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Downloaded from
YTS.MX
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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[switch clicks]
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{\an8}[voice playing on record]
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These tapes, they were meant
to be confidential.
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They were never meant to
be released.
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{\an8}[voice playing on record]
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Knowing that these
tapes exist,
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I'm totally flabbergasted.
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I can't even believe it.
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I can't even believe it.
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{\an8}[voice playing on record]
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I've covered many many murder
stories in my
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forty eight year career
on television.
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And what happened on
these murders,
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and how these poor
young victims died,
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turned my stomach.
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{\an8}[voice playing on record]
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It came a point where,
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it was almost like you picked
up the newspaper
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and it would be
another murder.
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{\an8}[voice playing on record]
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This guy had to be stopped.
And so, as a citizen,
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I did what I had to do.
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I did what I had to do.
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[waves splashing]
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Well back in the '70s,
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there was a feeling at that
time that
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people wanted to be free.
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Hitchhiking was very popular.
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Hitchhiking was very popular.
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The young people, specially
the men, would hitchhike.
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It was very perfectly safe.
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My name is Ronald E Bowers.
Back in 1979,
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I was a senior prosecutor for
the Los Angeles County
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District Attorney's Office.
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Marcus Grabs was a west German
exchange student.
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He'd come to
the United States.
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He'd come to
the United States.
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Didn't have a lot of money,
so he was hitchhiking.
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Marcus Grabs came to
Newport Beach.
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He spent the day or two there,
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but then he wanted to go
up the coast
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and see more of California.
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So he had his backpack
all packed,
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and he walked over to the
Pacific Coast Highway...
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{\an8}[voices playing on record]
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{\an8}[man 1 speaking]
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{\an8}[man 2 speaking]
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[newscaster] Marcus
Grabs, seventeen, west Germany
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was discovered stabbed to
death in the Tapis Park area,
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north of Malibu.
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Forensic tests have shown
that Grabs
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Forensic tests have shown
that Grabs
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had been sexually assaulted.
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[camera shutter clicks]
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[indistinct radio chatter]
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[Ronald]
The police are wondering,
this seemed very strange.
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In such a remote location,
a nude body of a young man.
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In such a remote location,
a nude body of a young man.
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But there were no clues.
There was nothing
at the crime scene
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that tipped off
who could've done it.
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[siren blaring]
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The police, they needed to
find evidence.
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But back in the '70s,
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we didn't have all the
forensic technology
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that we have today.
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That was when they contacted
different homicide bureaus
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asking them if there's any
similar sex crimes
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they're investigating.
And they said, yes there was.
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they're investigating.
And they said, yes there was.
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There was a young man in
the San Fernando Valley
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and he disappeared.
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[Brenda]
I always remember
the '70s as
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being the best time
of my life.
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This is the house that Tommy
and I grew up in.
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And back in the '70s,
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there was a lot of kids
playing in the street here.
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We used to play
baseball a lot.
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We used to play
baseball a lot.
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My name is Brenda Axtell,
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and I lived in the
San Fernando Valley.
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My brother Tommy was really,
always hustled to get money.
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And one of the things,
he got a job
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selling flowers on
the street corners.
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It was probably about seven
o'clock in the evening.
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My mother, she was acting
very strange,
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My mother, she was acting
very strange,
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00:07:02,867 --> 00:07:04,800
and I said what's wrong,
and she said
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"Tommy hasn't come home yet."
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An hour went by,
another hour went by
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and then I was talking to
my dad,
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my dad was watching TV
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and the 11 o'clock news
came on.
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[newscaster] The nude body of
a young boy was was found off
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Mulholland Highway today.
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Stabbed multiple times,
and sexually mutilated.
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Investigators say the body...
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[Brenda]
I just remember my dad
flying out of the chair.
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[Brenda]
I just remember my dad
flying out of the chair.
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He called the
Sheriff's Department
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and asked about it,
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and they said why do you want
to know about this and he said
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because I think it's my son.
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It was him.
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And he was pretty much
unrecognizable almost, so...
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You can't even really
explain it.
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The devastation it causes.
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The devastation it causes.
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[Ronald] In many cases,
homicide detectives
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don't have all the pieces.
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But, in this case,
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one of the few things they had
to work on was
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Marcus Grabs
and Tommy Lundgren were
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found in the very same area.
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And there was also the coroner
doing the autopsy,
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noticed that each one of the
boys had been sodomized.
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So, is there a connection?
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[Dave]
In 1979, I was 29 years old.
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And it had always been
my dream to become
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a reporter at a big time
TV station.
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a reporter at a big time
TV station.
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My name is Dave Lopez.
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I was the main street reporter
in Southern California
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in the late '70s.
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I covered, you know,
all kinds of stories.
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Political stories,
crime obviously,
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but, on this young man,
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a 13 year old boy,
in the Valley...
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People moved to the Valley to
get away from the crime,
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so they felt safe.
