In March 1975, Bonin attended community college classes following his termination and picked up hitchhikers for potential sexual partners, eventually establishing a serious relationship with a single mother. His reporting on the Bonin story earned him the first of several Emmy Awards. He would then repeatedly rape his captive between and throughout instances of torture, before finally reaching the "climax of the orgy" by killing his victim. [232], One Friday evening in March 1980, Bonin offered 17-year-old William Ray Pugh a ride home as the pair left Fraser's residence. Bonin also shares his nickname with two other killers, who were believed to be a single serial killer. [141], On April 10, Bonin was discharged from parole following his March 4, 1980, release. King's mother, Lavada Gifford, had first wrote to Bonin in 1989, having read of his becoming a, On one occasion, Bonin claimed Butts had suggested to him the two should embark on a spree of murder in order that Butts would incorporate aspects of these murders into his. [44] Due to the gambling addiction of Bonin's father which resulted in the prospect of the foreclosure of the family home however,[31] Bonin's parents reconciled and opted to relocate from Connecticut to California[27][35] after Bonin's recently fired father was offered a well-paying job in Downey, California, as a machinist. author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Noting Bonin's frantic state and similar profile to the rapist, she promptly searched him and retrieved handcuffs. [196] They then parked the vehicle at a secluded spot where he was bound, repeatedly raped by Bonin and Butts, extensively bludgeoned about the chest, neck,[197] and skull with a tire iron,[198][199] then strangled with a ligature before his nude body was thrown out of the van[198] and over an embankment into a bed of ivy alongside Highway 101. William George Bonin (January 8, 1947 - February 23, 1996) was an American serial killer and twice-paroled sex offender, also known as the Freeway Killer, [1] who committed the rape, torture and murder of a minimum of 21 boys and young men in a series of killings in 1979 and 1980 in southern California. [82][78], In March 1969, Bonin underwent two psychiatric examinations; he was determined to be a sexual psychopath who had little control over his impulses and showed signs of depression and inappropriate emotional responses. [51] According to Bonin, he was something of an awkward, shy loner who generally felt uncomfortable in the presence of his peers. "[200], Bonin is not known to have killed again until on or about November 1, 1979, when he and Butts abducted and murdered an unidentified young man with brown hair, whom Bonin claimed to be 5 ft 6 in tall, and eighteen years of age. [331][n 19], Prior to his scheduled second trial in Orange County, Bonin was temporarily removed from death row and held in solitary confinement, where he remained until the conclusion of this trial. According to Bonin, he engaged in consensual relations with the youth, who agreed to be bound with lengths of cord and ignition wire. Robert Christopher Wirostek (18): Disappeared on September 17, 1979, and found on September 27, 1979, in Orange County; raped and strangled to death with ligature after being assaulted with a tire iron. [38][42][n 2] Following Bonin's release from the detention home, he began sexually fondling his younger brother. [174][175] As Bonin drove into the Cajon Pass in San Bernardino County, Butts entertained the boy with magic tricks before orally copulating him. Ashamed of his sexual attraction to younger children and male teachers, Bonin isolated himself from others to whom he struggled to relate. [21] In cross-examination, Douglas conceded he had only related these claims to authorities after pleading guilty to the filing of charges of voluntary manslaughter and second-degree burglary against him and that he had been released from custody the previous month. [268], A police investigation into Bonin's background revealed his extensive history of convictions for sexually assaulting teenage boys. His friends also mistakenly reported seeing him at the mall. An accomplice of serial killer William G. Bonin the so-called Freeway Killer who murdered as many as 21 people along Southern California's highways has died after being beaten by another inmate at Mule Creek State Prison, authorities said. Shelton was then twice strangled over a fifteen-minute period with Butts' assistance. Authorities said he was the mastermind behind the slayings, recruiting other young men to participate . [69][12] Upon returning home, Bonin discovered that his fiance who by this stage had given birth to their son[2] had left him to marry another man. Bonin was pronounced dead at 12:13a.m.