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William Bonin. William George Bonin (January 8, 1947 – February 23, 1996), also called the Freeway Killer [2] and the Freeway Strangler, [3] was an American serial killer and sex offender who raped, tortured, and murdered young men and boys between November 1968 and June 1980 in southern California. He was convicted of 14 murders, but he ...
- 1
- Ashes scattered in Pacific Ocean
- The Freeway Killer, The Freeway Strangler
- Execution by lethal injection
Oct 24, 2022 · Eventually, Bonin committed his final murder in June 1980, when he killed Stephen Wells and disposed of his body in Huntington Beach. In total, Bonin is said to have committed a total of twenty-one murders, although he was convicted on 14 counts, while the police suspected his involvement in 12 other incidents.
- Childhood - Teen Years
- A Vow to Never Get Caught Again
- Freeway Killer Victims
- Co-Defendants
- Arrest, Conviction, Execution
Born in Connecticut on January 8, 1947, Bonin was the middle child of three brothers. He grew up in a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic father and a grandfather who was a convicted child molester. Early on he was a troubled kid and ran away from home when he was eight years old. He was later sent to a juvenile detention center for various smal...
He was first arrested at age 22 for sexually assaulting young boys and spent five years in jail. After his release, he molested a 14-year-old boy and was returned to prison for an additional four years. Vowing never to get caught again, he began killing his young victims. From 1979 until his arrest in June 1980, Bonin, along with his accomplices, w...
Thomas Lundgren, age 14, murdered on May 28, 1979. Accomplices Vernon Butts and William PughMark Shelton, age 17, murdered on August 4, 1979Marcus Grabs, age 17, murdered on August 5, 1979. Accomplice Vernon ButtsDonald Hayden, age 15, murdered on August 27, 1979. Accomplice Vernon ButtsVernon Butts: Butts was 22 years old and a factory worker and part-time magician when he met Bonin and began participating in raping and murdering at least six boys. He hung himself while awaiting...Gregory Miley: Miley was 19 years old when he got involved with Bonin. He pled guilty to participating in one murder for which he received a sentence of 25 years to life. He is currently in prison.James Munro: Bonin was Munro's boss and landlord when Munro participated in the murders of two boys. In a plea bargain, he pled guilty to one murder and received a sentence of 15 years to life. He...William (Billy) Pugh: was the most active accomplice who was charged with one murder, although he confessed to killing two victims. He received six years for voluntary manslaughterin a plea bargain.After William Bonin's arrest, he confessed to killing 21 young boys and young men. Police suspected him in an additional 15 other murders. Charged with 14 of the 21 killings, Bonin was found guilty and sentenced to death. On February 23, 1996, Bonin was executed by lethal injection, making him the first person to be executed by lethal injection in ...
- Charles Montaldo
May 26, 2016 · An accomplice of serial killer William G. Bonin — the so-called Freeway Killer who murdered as many as 21 people along Southern California’s highways — has died after being beaten by another...
- richard.winton@latimes.com
- Staff Writer
Oct 30, 2021 · By John Kuroski. Published October 30, 2021. Updated February 24, 2024. In just one year between 1979 and 1980, "Freeway Strangler" William George Bonin murdered at least 21 victims, though some suspect he killed over a dozen more.
- John Kuroski
Aug 11, 2023 · Before the world knew William Bonin's name, he was known as the Freeway Killer in households across Southern California. He was convicted of killing, sexually assaulting and brutally torturing 14 boys and young men between May of 1979 and June of 1980 when he would roam the labyrinthine roads of SoCal in his beat-up van cruising for victims.
Feb 19, 1996 · William G. Bonin, cruising in his olive-green van, chose young male victims who made the fatal mistake of accepting a ride from a stranger. Bonin, an ex-convict from Downey, was tried separately ...