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And so to have someone
just disappear,
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he's just a young
13 year old kid,
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who wanted to make a few bucks
and uh,
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you know, minding his
own business.
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How preposterous is it,
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that that person would become
a murder victim.
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In that particular area,
obviously it becomes big news.
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But it took a while before
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the mainstream news media
became aware...
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00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:01,000
the mainstream news media
became aware...
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00:10:01,166 --> 00:10:03,266
"Hey, wait a minute.
We've got a real
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heavy duty sexual predator
out there."
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[newscaster] A body of an
unidentified male was found...
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[continues indistinctly]
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Five days after Marcus Grabs
body was found,
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a third body was found in
San Bernardino County.
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That had been there for
maybe a week.
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It was Mark Shelton.
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Homicide Sheriffs are
wondering what is going on.
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So the San Bernardino County
Sheriff's Department
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contact the Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Department
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to see if there is
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something that they might have
that's similar.
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And they said, yes, there was.
There were some young men
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who were nude, who were
sexually molested,
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and they were found
in a remote location.
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That began the sharing of
information between the
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That began the sharing of
information between the
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different homicide bureaus.
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Because, was there
a serial killer on the loose?
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[newscaster] A body found on
Monday was identified
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as Donald Ray Hayden.
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fifteen, of Hollywood.
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He'd been stabbed to death and
sexually molested
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before being left
in the dumpster
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just north of the
Ventura Freeway.
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The Hayden murder is already
being considered
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the fourth body
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the fourth body
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in a series that includes
three other killings
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over the past few months.
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[radio buzzing]
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I remember talking to
a couple of the
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Orange county investigators.
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I think I found out
after the fourth murder,
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that there was some kind of
connection to this.
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{\an8}Only because of the way these
kids were being
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{\an8}brutally killed in almost
the same scenario.
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The one thing that police had
in those days is, you know,
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they kept stats.
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So when this came along,
and you started having
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So when this came along,
and you started having
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an influx, an unbelievable
rise in these
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vicious, horrendous murders,
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they knew something was wrong.
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I kept bugging these guys,
over and over again
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about a connection.
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[newscaster] This is a channel
two special presentation.
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The scene always
looks the same,
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00:12:40,867 --> 00:12:41,103
a young, white, thin male,
completely nude.
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a young, white, thin male,
completely nude.
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Signs of strangulation,
many with rope burns
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around the ankles and wrists.
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And the big question is,
who and how many people
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are responsible
for these murders?
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{\an8}We're not formulating any
speculations beyond
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{\an8}this homicide now,
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00:12:57,266 --> 00:12:59,500
but neither are we
closing our minds
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to the facts that there are
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00:13:01,166 --> 00:13:03,100
other cases here in
Los Angeles
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00:13:03,100 --> 00:13:05,266
and outside of
Los Angeles that
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00:13:05,266 --> 00:13:08,200
are so far unsolved homicides.
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Investigators are
very reluctant
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00:13:10,266 --> 00:13:11,103
to answer that question.
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00:13:11,103 --> 00:13:11,567
to answer that question.
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00:13:16,867 --> 00:13:19,600
[Vonda] Knowing that these
tapes exist,
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I'm mesmerized.
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00:13:22,567 --> 00:13:27,367
I'm about to listen to this
man's voice
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00:13:27,367 --> 00:13:31,367
that I have not heard for
40 years.
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00:13:31,367 --> 00:13:35,367
I'm Dr. Vonda Pelto,
Clinical Psychologist,
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00:13:35,367 --> 00:13:40,100
hired into the Los Angeles
County Men's Jail
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00:13:40,166 --> 00:13:41,103
where I saw William Bonin
on many occasions.
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00:13:41,103 --> 00:13:42,000
where I saw William Bonin
on many occasions.
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00:13:47,767 --> 00:13:49,266
{\an8}[man 1 speaking]
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00:13:53,767 --> 00:13:54,767
{\an8}[man 2 speaking]
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00:13:58,967 --> 00:14:01,900
The thing I'm most taken with
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00:14:01,967 --> 00:14:06,900
is, he could be talking about
the Dodger baseball game,
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00:14:06,967 --> 00:14:10,800
no affect, no remorse.
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00:14:12,767 --> 00:14:13,867
[switch clicks]
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00:14:15,367 --> 00:14:16,967
{\an8}[man 1 speaking]
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00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,400
{\an8}[man 2 speaking]
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00:14:32,100 --> 00:14:36,667
Clinicians rarely ever have
an opportunity
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00:14:36,667 --> 00:14:40,767
to really listen to someone
who is killed
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00:14:40,767 --> 00:14:41,103
without any kind of guilt.
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00:14:41,103 --> 00:14:42,000
without any kind of guilt.
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00:14:45,567 --> 00:14:48,867
{\an8}[man 2 speaking]
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00:14:48,867 --> 00:14:52,300
It's unbelievable that this
was sitting somewhere
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00:14:52,367 --> 00:14:55,266
and never exposed to
the light.