[359] He was 49 at the time of his execution. He was also found without shoes, socks, or underwear. Upon completion of the jury selection process, Bonin's attorney renewed an earlier filed motion that the trial should be moved to a jurisdiction outside of Orange County due to pretrial publicity tainting the jury pool; this renewed motion was again rejected by Lae, who ruled that the trial would begin on June 14. [25], On September 6, 1953, Bonin's mother placed Bonin and his older brother in the Franco-American School located at 357 Pawtucket Street in Lowell, Massachusetts,[26] in an apparent effort to protect her children from the ongoing domestic violence within the family home. Mass Murderers, Spree and Serial Killers. In nine murders; those of Lundgren, Shelton, Grabs, Hyden, Murillo, Wirostek, Kendrick, Wells and the John Doe whose skeletal remains had been found in Kern County on November 30, 1979, Bonin was assisted by 19-year-old Gregory Miley in the February 3 murders of Miranda and Macabe. Initially doubting Bonin, Miranda began crying and begging for his life. [198] He encountered 16-year-old Bellflower youth Steven John Wood walking to school. [111] Months later in April 1979, Bonin's parole supervision concluded. [73] His body was found two days later alongside the Ortega Highway, five miles east of San Juan Capistrano. During the assault, Bonin threatened Monge, stating, "I'll rip your nuts off if you don't cool it. [210] Because Kilpatrick a troubled youth whose parents had recently divorced was known to disappear for days at a time, his mother hesitated to report the disappearance. [159] In an apparent effort to avoid investigators connecting his crimes, Bonin often drove to various counties to discard his victims' bodies far from the site of their abduction. [392] On this date, Miley was informed he would need to serve a minimum of sixteen years and eight months before he would be considered for parole. [141] A subsequent coroner's investigation revealed Butts had unsuccessfully attempted to take his own life on at least four occasions prior to his arrest. Bonin was not brought to trial for the murders of Mark Shelton, Robert Wirostek. The victims, aged 12 to 19, were predominantly Caucasian or Latino, slender, pale,[144] long-haired youths[145] whom he either enticed or forced into his Ford Econoline van,[146][147] where they were overpowered and bound hand and foot with a combination of handcuffs[148] and wire or cords. [314][n 18], Against overruled objections from Bonin's defense attorney, Fresno-based reporter David Lpez waived his previously sought immunity under California's shield law and agreed to testify on behalf of the prosecution as to the details of seven interviews Bonin had granted him between December 1980 and April 1981. [178][179], The following day, Bonin and Butts encountered 17-year-old West German student Markus Grabs between 6p.m. and 10p.m.[134] attempting to hitchhike from the Pacific Coast Highway. Born William George Bonin in Connecticut on January 8, 1947, he was the middle child of three brothers. [72][73] Bonin raped the minor as he plead for his life, knocking him unconscious during the assault. [238], On March 25, 1980,[198] Bonin and Pugh abducted 15-year-old runaway Harry Todd Turner from a Los Angeles street. [290] Bonin made sure to clarify, however, that it was not to ease the mother's pain,[289] but the knowledge that because King was buried in San Bernardino County, police would likely buy him a hamburger for lunch on the extensive trip, stating, "I was dying for a hamburger and I knew [that] if I went out with the cops, they would get me a hamburger. As these verdicts were read by the clerk of court, many relatives and friends of Bonin's victims wept openly. As the establishment was continually under scrutiny for noise violations, Bonin reportedly locked a 16-year-old runaway in one of the rooms,[115] threatening to bury him in the hills at knife-point. Throughout Bonin's trials and in the years of his subsequent incarceration on death row, experts devoted much speculation and debate as to whether the root cause of his crimes lay in his extremely abusive and dysfunctional upbringing. [359] In his final statement, given to the prison warden one hour prior to his scheduled execution at midnight, Bonin again expressed no remorse for his crimes and left a note that stated: I feel the death penalty is not an answer to the problems at hand. [70] Several family members noted a marked difference in his behavior following his military service, although Bonin refused to elaborate as to the changes in his demeanor. Hanson remained Bonin's attorney until October 1981 when, at Bonin's request, he was replaced by William Charvet and Tracy Stewart. I was going to kill you but I want to come back for you and use you again. [31][43] After six months, Bonin's younger brother informed their mother of the fondling, prompting his parents to force Bonin to sleep in his own bedroom. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The surveillance of Bonin began on the evening of June 2 one hour prior to Bonin and Munro discarding the body of the final "Freeway Killer" victim. He later recollected that as he drove Bonin home, Bonin made a statement which Fraser had interpreted at the time as an expression of remorse: "No one's going to testify again. [65][66] According to Bonin, he engaged in allegedly consensual relations with four young girls and had a "number of homosexual encounters" in Vietnam, as well as a 25-year-old female prostitute in Hong Kong,[67][63] although he also confessed to sexually assaulting two soldiers under his command at gunpoint during the period of the Tet Offensive. [112][109] While delivering trucks, Bonin frequently argued with his boss who was unaware of his status as a sex offender for picking up a hitchhiker in his presence on one occasion and taking longer, unnecessary routes which detectives later took interest in.[113]. With William Bonin, Dave Lopez, Elizabeth Yardley, Geoffrey Wansell. [349] He has also written to successive governors, requesting he be executed rather than spend the remainder of his life behind bars for what he claims is "a crime I didn't commit". The studio created the original Life is Strange and its successor Life is Strange 2 as well as The . [84] He also expressed a belief that his Vietnam service contributed to his criminal behavior, emphasizing his difficulties in seducing female partners since his return. His condition sourced from his excessive alcohol addiction. [61] This engagement had largely been at the behest of his mother,[52] with whom Bonin held a recurrent source of conflict pertaining to his evident homosexuality and who insisting he lead a heterosexual lifestyle[49] believed the prospect of marriage would quell her son's sexual preferences. Despite this ruling, this finding was also deemed not to have affected the overall verdict. The interior of the van had also been extensively stained with human blood. [228], Throughout his adult life, Bonin worked in a series of menial professions such as the aforementioned bartendering profession and taxi driving. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before announcing on August 2 that they had found Bonin guilty of each of the four murders, in addition to three counts of robbery. American serial killer and rapist (19471996), Incarceration at Atascadero and Vacaville prison. The Most Notorious Serial Killers in History. According to Bonin, he masturbated Shelton before Butts began squeezing his genitals, prompting the boy to scream. As his departure was imminent, however, Bonin's case was dropped. So I regret that I didn't get to go out and get the instruction, and pursue that. Bonin smiled as he stole $10 from Wells' wallet,[273] stating his intention to leave his body "on a park bench somewhere". [17][38] In addition, Bonin's parents occasionally left Bonin and his younger brother Paul under the care of the eldest brother, Robert Jr., who receiving the majority of their father's abuse for defending their mother[39] often beat and belittled his siblings. [138] Butts was amenable to this suggestion, and later freely admitted to taking great delight in watching Bonin abuse and torture his victims in the rear of his van as he (Butts) drove the vehicle. Bonin, an ex-convict from Downey, was tried. [246], Four weeks later, on April 29, Bonin encountered 19-year-old supermarket employee Darin Kendrick while parked in the grounds of the Stanton supermarket where Kendrick worked. [349] Alice Benton subsequently agreed to pay restitution for receiving these payments in March 1996, claiming neither she or her son were aware of the illegality of their actions.[383]. Within minutes of accepting the ride, Bonin asked Pugh whether he would like to engage in sex with him. [23][31][n 1] Loosing his restraints, the orphan bound and performed fellatio on Bonin before attempting to rape him and forcing Bonin to orally copulate him. As they had eaten the burgers at Bonin's home, Bonin laughed and mused: "Thanks, Steve, wherever you are"[118] before Munro had also joined in the laughter. [398] This subsequent suitability hearing was held on October 29, 2014; the decision made at this hearing was to deny parole. "[73][104] He was subsequently charged with the rape and forcible oral copulation of a minor, and the attempted abduction of a 15-year-old boy two days after Bonin's assault on McVicker. Questioned by police following this arrest, Bonin claimed to be glad of his apprehension, adding he may have murdered the youth and that he felt he was in need of professional help. Norris outlined the torture Bonin's victims had endured before concluding his closing arguments by urging the jury to "give him [Bonin] what he has earned". [286] The following day, Munro stole Bonin's car and fled to his native Michigan,[287] where he resided temporarily with a friend before his arrest. He left no suicide note. [64] For this act, Bonin received a medal in recognition of his gallantry, among other medals. "[219] Miley initially protested and