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Caleb Lawrence McGillvary (born September 3, 1988), also known as Kai, is a Canadian man who first became known from the internet viral video "Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker", which featured him recounting a crime he witnessed while hitchhiking. McGillvary subsequently received national attention in the press.
The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker: Directed by Colette Camden. With Kai Lawrence, Jessob Reisbeck, Terry Woods, Brad Mulcahy. This shocking documentary chronicles a happy-go-lucky nomad's ascent to viral stardom and the steep downward spiral that resulted in his imprisonment.
- (13K)
- Documentary, Crime
- Colette Camden
- 2023-01-10
Jan 10, 2023 · On Tuesday, Netflix released a new true crime documentary, The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker. The film, directed by Colette Camden, tells the story of a troubled Canadian hitchhiker who got...
- Laura Barcella
The true story of Caleb "Kai" McGillvary, an unhoused nomad who, after saving a woman from a violent attack, became an overnight celebrity sought after by reality TV producers and adoring...
- (14)
- Colette Camden
- TV-MA
- Documentary, Crime
- “Kai” Isn’T His Real Name
- How Kai Became “The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker”
- Kai’s Instant Celebrity Came with A Dark Side
- The Internet remained Crazy For Kai
- A Shocking Murder Charge
- Kai Is Found Guilty
- Kai’s Family Speaks Out
The documentary focuses on a man who identified as “Kai” when he shot to viral fame in 2013, but his birth name is Caleb Lawrence McGillivary and he spent the early years of his life growing up in Edmonton. Family members in the documentary reveal that no one called him Kai as a kid and it wasn’t until he moved away from Canada to become a nomad ar...
Kai became an overnight folk hero in February of 2013, after he was credited with saving lives when a man he had hitched a ride with pinned a utility worker against a pole with his vehicle and allegedly attacked a woman who tried to help the suffering worker. To hear it in Kai’s words, which were caught on video by local news reporter Jessob Reisbe...
People immediately wanted a piece of Kai, but it took some sleuthing to find him. Because of his nomadic, carefree and no-fixed-address lifestyle, Kai was not easy to pin down. Reisbeck eventually connected with Kai for a followup interview and learned that he was a pretty talented musician. Once Kai was back on the map, TV producers began to offer...
Despite those who were closest to Kai having trepidations about his unpredictable behaviour and attitude, the internet remained fascinated by him, rooting for the loveable, catchphrase-ready nomad. His long, untamed hair made him easy to spot and he was regularly solicited by fans for selfies and to appear in their videos — for which he often negot...
Just three months after his star rose, it quickly came crashing down. In May 2013, Kai travelled to New York and soon after arriving was arrested for the murderof 73-year-old lawyer Joseph Galfy. Galfy was found dead at his home in New Jersey, his head was bashed in and he was wearing only his socks and underwear. During the investigation, police f...
After waiting six years in jail for the trial, Kai was found guilty of first-degree murderin April 2019. During the proceedings, he was combative during cross-examination and the judge called him “a powder keg of explosive rage.” Kai was sentenced to 57 years in jail, with the judge telling the then-30-year-old: “When you become eligible for parole...
Kai’s mom, Shirley Stromberg, appears in the documentary to share her side of the story, saying that her son lied about being locked in a room for long periods of time as a kid. Instead, Stromberg says she tried to keep her spirited young son safe in the mornings by locking his bedroom door — otherwise he would get up before her and get into danger...
- 2 min
- Michelle Butterfield
This shocking documentary chronicles a happy-go-lucky nomad's ascent to viral stardom and the steep downward spiral that resulted in his imprisonment. Watch trailers & learn more.
Dec 13, 2022 · The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker | Official Trailer | Netflix. This shocking documentary chronicles a happy-go-lucky nomad's ascent to viral stardom and the steep downward spiral that...
- 2 min
- 485K
- Netflix