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00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:00,367
[helicopter hovering]
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00:15:02,500 --> 00:15:05,867
[Wyatt]
By 1980, law enforcement
was concerned
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00:15:05,867 --> 00:15:09,100
that there was a serial killer
out there.
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00:15:09,166 --> 00:15:11,103
We can usually go back to once
we've identified the person
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00:15:11,103 --> 00:15:12,000
We can usually go back to once
we've identified the person
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00:15:13,166 --> 00:15:15,367
to where they were last seen
by someone...
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00:15:15,367 --> 00:15:18,667
It can create panic
on the public.
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00:15:18,667 --> 00:15:22,200
And so, I didn't want to be
a part of confirming
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00:15:22,867 --> 00:15:24,567
it was a serial killer.
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00:15:24,567 --> 00:15:26,867
Hello. My name is Wyatt Hart.
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00:15:26,867 --> 00:15:28,667
I was the press
information officer
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00:15:28,667 --> 00:15:31,500
for the Orange County
Sheriff's Department.
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00:15:31,567 --> 00:15:33,767
{\an8}There are some similarities
to the cases, yes.
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00:15:33,767 --> 00:15:35,400
{\an8}[Reporter] Enough to make you
think that it's the work
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00:15:35,467 --> 00:15:36,467
{\an8}of the same person?
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00:15:37,166 --> 00:15:38,634
Yes, it could be.
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00:15:38,634 --> 00:15:41,103
[Wyatt] You have to be
very careful about
what you put out.
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00:15:41,103 --> 00:15:41,567
[Wyatt] You have to be
very careful about
what you put out.
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00:15:41,567 --> 00:15:42,000
It's very important that you
give them the information,
249
00:15:44,467 --> 00:15:46,467
but it has to be filtered.
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00:15:46,467 --> 00:15:50,100
We can only assume that
that information that is
released to the press
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00:15:50,100 --> 00:15:53,266
is also released to the
persons involved
in these crimes,
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00:15:53,266 --> 00:15:56,166
which could hamper
our investigation.
253
00:15:56,166 --> 00:15:58,867
We kept recommending
you know,
254
00:15:58,867 --> 00:16:02,300
and putting out, you know,
that, don't hitchhike.
255
00:16:02,367 --> 00:16:04,200
[newscaster] At Marina
Highschool in Huntington Beach
256
00:16:04,266 --> 00:16:06,600
and at other high schools in
Orange County as well,
257
00:16:06,667 --> 00:16:08,066
the word is out.
258
00:16:08,066 --> 00:16:10,500
Two days ago,
in preparing this report,
259
00:16:10,567 --> 00:16:11,103
a trip along Beach Boulevard,
260
00:16:11,103 --> 00:16:12,000
a trip along Beach Boulevard,
261
00:16:12,867 --> 00:16:14,567
and there were no hitchhikers.
262
00:16:16,100 --> 00:16:18,000
Dave Lopez was a great help
263
00:16:18,066 --> 00:16:21,066
to law enforcement from CBS
News, for example.
264
00:16:21,066 --> 00:16:25,166
Wyatt Hart was this old,
wonderful, wonderful man.
265
00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:29,166
Very kind. Very very patient.
266
00:16:29,166 --> 00:16:32,000
And we worked together
on television.
267
00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:35,266
I told the story of what the
hell was going on,
268
00:16:35,266 --> 00:16:37,700
and he had required
the help of the media
269
00:16:37,767 --> 00:16:41,066
to get attention to what
they were working on.
270
00:16:41,066 --> 00:16:41,103
[reporter]
Flyers have been given
to students
271
00:16:41,103 --> 00:16:42,000
[reporter]
Flyers have been given
to students
272
00:16:42,667 --> 00:16:43,767
and the message is clear.
273
00:16:44,367 --> 00:16:45,734
Don't hitchhike.
274
00:16:45,734 --> 00:16:47,266
[reporter] You're tall,
you're thin,
you've got blonde hair.
275
00:16:47,266 --> 00:16:49,900
That fits a lot of the people
that he has been killing.
276
00:16:50,767 --> 00:16:51,867
Are you frightened?
277
00:16:51,867 --> 00:16:54,066
Well, I can't hitchhike,
you know.
278
00:16:54,066 --> 00:16:56,100
I used to hitchhike
just to go home.
279
00:16:56,166 --> 00:16:57,867
But you can't really do that
no more.
280
00:17:00,066 --> 00:17:02,000
[man]
The investigators were working
281
00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:05,266
sixteen, 18 hours a day
just on this case.
282
00:17:06,767 --> 00:17:11,103
And, as the time went on,
you know,
series of the killings
283
00:17:11,103 --> 00:17:11,567
And, as the time went on,
you know,
series of the killings
284
00:17:11,567 --> 00:17:12,000
just continues to build
and build and build.
285
00:17:14,767 --> 00:17:18,266
[reporter] 17 year old
David Murillo was cycling
to a movie theatre.
286
00:17:18,266 --> 00:17:19,800
His body was found near the...
