Edmund Kemper, an infamous American serial killer, shocked the world with his gruesome murders in the 1970s. Known as the “Co-ed Killer,” Kemper’s violent spree claimed the lives of six young women in Santa Cruz, California, along with several members of his own family. This article delves into the chilling life of Edmund Kemper, exploring the events that led to his heinous crimes.
Who Was Edmund Kemper?
Edmund Kemper’s path to infamy began early in life. At just 15 years old, he committed his first murders, killing both of his grandparents. This shocking act was a precursor to the horrifying crimes he would later commit in the Santa Cruz area. After his release from juvenile detention, Kemper initially picked up female hitchhikers and released them unharmed. However, his violent tendencies soon escalated, resulting in the brutal deaths of six young women during the early 1970s. Kemper’s killing spree culminated in the murder of his own mother and her friend in 1973, after which he turned himself in to the authorities.
Early Life of Edmund Kemper
Edmund Kemper was born on December 18, 1948, in Burbank, California. As the middle child of E. E. and Clarnell Kemper, he experienced a tumultuous childhood. Following his parents’ divorce in 1957, Kemper moved with his mother and two sisters to Montana. His relationship with his mother was fraught with tension, as she was highly critical of him and struggled with alcoholism. Kemper later attributed many of his issues to his mother’s harsh treatment, which included forcing him to live in the basement, isolated from his sisters.
Signs of Kemper’s troubled psyche emerged early in his life. He developed a disturbing fantasy life, which often involved thoughts of violence, particularly against his mother. As a child, he exhibited cruel behavior towards animals, including burying one cat alive and killing another with a knife. Kemper’s unsettling behavior only escalated with time, leading his mother to send him to live with his paternal grandparents in North Fork, California.
The Murders of Kemper’s Grandparents
Kemper’s time on his grandparents’ farm in North Fork proved to be a turning point. Already familiar with firearms, the 15-year-old’s violent tendencies came to a head on August 27, 1964. After an argument, Kemper shot and killed his grandmother in the kitchen. When his grandfather returned home, Kemper shot him as well, hiding the body afterward. He later confessed that he killed his grandmother “to see what it felt like” and murdered his grandfather to spare him the grief of discovering his wife’s death.
Following these murders, Kemper was turned over to the California Youth Authority. Psychological evaluations revealed that he had a high IQ but also suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. He was subsequently sent to Atascadero State Hospital, a maximum-security facility for mentally ill offenders.
Kemper’s Release and the Descent into Madness
In 1969, at the age of 21, Kemper was released from the hospital. Despite recommendations from his doctors to avoid living with his mother, due to their volatile relationship, Kemper returned to Santa Cruz, California, to live with her. His mother had taken a job at the University of California after her third marriage ended, and Kemper attempted to reintegrate into society by attending community college and working various jobs.
Despite these efforts, Kemper’s dark urges persisted. He applied to become a state trooper but was rejected due to his towering height of 6 feet 9 inches and his weight of around 300 pounds. This rejection led to his nickname “Big Ed.” Despite not being accepted into the force, Kemper managed to ingratiate himself with local police officers, who provided him with a training-school badge, handcuffs, and even allowed him to borrow a gun. His fascination with law enforcement, coupled with his access to these tools, would soon play a role in his deadly crimes.
The Beginning of the ‘Co-ed Killer’ Murders
In 1971, after sustaining a serious injury in a motorcycle accident, Kemper received a settlement of $15,000. With this money, he purchased a car, which he equipped with various tools to facilitate his murderous desires, including a gun, a knife, and handcuffs.
Kemper’s murderous spree began when he picked up two female hitchhikers, Mary Ann Pesce and Anita Luchessa. These young women never reached their destination, becoming the first victims of the “Co-ed Killer.” Kemper would later describe how he stabbed and strangled Pesce before similarly murdering Luchessa. He then took their bodies back to his apartment, where he dismembered them, keeping their heads and hands as gruesome trophies. His crimes escalated from this point, with each murder becoming more brutal and macabre.
Escalation of the Murders
Later in 1972, Kemper picked up 15-year-old Aiko Koo, who had been hitchhiking to a dance class. She, too, met a grisly fate at Kemper’s hands. By January 1973, Kemper’s killing spree had claimed another victim, hitchhiker Cindy Schall. After killing her, Kemper hid her body in his mother’s home and dismembered it the following day, discarding parts of her remains in the ocean and burying her head in his mother’s backyard.
Kemper’s murderous impulses continued unabated. In February 1973, using a campus parking sticker provided by his mother, Kemper lured two university students, Rosalind Thorpe and Alice Liu, into his car. He shot them shortly after they entered the vehicle, driving past campus security with their mortally wounded bodies inside. After killing them, Kemper decapitated the victims, dismembered their bodies, and disposed of the remains in various locations.
Santa Cruz: The ‘Murder Capital of the World’
During the time of Kemper’s murders, Santa Cruz was plagued by the violent acts of two other serial killers, John Linley Frazier and Herbert Mullins. This led to the city being dubbed the “Murder Capital of the World” by the press. Kemper, known as the “Co-ed Killer” or “Co-ed Butcher,” became one of the most notorious figures in this tragic period of the city’s history.
The Final Murders: Killing His Mother
Kemper’s final act of violence was directed at the person he despised the most—his mother. On Good Friday in April 1973, following a heated argument, Kemper waited until his mother went to sleep before attacking her. He struck her in the head with a hammer, then slit her throat. After killing her, Kemper decapitated her and removed her hands, even going so far as to remove her larynx and dispose of it in the garbage disposal.
Following the murder of his mother, Kemper invited her friend, Sally Hallett, over to the house and strangled her upon her arrival. He then fled the scene, driving to Pueblo, Colorado, where he eventually turned himself in to the police. The authorities initially found it hard to believe that “Big Ed,” whom they had come to know, was responsible for the heinous crimes he described. However, Kemper’s detailed confessions led them to the evidence they needed to confirm his identity as the “Co-ed Killer.”
Trial and Imprisonment
In October 1973, Edmund Kemper was charged with eight counts of first-degree murder. He was found guilty on all charges the following month. When asked what punishment he believed he deserved, Kemper chillingly suggested that he should be tortured to death. Instead, he was sentenced to eight concurrent life sentences. Today, Kemper remains incarcerated at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, serving out his life sentences.
Conclusion
Edmund Kemper’s story is one of deep psychological trauma and extreme violence. From his troubled childhood to his horrific crimes, Kemper’s life serves as a grim reminder of the potential for evil that can reside within an individual. His legacy as the “Co-ed Killer” continues to haunt the annals of criminal history, serving as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked mental illness and violent tendencies.
FAQs
What motivated Edmund Kemper to kill?
Edmund Kemper’s motivations stemmed from deep psychological issues, particularly his troubled relationship with his mother. His violent tendencies were further exacerbated by feelings of rejection, anger, and a desire for control.
How did Edmund Kemper’s early life influence his later actions?
Kemper’s early life was marked by emotional abuse and isolation, particularly at the hands of his mother. These experiences fueled his resentment and contributed to his development of violent fantasies and actions.
Why is Edmund Kemper known as the ‘Co-ed Killer’?
Kemper earned the nickname “Co-ed Killer” because many of his victims were young female college students who were hitchhiking in the Santa Cruz area during the early 1970s.
How did Kemper evade capture for so long?
Kemper was able to evade capture due to his ability to blend into society and his close relationships with local law enforcement. His size and demeanor also made it difficult for others to suspect him of such heinous crimes.