The Disturbing Story of William Bonin, the Freeway Killer

WILLIAM BONIN, ALSO KNOWN AS ONE OF THE FREEWAY KILLERS, RAPED, TORTURED, AND MURDERED AT LEAST 21 MALE ADOLESCENTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BETWEEN 1979 AND 1980.

CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH

William Bonin was born on January 8, 1947, in Connecticut. He and his two brothers had an extremely difficult childhood. Both parents were alcoholics, and his father was violent. They often had to stay with their grandfather, who was a convicted child molester. In an effort to free William Bonin from this cycle of abuse, his mother placed him in an orphanage. It later emerged that the children there were severely mistreated, and the older youths preyed on the younger ones.

At the age of nine, Bonin returned to his parents, and at age 10, he committed his first offense. He was sent to a juvenile detention center, where he was once again sexually abused, including by his counselor. After Bonin was released, the family moved to California.

TIME IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE

Despite numerous minor offenses, he successfully graduated from high school in 1965. He joined the U.S. Air Force and served for five months in the Vietnam War. He later received a medal of bravery for risking his life to save a fellow soldier. After three years in the U.S. Air Force, he was honorably discharged and returned to live with his mother.

BEFORE THE MURDER SPREE

In late 1968, he sexually assaulted four youths aged 12 to 18, using violence. He was apprehended, pleaded guilty, and was sent to a clinic for sex offenders. An examination revealed that he was highly intelligent, showed signs of depression, and had an underdeveloped region of the brain responsible for controlling brutal impulses. His head and buttocks bore extensive scars from previous beatings.

After engaging in sexual acts with other male inmates, he was transferred to a prison. In the summer of 1974, he was released again, as doctors deemed him no longer a danger to himself or others.

Only two months later, he raped another youth and offered money to another for sexual favors. Once again, he was caught, pleaded guilty, and was convicted.

He was released in October 1978 and moved to Kingswood Village. Soon, he became popular among the local youths as he allowed them to party in his apartment and provided alcohol to minors.

THE MURDER SPREE

Bonin purchased a van and removed all interior handles to prevent the victims from escaping. His victims were hitchhikers and male prostitutes between the ages of 12 and 19. The modus operandi was always similar: the victims were bound, raped, tortured, and then usually strangled with their own shirts. Bonin dumped the bodies along busy freeways, earning him the nickname "Freeway Killer."

Bonin committed his first murder in May 1979, targeting 13-year-old hitchhiker Thomas Glen Lundgren. Shortly after being apprehended for abusing another youth, he should have been incarcerated for violating his probation. However, a previous administrative error led to his release.

After that, Bonin and his four accomplices could not be stopped. In the early 1980s, a reward of $50,000 was offered for any information leading to the arrest of the Freeway Killer.

ARREST AND CONVICTION

When one of Bonin's accomplices was captured, he provided information suggesting that Bonin could be the Freeway Killer. The police began round-the-clock surveillance on him. Finally, on June 11, he was apprehended while in the act of raping a 17-year-old. Sufficient evidence to identify Bonin as the Freeway Killer was found in the van by investigators.

Bonin quickly confessed, claiming to have murdered 21 youths. He showed no remorse for his actions. The only thing that bothered him was being exposed. He named his accomplices, who were also arrested. During an interview later on, Bonin stated that if he were a free man, he would still kill youths, as it became easier for him over time.

After his conviction, Bonin spent 14 years on death row. He was executed by lethal injection at San Quentin State Prison on February 23, 1996.