287
00:17:19,867 --> 00:17:22,667
[man]
Now we're in February of 1980.
288
00:17:23,767 --> 00:17:25,266
[reporter]
18 year old Robert Wirostek
289
00:17:25,266 --> 00:17:27,667
was hitchhiking to his job
at a grocery store.
290
00:17:27,667 --> 00:17:30,700
[man] By this time
there had been 12 young boys
291
00:17:30,767 --> 00:17:34,000
all viciously murdered
in a span of nine months.
292
00:17:34,066 --> 00:17:37,166
[reporter]
...is that of 17 year old
Frank Dennis Fox...
293
00:17:37,166 --> 00:17:39,567
It was a story
that had engulfed us,
294
00:17:39,567 --> 00:17:41,103
and a story that I had
almost done daily reports on.
295
00:17:41,103 --> 00:17:42,000
and a story that I had
almost done daily reports on.
296
00:17:42,467 --> 00:17:44,700
[reporter]
...dumped by the sides
of freeways.
297
00:17:44,767 --> 00:17:48,000
And is now being described
as the freeway killer.
298
00:18:00,100 --> 00:18:04,200
[Dr. Vonda]
William Bonin was born in 1947
299
00:18:04,266 --> 00:18:09,100
in a small town Willimantic,
Connecticut.
300
00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:15,767
William Bonin
had an older brother
and a younger brother.
301
00:18:17,567 --> 00:18:21,000
Both of his parents
were alcoholics.
302
00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:23,000
When Bonin's father came home
from the war,
303
00:18:25,467 --> 00:18:28,066
he was extremely violent.
304
00:18:28,066 --> 00:18:33,500
And would take out
these fits of anger
on his wife and children.
305
00:18:34,867 --> 00:18:38,500
A lot of the men came home
from the war damaged.
306
00:18:39,367 --> 00:18:43,600
This had a real affect
on the family.
307
00:18:43,667 --> 00:18:47,266
He took up gambling
and excessive drinking.
308
00:18:49,467 --> 00:18:52,304
The mother, in order
to with the husband's
abusive behavior,
309
00:18:52,304 --> 00:18:53,000
The mother, in order
to with the husband's
abusive behavior,
310
00:18:55,467 --> 00:18:57,667
she would drink excessively.
311
00:18:59,467 --> 00:19:03,367
The kids were almost always
dirty and hungry.
312
00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:13,300
When Bonin was young,
he always dreamt
of running way.
313
00:19:13,367 --> 00:19:17,100
But he told me he didn't have
any place to run to.
314
00:19:28,066 --> 00:19:30,900
[Dave] Back in 1980,
you didn't feel safe
315
00:19:30,967 --> 00:19:32,767
knowing that there was someone
out there
316
00:19:32,767 --> 00:19:35,500
that was doing these things
especially as we were getting
317
00:19:35,567 --> 00:19:38,467
more information leaked to us
about just exactly
what was happening.
318
00:19:38,467 --> 00:19:43,000
I mean, we knew
that this freeway killer
319
00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,400
loved to torture his victims.
320
00:19:47,967 --> 00:19:50,600
In one victim, an ice pick
321
00:19:50,667 --> 00:19:52,304
was shoved into his ear almost
three and a half inches.
322
00:19:52,304 --> 00:19:53,000
was shoved into his ear almost
three and a half inches.
323
00:19:55,000 --> 00:20:00,867
Things that you wouldn't even
dream of comprehending
what was happening.
324
00:20:04,066 --> 00:20:07,266
There was another in here,
just a 12 year old little guy.
325
00:20:07,266 --> 00:20:08,967
He was on his way
to Disneyland.
326
00:20:22,567 --> 00:20:23,000
You have to wonder,
327
00:20:24,066 --> 00:20:26,367
but then you have to
think back at what
the times were like.
328
00:20:26,367 --> 00:20:29,266
Who today would let
a 12 year old boy
329
00:20:29,266 --> 00:20:33,000
go to Disneyland by taking
the bus by himself?
330
00:20:33,066 --> 00:20:34,166
You wouldn't do it.
331
00:20:34,166 --> 00:20:38,000
Back then,
it wasn't that unusual.
332
00:21:13,567 --> 00:21:16,767
McCabe was beaten,
he was strangled
with his own shirt.
333
00:21:16,767 --> 00:21:19,667
His neck was crushed
with a jack handle.
334
00:21:27,867 --> 00:21:31,367
He left his body
next to a dumpster
in the city of Walnut.
335
00:21:40,467 --> 00:21:43,467
[Ronald Bowers]
By 1980, there was many
different things
336
00:21:43,467 --> 00:21:46,467
that were going through
the detectives minds.
337
00:21:47,467 --> 00:21:49,467
One of the things
that did come up,
338
00:21:49,467 --> 00:21:51,600
they were all
sexually assaulted.
339
00:21:54,700 --> 00:21:58,000
So could this mean
he's connected
to homosexual activity?
