murdered on February 3, 1980. Accomplice Gregory Miley
James McCabe, age 12, murdered on February 3, 1980. Accomplice Gregory Miley
Ronald Gaitlin, age 18, murdered on March 14, 1980
Harry Todd Turner, age 15, murdered on March 20, 1980. Accomplice William Pugh
Glen Barker, age 14, murdered on March 21, 1980
Russell Rugh, age 15, murdered on March 22, 1980
Steven Wood, age 16, murdered on April 10, 1980
Lawrence Sharp, age 18, murdered on April 10, 1980
Darin Lee Kendrick, age 19, murdered on April 29, 1980. Accomplice Vernon Butts
Sean King, age 14, murdered on May 19, 1980. Confessed accomplice William Pugh
Steven Wells, age 18, murdered on June 2, 1980. Accomplices Vernon Butts and James Munro
Vernon Butts was 22 years old and a factory worker and part-time magician when he met Bonin and began participating in raping and murdering at least six boys. He hung himself while awaiting trial.
Gregory Miley was 19 years old when he got involved with Bonin. He plead guilty to participating in one murder for which he received a sentence of 25 years to life. He is currently in prison.
James Munro - Bonin was his boss and landlord when he participated in the murders of two boys. In a plea bargain, he plead guilty to one murder and received a sentence of 15 years to life. He is still in prison, but trying to appeal claiming he was tricked into a plea bargain.
William (Billy) Pugh was the most active accomplice who was charged with one murder, although he confessed to killing two victims. He received six years for voluntary manslaughter in a plea bargain.
After William Bonin's arrest, he confessed to killing 21 young boys and young men. Police suspected him in additional 15 other murders.
Charged with 14 of the 21 killings, Bonin was found guilty and sentenced to death.
On February 23, 1996 Bonin was executed by lethal injection, making him the first person to be executed by lethal injection in California history.
During Bonin's murder spree, there was another active serial killer by the name of Patrick Kearney, using the California freeways as his hunting ground.