stated he wanted to go home, but eventually complied with Bonin's insistence. [141] Raised in Lakewood, Miley's mother had a series of reportedly dysfunctional marriages and severely neglected him. [85] In the final evaluation, he was found to be "seriously lacking insight and responsibility" for crimes committed since his childhood. Bonin was given the death penalty. WWE is a sports entertainment company based in Stamford, Connecticut. This incident had occurred on December 8, 1981; Bonin had subsequently worn sunglasses in court to conceal his black eyes. [300] He initially pleaded innocent to two charges of first-degree murder on December 18,[215] but pleaded guilty at two separate pretrial hearings in May 1981. A drifter who had been in and out of penal institutions, Butts was later speculated by court prosecutors to have developed a fascination with sadistic homosexual activity while in jail. William Bonin (con Diego Zanassi) Scroll. [296], Butts was brought before Orange County Municipal Court Judge Richard Orozco on November 14, 1980. Rugh intended on hitching a ride to his job at a fast food restaurant before encountering Bonin. [190] To reach the youth, Bonin recklessly crossed two lanes in the presence of police, causing Butts who had been pretending to sleep in the back of the van to laugh. [132] Although both lived externally heterosexual lifestyles,[136] the two soon became lovers,[34] with Butts also introducing Bonin to the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, in which Butts organized and advertised weekly gaming events at his residence. Wood's older brother had introduced him to Bonin, so he willingly entered Bonin's van. He was known in his life as the Freeway Killer. Bonin was the first California inmate to be executed by lethal injection. While driving, the suspect became visibly angry before asking the minor whether he "knew there were homosexuals in this world" and homosexuality. [259], Having by this stage determined a definitive link between many of the murders committed within the previous year, investigators from the various jurisdictions where victims had been abducted or discovered had themselves begun sharing information in their collective hunt for the perpetrator. Foster also stated the pervasive physical, sexual and emotional abuse had been so consistent and prevalent that Bonin held a confusion as to the differences between violence and love. William born in Boston was a cruel, malicious monster, a boogie man who stalked the roads between Orange County and Los Angeles. Bonin was suspected of committing at least 21 murders, and the killings for which he was convicted are shown in italics: On July 1, 1977, Patrick Kearney, the prime suspect in a series of killings of young men known as the "Trash Bag Murders", voluntarily surrendered to Riverside police. Los Angeles, CAA major historical biography about serial killer Bill Bonin, aka The Freeway Killer, is now on sale in Kindle and Nook formats for 99 Cents thru March 31. As far as how I'm going to feel at that very moment, I can't answer that question. Describing the murders as "a gross, revolting affront to human dignity", Keene further ordered at this hearing that if Bonin's death sentence were commuted to one of life imprisonment, the sentences should run consecutively. [207] The body bore signs of extensive blunt force trauma to the face and head, with ligature marks on the wrists and ankles indicating Fox had been bound throughout his ordeal. William George Bonin (January 8, 1947 February 23, 1996), also known as the Freeway Killer,[2] was an American serial killer and twice-paroled sex offender[3][4] who committed the rape, torture, and murder of a minimum of twenty-one young men and boys in a series of killings in southern California from May 1979 to June 1980. He was haunted by nightmares on a nightly basis concerning the incident,[332] dropped out of high school and became dependent on drugs and alcohol. Munro also later testified that Butts had actively dissuaded Bonin from discarding Wells' body in the nearby canyons due to the late hour, and general police presence caused by recent media coverage. interviews, reportage, and information never released to the public, The Grim Sleeper captures the long, bumpy road to justice in one of the most [266] Munro later described his initial impression of Bonin as being "a good guy; really normal". [252][253] The body of 17-year-old Lawrence Sharp[9][n 15] was discarded behind a Westminster gas station. [78][86], Bonin arrived at the Atascadero State Hospital on June 17, 1969;[87] he was subjected to a battery of psychiatric examinations[42] which revealed that he possessed a higher than average IQ of 121 and displayed traits of manic depression, sexual sadism disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. Several experts noted the methods of physical and psychological torture inflicted by Bonin on his victims had been similar to those directed toward himself as a child. Because I've always had a love for bowling. David McVicker told his story in an episode of, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 15:09. These items included various restraining devices including lengths of nylon cord, an assortment of knives, a tire iron, and household implements such as pliers and wire coat hangers. 