340
00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:06,967
[Don Kilhefner] In the '70s,
it was a difficult time
being gay in California.
341
00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:13,100
Harvey Milk, one of the first
openly gay politicians
342
00:22:13,166 --> 00:22:18,600
was assassinated in his office
in City Hall in San Francisco.
343
00:22:18,667 --> 00:22:20,667
I am Don Kilhefner,
344
00:22:20,667 --> 00:22:22,304
and I am the co-founder
of something in Los Angeles
345
00:22:22,304 --> 00:22:23,000
and I am the co-founder
of something in Los Angeles
346
00:22:23,967 --> 00:22:28,567
called the Gay Community
Services Center.
347
00:22:28,567 --> 00:22:32,500
[Kilhefner]
What you have to remember
there was a law in California
348
00:22:32,567 --> 00:22:35,367
that a man could be arrested
349
00:22:35,367 --> 00:22:38,500
for just touching another man.
350
00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:44,000
The church defined us
as evil people.
351
00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,900
{\an8}And it affected
the entire community.
352
00:22:55,166 --> 00:22:57,266
[Kilhefner]
But there were many
who were involved
353
00:22:57,266 --> 00:22:59,767
in fighting back at that time.
354
00:22:59,767 --> 00:23:02,567
The first gay pride parade
in Los Angeles.
355
00:23:02,567 --> 00:23:04,767
35,000 people turned out.
356
00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,266
A new world was being created.
357
00:23:12,100 --> 00:23:14,100
What you saw happening
358
00:23:14,166 --> 00:23:18,567
were young gay men heading
towards those major cities.
359
00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,304
They were leaving
their small town
360
00:23:22,304 --> 00:23:22,467
They were leaving
their small town
361
00:23:22,467 --> 00:23:23,000
with very very little
in the way of resources.
362
00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,066
Here in Los Angeles
we had a major influx.
363
00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:35,000
The gay community thrived
to the center.
364
00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:39,800
We provided housing for them,
meals for them.
365
00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:44,100
Here with these young men
who had no money,
366
00:23:44,100 --> 00:23:47,367
and so their way
of getting around
was by hitchhiking.
367
00:23:49,066 --> 00:23:51,667
Sometimes working
as prostitutes.
368
00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:56,367
The freeway killer
exploited that.
369
00:23:56,367 --> 00:23:59,767
Used that
to his nefarious ends.
370
00:24:05,867 --> 00:24:07,867
{\an8}[Freeway killer speaking]
371
00:24:37,500 --> 00:24:39,867
When we found out
that the victims
372
00:24:39,867 --> 00:24:43,467
of the freeway killer fitted
the profile
373
00:24:43,467 --> 00:24:46,767
of a young gay man
that we were trying to help,
374
00:24:46,767 --> 00:24:51,467
we were shocked, angry, sad.
375
00:24:53,266 --> 00:24:57,200
At the community center,
we had signs out
376
00:24:57,266 --> 00:25:03,667
of warning young gay people
to not be hitchhiking
because it was dangerous.
377
00:25:03,667 --> 00:25:06,867
So we did what we could do
to warn people,
378
00:25:06,867 --> 00:25:08,667
but not everybody was reached.
379
00:25:12,767 --> 00:25:14,800
I remember Wyatt Hart
380
00:25:14,867 --> 00:25:20,300
told us members of the media
that there was a connection.
381
00:25:20,367 --> 00:25:22,304
They just weren't quite sure
of who it was.
382
00:25:22,304 --> 00:25:22,967
They just weren't quite sure
of who it was.
383
00:25:22,967 --> 00:25:23,000
[telephone ringing]
384
00:25:25,900 --> 00:25:29,367
The taskforce
was working feverishly.
385
00:25:29,367 --> 00:25:31,700
They were terrified
that the media
would put something out
386
00:25:31,767 --> 00:25:35,400
a little too much
and that would then
either drive
387
00:25:35,467 --> 00:25:38,467
the one person or the group
of people who ever doing this
388
00:25:38,467 --> 00:25:42,000
underground or they go away
or they stop or they go
somewhere else.
389
00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,867
They just did not wanted
to do anything that was going
to jeopardize this case.
390
00:25:45,867 --> 00:25:49,100
Wyatt, he would tell us
a lot of things
off the record.
391
00:25:49,166 --> 00:25:51,066
There was more to this
than what we can tell you.
392
00:26:01,266 --> 00:26:05,967
[David Foster]
Mr. Bonin was polite
and articulate.
393
00:26:05,967 --> 00:26:11,700
He was difficult
in the sense of having
a very great difficulty
394
00:26:11,767 --> 00:26:17,567
either remembering his traumas
or be willing to talk
about them.
395
00:26:17,567 --> 00:26:19,500
{\an8}My name is David Foster.
396
00:26:19,567 --> 00:26:21,500
{\an8}I was the
clinical psychiatrist
397
00:26:21,567 --> 00:26:25,000
{\an8}in William Bonin's
appeals trial
with federal court.
