| Edmund Kemper III |
| Birthdate: December 18, 1948 Birth Name: Edmund Emil Kemper III Nickname: The Coed Killer At the age of 15 Kemper's abusive mother was married again, and thinking he would be in her way sent him to live with his grandparents. Kemper was always searching for his mom's love and it always turned up short. While staying with his grandparent the night of his mother's honeymoon, he murdered his grandparents. After it was all done he picked up the phone and called his mother and told her what he had done. He said he wanted to go home. He was arrested for the murder of his grandparents and convicted at 16. Kemper was sent to Atascadero Hospital to undergo psychiatric evaluations. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia, although many believed him to be a sociopath. Once Kemper reached the age of 21, his mother believed he should be released. Without any concern about the warning from the hospital staff, the court released him to his mother. By 1972 body parts began washing up on the coastline of Santa Cruz. Remains believed to be those of female hitchhikers that have gone missing. By February 5 1973, 6 women have been reported missing. Then on February 14 1973, police believe they have had a break in their case. A man named Herbert Mullin is arrested for the murder of 13 people, police also believe he is responsible for the coed killings. But soon they realize the horrible truth, when remains keep washing up. They had 2 serial killers in Santa Cruz, one now behind bars, but the other still roaming the streets looking for his next victim. In interviews Kemper confesses that he learned in his stay at the hospital, not leave any witnesses, or evidence. At this point the police had nothing. Kemper planned out his abductions and murders carefully. He would practice his crime by picking up hitchhikers. Each time going farther with his plan of murder. When he was ready he would pick up another hitchhiker. Once in the car he would drop a chap stick in the door, making a deathtrap of his car. He would beat them, shoot them then dismember them and throw their remains in the ocean. Kemper believed he was not good enough to go out with any of the women he murdered. He has even said that he thought of raping them, but he couldn't leave any evidence or leave them alive. Meanwhile police have not been able to connect the murders with Kemper, nor have they been able to identify the remains. Except for one, in which case they had a finger and were able to identify it through fingerprinting as Cynthia Shaw. Edmund Kemper said he didn't understand why women would continue to hitchhike despite police warnings, but they did so he kept picking them up. Police also warned women only to get into cars that had a University sticker on it, just like the one Kemper's mom brought home for him to put on his car. As time passed Kemper said it became easier. Kemper was known to even go out for drinks with police at a bar called The Jury Room. Police officers who knew him nicknamed him "The Gentle Giant". On April 14 1973 Kemper began his plan of killing his mother. It would take him a few days, but then on April 21 1973, Kemper came home to his moms' belittling so he struck repeatedly with a hammer. He then cut off her head set on a table, and "humiliated her corpse". Kemper then invited his mother's friend over under the impression that they were all going to go the movies, but when she stepped into the home he murdered her too. Desperate Kemper then stole her car and drove to Reno. His plan was originally to kill as many people as possible. But Kemper did not enjoy killing, and wanted it to be over. His murders were primarily caused because of his hatred towards his mother. In Reno he picks up a rental car and continues to drive to Colorado. While in Colorado he decides to turn himself in, and call the Santa Cruz police Department. He calls them collect and they refuse the call. Then he attempts again this time tells them he has killed his mother and her friend. They try to get authorities to bring Kemper back to Santa Cruz but do not succeed. So they meet up with Kemper in Colorado and drive him back to Santa Cruz, in his rental car. On the way back they decide to start taping his confession. He finally gives the remains that have been recovered names. And also gives some locations of where they might find some more remains. As they drive back to Santa Cruz, Kemper explains in explicit detail his murders. By the time of Kemper's arrest he had killed 10 people. Kemper's killing supposedly was caused by his frustrations towards his mother, so people wonder if he would have killed his mother first would anyone else have been killed by him? Edmund Kemper was convicted of 8 counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He has since come up for parole, and each time each he has, he says he is not ready to be released. Some believe that this might be his plan in becoming free. One day he might say he is ready, but will they believe and release him? |