Los Angeles, the City of Angels, lures millions with its sunshine and glamour. Yet beneath the surface lies a dark history marked by brutal crimes and infamous killers. With a massive population, L.A. has witnessed more than its fair share of vicious acts. Let’s explore the stories of some of L.A.’s most notorious murderers.
The 10 Most Vicious Killers in Los Angeles
10. The Lonely Hearts Killer
Harvey Glatman, the “Lonely Hearts Killer,” preyed on women in 1957 and 1958. Posing as a photographer, he lured aspiring models with promises of magazine gigs. Once they were in his studio apartment, he would tie them up, rape them, and kill them, often by strangulation. He then dumped their bodies in the desert.
His victims included Judy Ann Dull, Shirley Bridgeford, and Ruth Mercado. Glatman was caught after a police officer saw him struggling with Lorraine Vigil. He confessed and was executed in 1959. Some believe he was responsible for more murders outside of L.A. [1]
9. The Grim Sleeper
Lonnie David Franklin Jr., dubbed the “Grim Sleeper,” had a 14-year break between killings. Initially active from 1985 to 1988, he resurfaced in 2002.
He killed at least ten women, many of whom were young prostitutes. The police initially dismissed these deaths as “No Human Involved” (NHI) due to drug and prostitution links. Franklin offered his victims rides, sexually assaulted, and murdered them, disposing of their bodies in alleys and dumpsters. DNA evidence in 2010 led to his capture. Laura Moore, one of his victims, survived and helped the police. Franklin was convicted in 2016 but died in 2020 while awaiting execution. [2]
8. The Highway Killer
William Bonin, the “Freeway Killer,” terrorized Southern California in the late 1970s. He had a troubled childhood and was discharged from the Air Force for misconduct.
Starting in 1979, Bonin abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered young boys and men, often picking them up while they hitchhiked. He tortured and killed them in his van, dumping their bodies along freeways. Accomplices like Vernon Butts assisted in his crimes. Convicted of 14 murders, he was believed to be responsible for at least 21. Bonin was executed by lethal injection in 1996. [3]
7. The Hillside Strangler(s)
Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono Jr., cousins known as the “Hillside Stranglers,” terrorized Los Angeles between 1977 and 1978. They abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered young women, dumping their bodies in the hills.
Posing as off-duty police officers, they lured victims to isolated areas. The media attention grew after the deaths of five girls from middle-class neighborhoods. Bianchi’s arrest in Washington in 1979 led to the discovery of his connection to the L.A. murders. Bianchi confessed and implicated Buono. Buono received life imprisonment and died in 2002, while Bianchi remains in prison. [4]
6. The Trash Bag Killer
![The Horrific Crimes of Patrick Kearney aka “The Trash Bag Killer” [True Crime Documentary]](https://rankedfacts.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FP3KKG-dlQbY%2F0.jpg)
Patrick Kearney, the “Trash Bag Killer,” operated in Southern California from 1965 to 1977. He targeted young men and boys, often hitchhikers, sexually assaulting and murdering them.
He would shoot his victims in the head and dismember their bodies, disposing of the remains in trash bags along highways, earning his nickname. His youngest victim was only five years old. Arrested in 1977 after a failed abduction, Kearney confessed to 21 murders, suspected of committing up to 43. He received 21 life sentences without parole. [5]
5. The Skid Row Slasher
Vaughn Orrin Greenwood, the “Skid Row Slasher,” slashed the throats of at least eleven people in Hollywood in the mid-1970s. He targeted alcoholics, transients, and the homeless.
From 1974 to 1975, he killed at least eleven men, slashing their throats and inflicting severe wounds. Evidence suggested Greenwood drank his victims’ blood. Arrested for burglary in 1975 after attempting to break into Burt Reynolds’ home, police connected him to the “Slasher” case. In 1977, Greenwood was convicted of nine murders and sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 2020. [6]
4. The Scorecard Killer
Randy Kraft, the “Scorecard Killer,” operated in California from 1971 to 1983. He targeted young men, drugging, torturing, sexually assaulting, and killing them.
His nickname came from a list found in his possession, containing coded references to up to 67 victims. He was convicted of 16 murders. In 1983, a traffic stop led to the discovery of a body and incriminating evidence in his car. Sentenced to death in 1989, he remains on death row. [7]
5. The Night Stalker
Richard Ramirez, the “Night Stalker,” terrorized Southern California between 1984 and 1985. His crimes were characterized by randomness and brutality, breaking into homes at night, attacking men, women, and children.
He employed bludgeoning, stabbing, shooting, and sexual assault. He often left satanic symbols at crime scenes. Though convicted for thirteen kills, many experts believe there were more. Captured in 1985 after being recognized by residents, Ramirez was convicted of numerous charges and sentenced to death. He died on death row in 2013. [8]
2. The Golden State Killer
Joseph James DeAngelo, the “Golden State Killer,” committed a series of crimes in California from 1974 to 1986. He was a serial killer, rapist, and burglar who evaded capture for decades due to his police training.
Initially known as the “Visalia Ransacker,” he escalated to rapes and murders, becoming the “East Area Rapist” and the “Original Night Stalker.” His meticulous planning made him elusive. The use of genetic genealogy in 2018 led to his identification and arrest. In 2020, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty and received life imprisonment. [9]
1. The Manson Family
The Manson Family killings, orchestrated by Charles Manson, remain one of the most infamous crimes in L.A. In August 1969, Manson directed his followers to commit brutal murders.
On August 8, 1969, Manson’s followers killed Sharon Tate and several others at her home. The following night, they killed Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. The investigation led to the arrest and conviction of Manson and his followers. Manson’s death sentence was commuted to life in prison, where he died in 2017. [10]
Conclusion
Los Angeles, while known for its glamour, harbors a dark history of vicious killers. From the Lonely Hearts Killer to the Manson Family, these criminals left an indelible mark on the city. Their stories serve as a chilling reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of the City of Angels.
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