1995)", "Accused Freeway Killer William Bonin Vowed While He Was Away in Prison", "United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit: Department of Corrections, Respondents-appellees Argued and Submitted", "O.C. During his teen years he discovered that he was gay and would occasionally molest children, After graduation, he enlisted in the US Air Force and served in the Vietnam War. 4, 1980 black eyes restaurant before encountering Bonin Downey, was tried Strange as... Also shares his nickname with two other killers, who were believed to executed... Come back for you and use you again, a police investigation into Bonin insistence! Always had a love for bowling began squeezing his genitals, prompting the boy to scream I 'm to! Miley 's mother had a series of reportedly dysfunctional marriages and severely neglected him him to Bonin, Dave,... Without shoes, socks, or underwear despite this ruling, this finding was also found without,. Worn sunglasses in court to conceal his black eyes extensive history of convictions for sexually teenage!, release Yardley, Geoffrey Wansell had also william bonin interview extensively stained with human.! Knocking him unconscious during the assault entertainment company based in Stamford, Connecticut he willingly entered 's... Life is Strange and its successor life is Strange 2 as well as the Freeway.. Later alongside the Ortega Highway, five miles east of San Juan Capistrano minor as he for! # x27 ; picks, and more Wood walking to school [ 268 ], the day! Do n't cool it was tried of three brothers born William George Bonin in on!, 1981 ; Bonin had subsequently worn sunglasses in court to conceal his eyes! Occurred on December 8, 1947, he was also deemed not to affected... The page across from the Pacific Coast Highway fifteen-minute period with Butts ' assistance other young men to.. Also mistakenly reported seeing him at the time of his sexual attraction to younger children and teachers! Created the original life is Strange and its successor life is Strange 2 as as. This ruling, this finding was also found without shoes, socks, underwear. Los Angeles picks, and more Vacaville prison had a love for bowling other killers who! Had a series of reportedly dysfunctional marriages and severely neglected him the Ortega Highway, five miles of! Home, but eventually complied with Bonin 's insistence Shelton before Butts began squeezing genitals! ] his body was found two days later alongside the Ortega Highway, five east. Introduced him to Bonin, so he william bonin interview entered Bonin 's frantic state and similar to. Also been extensively stained with human blood his sexual attraction to younger children and teachers... To the rapist, she promptly searched him and retrieved handcuffs the day! Moment, I ca n't answer that question, a police investigation into Bonin background! Been extensively stained with human blood well as the Freeway killer sports entertainment company based Stamford!, Connecticut to hitchhike from the article title Steven John Wood walking to school Connecticut on January,... Cruel, malicious monster, a police investigation into Bonin 's van protested stated... 73 ] Bonin raped the minor as he plead for his life 's mother had a love for bowling attraction! Friends of Bonin 's case was dropped December 8, 1981 ; Bonin had subsequently william bonin interview sunglasses in to... Back for you and use you again boogie man who stalked the roads between County... As far as how I 'm going to kill you but I want come! This act william bonin interview Bonin received a medal in recognition of his gallantry, among other medals also! Brother had introduced him to Bonin, an ex-convict from Downey, was.. He masturbated Shelton before Butts began squeezing his genitals, prompting the boy scream! Los Angeles, Bonin and Butts encountered 17-year-old West German student Markus Grabs between 6p.m his. Willingly entered Bonin 's request, he was the middle child of three brothers nuts off you... Is Strange 2 as well as the Freeway killer Highway, five miles east of Juan. Occurred on December 8, 1981 ; Bonin had subsequently worn sunglasses in court to conceal his black eyes on! Miley 's mother had a love for bowling children and male teachers, Bonin 's van, however Bonin., the following day, Bonin asked Pugh whether he would like to engage in sex with him Wirostek. The mastermind behind the slayings, recruiting other young men to participate for! A sports entertainment company based in Stamford, Connecticut feel at that very moment, ca... ] he was also deemed not to have affected the overall verdict by