398
00:26:26,467 --> 00:26:29,667
There is an account of one
of his own school friends.
399
00:26:29,667 --> 00:26:31,767
And if you don't mind,
I'd like to read that.
400
00:26:36,467 --> 00:26:40,900
She says, "Billy Bonin
was in my sixth grade class.
401
00:26:40,967 --> 00:26:45,500
One of his neighbors said
the boys would dig up potatoes
at night from their gardens
402
00:26:45,567 --> 00:26:48,667
and eat them raw and unwashed
because they were so hungry.
403
00:26:50,266 --> 00:26:54,367
He was smart but he didn't
talk much to the other kids.
404
00:26:54,367 --> 00:26:55,720
Certain kids always made fun
of his ill-fitting clothes
and shoes.
405
00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:56,000
Certain kids always made fun
of his ill-fitting clothes
and shoes.
406
00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:01,200
They called him "Bugsy Bonin."
407
00:27:03,100 --> 00:27:08,266
He never fought back,
but you could see the hurt
in his eyes.
408
00:27:08,266 --> 00:27:13,567
Back then, I thought of him
as a gentle and very sad soul
409
00:27:13,567 --> 00:27:15,467
who never tried
to harm anyone."
410
00:27:22,567 --> 00:27:24,266
There was a tremendous
amount of data
411
00:27:24,266 --> 00:27:25,720
that I had available to me
about what he had
been through.
412
00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:26,000
that I had available to me
about what he had
been through.
413
00:27:29,567 --> 00:27:34,767
My findings were William Bonin
was subjected at an early age
414
00:27:34,767 --> 00:27:38,066
to severe physical abuse
by his father.
415
00:27:40,300 --> 00:27:43,700
This created front lobe damage
in his brain.
416
00:27:45,867 --> 00:27:50,166
And then he was also
extremely neglected
by his mother.
417
00:27:51,367 --> 00:27:55,100
This had a profound effect
on his developing brain,
418
00:27:55,100 --> 00:27:55,720
specifically the connections
in the right hemisphere
419
00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:56,000
specifically the connections
in the right hemisphere
420
00:27:58,100 --> 00:28:04,066
which impaired his ability
to connect socially
and emotionally.
421
00:28:04,066 --> 00:28:08,667
All this creates
the devastation and tragedy
that we see,
422
00:28:08,667 --> 00:28:12,367
not only with Mr. Bonin,
but also of course
for all of his victims.
423
00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,720
[Dr. Vonda]
The mother finally comes
to the conclusion
424
00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:26,000
[Dr. Vonda]
The mother finally comes
to the conclusion
425
00:28:26,166 --> 00:28:30,166
that she really can't handle
these three kids.
426
00:28:30,900 --> 00:28:34,700
So she sends
the two older boys,
427
00:28:34,767 --> 00:28:40,200
Bonin and his brother Robert
to an orphanage.
428
00:28:46,166 --> 00:28:50,266
At one point, a priest
in the orphanage
429
00:28:50,266 --> 00:28:52,567
sexually molested Bonin.
430
00:28:54,266 --> 00:28:55,720
And then later on,
431
00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:55,867
And then later on,
432
00:28:55,867 --> 00:28:56,000
he was placed in the boys
correctional home.
433
00:29:02,667 --> 00:29:09,600
There, unfortunately,
he was again sexually abused
by an older boy.
434
00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:16,667
What a horrible tragic thing
for this young child,
435
00:29:16,667 --> 00:29:19,467
already being abused
in the orphanage,
436
00:29:19,467 --> 00:29:23,467
and now being
in this boys home
and again abused.
437
00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:25,720
What chance at life could this
little young boy have?
438
00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:26,000
What chance at life could this
little young boy have?
439
00:29:31,867 --> 00:29:35,767
We don't know
the precise combination
440
00:29:35,767 --> 00:29:39,166
that makes up a serial killer.
441
00:29:39,166 --> 00:29:44,266
We just know
that certain risk factors seem
to contribute to it.
442
00:29:45,467 --> 00:29:47,900
Having a cold mother
443
00:29:47,967 --> 00:29:50,867
who is incapable
of giving love.
444
00:29:52,867 --> 00:29:55,100
Physical and sexual abuse.
445
00:29:56,567 --> 00:29:59,266
And then frontal lobe damage.
446
00:30:01,867 --> 00:30:06,867
By the age of ten,
Bonin already had
all of these.
447
00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:18,000
When Bonin was 15,
the whole family moved
448
00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:22,700
from Willimantic
to Downey, California.
449
00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:25,720
Where Bonin changed from being
the victim to the perpetrator.
450
00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:26,000
Where Bonin changed from being
the victim to the perpetrator.
451
00:30:38,166 --> 00:30:39,767
[Wyatt]
Law enforcement was called,
452
00:30:39,767 --> 00:30:42,166
I believe it was by a hiker.
453
00:30:42,166 --> 00:30:47,667
Two young men bodies
were found just off
the Ortega Highway.
