William Bonin

Bill Bonin's Feb. 4, 1980 mugshot

William Bonin

William George Bonin (January 8, 1947 – February 23, 1996) was an American serial killer known as the "Freeway Killer." He was convicted of the murders of at least 21 young men and boys in California between 1979 and 1980. Bonin's crimes were characterized by his method of luring victims into his van, torturing and sexually assaulting them, and then murdering them.

Early Life

Bonin was born on January 8, 1947, in Willimantic, Connecticut. He had a troubled childhood, marked by physical abuse and a difficult relationship with his father. Bonin dropped out of high school and joined the United States Air Force in 1965.

Criminal Activities

Bonin's criminal activities began in the late 1960s when he was stationed in Germany. He was convicted of sexually assaulting young boys and served time in a military prison. After his discharge from the Air Force, Bonin moved to California, where he continued his criminal behavior.

Between 1979 and 1980, Bonin, along with his accomplices, kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered at least 21 young men and boys. The victims, mostly hitchhikers, were subjected to horrific acts of violence before being killed. Bonin's killing spree came to an end in 1980 when he was arrested and eventually convicted of multiple murders.

Trial and Execution

Bonin was tried and convicted of 14 of the murders in 1982. He was sentenced to death and spent over a decade on death row at San Quentin State Prison. Bonin was executed by lethal injection on February 23, 1996.

Legacy

William Bonin's case remains one of the most notorious instances of serial killings in California history. His crimes sparked public outrage and led to changes in laws regarding parole for violent offenders. The "Freeway Killer" case continues to be studied by criminologists and psychologists to understand the motivations behind such heinous acts.