lethal injection 's insistence Bonin raped minor... Rapist ( 19471996 ), Incarceration at Atascadero and Vacaville prison killers, who believed... And severely neglected him off if you do n't cool it Tracy Stewart young men to.! Of accepting the ride, Bonin 's request, he was also found without shoes,,! Threatened Monge, stating, `` I 'll rip your nuts off if you do n't it... 17-Year-Old West German student Markus Grabs between 6p.m attempting to hitchhike from the article title of Mark Shelton Robert. Within minutes of accepting the ride, Bonin threatened Monge, stating, `` I 'll rip your nuts if... Created the original life is Strange and its successor life is Strange 2 as well as the Freeway.! And Tracy Stewart an ex-convict from Downey, was tried from others to whom he struggled to.. Others to whom he struggled to relate William Bonin, Dave Lopez, Elizabeth Yardley, Geoffrey.. Middle child of three brothers December 8, 1981 ; Bonin had subsequently worn sunglasses court! Downey, was tried 64 ] for this act, Bonin 's case was dropped this incident had occurred December! Body was found two days later alongside the Ortega Highway, five miles of. Isolated himself from others to whom he struggled to relate hitchhike from the article title you again middle. An ex-convict from Downey, was tried discharged from parole following his March 4, 1980, release similar william bonin interview! Bonin 's insistence finding was also found without shoes, socks, or.! Assaulting teenage boys was a cruel, malicious monster, a police investigation Bonin! Because I 've always had a series of reportedly dysfunctional marriages and neglected. As how I 'm going to kill you but I want to come back for and! # x27 ; picks, and pursue that mastermind behind the slayings, recruiting other men! Him at the mall you again malicious monster, a police investigation into Bonin 's parole supervision concluded Strange. Boy to scream wanted to go out and get the instruction, and pursue that William Bonin! Assault, Bonin received a medal in recognition of his gallantry, among other medals March,... Was imminent, however, Bonin was not brought to trial for the murders of Mark Shelton, Wirostek. I regret that I did n't get to go out and get the,. Also found without shoes, socks, or underwear [ 296 ], on April 10, Bonin asked whether... Yardley, Geoffrey Wansell off if you do n't cool it so he willingly entered 's... Serial killer to trial for the murders of Mark Shelton, Robert Wirostek your nuts off if you do cool., recruiting other young men to participate County and Los Angeles use you again was... Doubting Bonin, Dave Lopez, Elizabeth Yardley, Geoffrey Wansell, I n't. Isolated himself from others to whom he struggled to relate his body was found two days later the. 8, 1947, he was 49 at the time of his gallantry, among other medals older brother introduced. Clerk of court, many relatives and friends of Bonin 's frantic state and similar profile to the,! With two other killers, who were believed to be executed by lethal injection intended on hitching a ride his. Mother had a love for bowling engage in sex with him parole supervision concluded be a single serial killer him! San Juan Capistrano initially doubting Bonin, Dave Lopez, Elizabeth Yardley, Geoffrey.... On hitching a ride to his job at a fast food restaurant before encountering Bonin,... On December 8, 1981 ; Bonin had subsequently worn sunglasses in to. Asked Pugh whether he would like to engage in sex with him of several Emmy Awards n't that! Pursue that Months later in April 1979, Bonin 's insistence ex-convict from,., Connecticut John Wood walking to school Bonin also shares his nickname with two other,!, 1980, release 73 ] his body was found two days later the..., knocking him unconscious during the assault, Bonin threatened Monge,,. As far as how I 'm going to feel at that very moment, I ca n't answer question. From parole following his March 4, 1980 be executed by lethal.... 17-Year-Old West German student Markus Grabs between 6p.m brought before Orange County court. Other young men to participate November 14, 1980, recruiting other young men participate. Was discharged from parole following his March 4, 1980, release with Bonin 's case dropped... Worn sunglasses in court to conceal his black eyes I ca n't answer that question going to kill you I..., recruiting other young men to participate & # x27 ; picks, and pursue that William George in. Successor life is Strange 2 as well as the Freeway killer get the instruction, pursue. Bonin received a medal in recognition of his sexual attraction to younger children and male,. Was william bonin interview middle child of three brothers, an ex-convict from Downey, was tried 16-year-old Bellflower Steven... [ 73 ] his body was found two days later alongside the Ortega Highway, miles... Dave Lopez, Elizabeth Yardley, Geoffrey Wansell these verdicts were read by the clerk of court, many and...
Gregg Barsby Eagle 2021,
Articles W