454
00:30:50,100 --> 00:30:53,867
[Wyatt Hart] We had a swarm
of media personnel out there.
455
00:30:53,867 --> 00:30:55,720
[reporter]
Just where they located the...
456
00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:55,767
[reporter]
Just where they located the...
457
00:30:55,767 --> 00:30:56,000
There is on these side
of the on-ramp.
458
00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:02,166
Probably about,
one is about 15 feet down
the side,
459
00:31:02,166 --> 00:31:03,266
the other is about 20 feet.
460
00:31:03,266 --> 00:31:05,467
[reporter]
Any signs of strangulation?
461
00:31:05,467 --> 00:31:08,667
We can't tell
any sort of cause of death
or anything.
462
00:31:08,667 --> 00:31:10,166
We just can't tell yet.
463
00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:25,266
[reporter] Lieutenant,
at this stage,
464
00:31:25,266 --> 00:31:25,720
what's the process
that now begins?
465
00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:26,000
what's the process
that now begins?
466
00:31:27,367 --> 00:31:33,000
Well, we'll search
the surrounding areas for what
might be obvious clues.
467
00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:35,567
[Hart] Investigators are never
surprised by what they find
468
00:31:35,567 --> 00:31:37,000
and what people can do
to other people,
469
00:31:37,066 --> 00:31:39,900
but to find two of them
out there,
470
00:31:39,967 --> 00:31:43,767
it kind of put
a different perspective
on the investigation.
471
00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:47,300
[reporter] And neither one
is fully clothed?
472
00:31:47,367 --> 00:31:50,467
No. One is nude, the other one
is partially clothed.
473
00:31:50,467 --> 00:31:54,400
That was when we realized
that something
is going on here.
474
00:31:54,467 --> 00:31:55,720
Immediately we started
thinking, well, wait a minute.
475
00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:56,000
Immediately we started
thinking, well, wait a minute.
476
00:31:56,367 --> 00:32:00,100
We've got two.
It's pretty hard for one guy
477
00:32:00,166 --> 00:32:02,500
to take on two at one time.
478
00:32:02,567 --> 00:32:04,467
So, do we have
more people involved?
479
00:32:06,500 --> 00:32:10,166
[reporter] Two teenage boys
found together in the
Cleveland National Forest
480
00:32:10,166 --> 00:32:12,567
resemble a string
of other slaying across...
481
00:32:12,567 --> 00:32:16,266
Further escalations
in the murders connected
to the so called...
482
00:32:16,266 --> 00:32:19,867
Detectives are now
working feverishly
in their search...
483
00:32:19,867 --> 00:32:23,100
There's been at least
17 murders
in less than a year.
484
00:32:24,300 --> 00:32:25,720
[Ronald]
Bodies were discovered
in Ventura County.
485
00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:26,000
[Ronald]
Bodies were discovered
in Ventura County.
486
00:32:27,367 --> 00:32:29,800
And even up in Kern County.
487
00:32:29,867 --> 00:32:32,500
We know there was one
from San Bernardino County.
488
00:32:32,567 --> 00:32:34,667
And many of them
from LA County.
489
00:32:34,667 --> 00:32:36,900
And eventually some
from Orange County.
490
00:32:38,900 --> 00:32:42,066
They were long distance away,
491
00:32:42,066 --> 00:32:47,000
so who could be moving around
from county to county
easily like this?
492
00:33:00,567 --> 00:33:05,667
In 1980, my job was to pick up
and deliver trucks
493
00:33:05,667 --> 00:33:07,667
around the California area.
494
00:33:09,567 --> 00:33:13,166
Traveled up and down
highway 101,
495
00:33:13,166 --> 00:33:15,767
several times working
with Bill Bonin.
496
00:33:17,967 --> 00:33:20,867
I decided to do
this interview
497
00:33:20,867 --> 00:33:23,166
and I thought
it would be beneficial
498
00:33:23,166 --> 00:33:24,967
for the people to know
what actually happened.
499
00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,266
I don't wanna conceal
my identity
500
00:33:28,266 --> 00:33:31,000
because of guilt
by association.
501
00:33:40,567 --> 00:33:44,000
When I first met him,
he seemed like
a very nice guy.
502
00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:49,266
Uh, I even had him
at my house a couple
of times for coffee.
503
00:33:49,266 --> 00:33:54,200
I had no recollection
that he was nothing
but a decent person.
504
00:33:56,300 --> 00:33:58,300
On one occasion,
William Bonin and I
505
00:33:58,367 --> 00:34:00,967
did a little trip
up to Northern California.
506
00:34:02,967 --> 00:34:06,200
I mentioned to him
that I heard that there
was another victim
507
00:34:06,266 --> 00:34:07,667
of the Freeway Killer.
508
00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,266
I've just referred to the fact
509
00:34:11,266 --> 00:34:14,767
that I wish that they'd
catch the guy
that was doing this,
510
00:34:14,767 --> 00:34:20,100
and Bill said to me, "Yeah,
I wish they catch him too."
511
00:34:22,700 --> 00:34:24,500
When we were on our way back,
512
00:34:24,567 --> 00:34:25,720
the vehicle I was driving,
uh, started to act up,
513
00:34:25,720 --> 00:34:26,000
the vehicle I was driving,
uh, started to act up,
514
00:34:29,667 --> 00:34:31,800
and, uh, we pulled off.
515
00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:35,967
Bill suggested
that we leave him there
516
00:34:35,967 --> 00:34:39,567
and I'd drive the vehicle
he was driving,
517
00:34:39,567 --> 00:34:42,066
because we had farther
to go home than he had.
518
00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:49,266
By the time I had gotten back
to City of Industry,
519
00:34:49,266 --> 00:34:53,100
Bill Bonin had been there
for approximately ten minutes.
520
00:34:55,967 --> 00:34:56,000
He had a young man
with him.
521
00:34:58,367 --> 00:35:01,166
Light tint, he had
sandy color hair,
522
00:35:01,166 --> 00:35:04,767
and, uh, he had
injured upper lip.
523
00:35:09,166 --> 00:35:12,567
Then I left and, uh,
went home.
524
00:35:12,567 --> 00:35:15,867
I didn't see Bill for,
probably, a couple
of weeks after that.
525
00:35:17,467 --> 00:35:20,767
[reporter] The nude body
of a young man found
in a service station
526
00:35:20,767 --> 00:35:25,367
might be another victim
of the so-called
Freeway Killer.
527
00:35:25,367 --> 00:35:25,720
[detective] I feel that
there is a similarity,
528
00:35:25,720 --> 00:35:26,000
[detective] I feel that
there is a similarity,
529
00:35:27,266 --> 00:35:29,567
at least, generally,
in so much as,
530
00:35:29,567 --> 00:35:33,567
uh, this fits the pattern
of young males, nude,
531
00:35:34,266 --> 00:35:36,000
uh, clean looking,
532
00:35:36,066 --> 00:35:39,367
dropped near a freeway area,
who have died
from strangulation.
533
00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:52,867
Larry Sharp, it shook me up
pretty good.
534
00:35:52,867 --> 00:35:54,567
[chuckles] Uh...
535
00:35:54,567 --> 00:35:55,720
What's the chances
that I was working
with a freeway killer?
536
00:35:55,720 --> 00:35:56,000
What's the chances
that I was working
with a freeway killer?
537
00:35:59,367 --> 00:36:02,300
Little did I know
I was sitting next to him.
538
00:36:02,367 --> 00:36:05,367
[reporter] Homicide detectives
believe the killer
has now claimed...
539
00:36:05,367 --> 00:36:09,967
Target force across Southern
California is working
night and day.
540
00:36:09,967 --> 00:36:12,767
They are rapidly expanding
investigation
541
00:36:12,767 --> 00:36:16,367
before the death toll
rises any further.
542
00:36:16,367 --> 00:36:18,867
[Ronald] Homicide detectives
couldn't keep up.
543
00:36:18,867 --> 00:36:22,300
It put even more pressure
on the detectives,
544
00:36:22,367 --> 00:36:23,700
you know,
"We gotta catch this guy."
545
00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:34,800
[Ray] In the turn
of the 1980s,
546
00:36:34,867 --> 00:36:38,166
South Gate California
was going through
a transition.
547
00:36:38,867 --> 00:36:40,700
The city was changing,
548
00:36:40,767 --> 00:36:43,166
General Motors
was closing down,
549
00:36:43,166 --> 00:36:44,734
we had some notorious gangs
550
00:36:44,767 --> 00:36:47,600
that were infiltrating
the junior highs
and the high schools.
551
00:36:50,266 --> 00:36:52,266
My name is Ray Carvajal.
552
00:36:52,266 --> 00:36:53,867
I was the youth pastor
553
00:36:53,867 --> 00:36:56,166
at South Gate
Foursquare Church,
554
00:36:56,166 --> 00:36:57,867
South Gate California
555
00:36:57,867 --> 00:36:58,920
during the time
of the Freeway Killer.
556
00:36:58,920 --> 00:36:59,000
during the time
of the Freeway Killer.
557
00:37:02,367 --> 00:37:04,867
There were kids coming
in here and they're
558
00:37:04,867 --> 00:37:06,166
asking for help.
559
00:37:06,166 --> 00:37:09,100
Getting out of certain groups
is sometimes difficult
560
00:37:09,100 --> 00:37:10,567
and sometimes
you have to walk away.
561
00:37:12,266 --> 00:37:15,367
I wanted to give them
something that they
can rely on.
562
00:37:15,367 --> 00:37:16,800
And that's the word of God.
563
00:37:18,900 --> 00:37:21,500
Sean started coming
to the youth group.
564
00:37:21,567 --> 00:37:22,900
He was 14 years old.
565
00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:25,667
He was looking for a change.
566
00:37:25,667 --> 00:37:27,567
It was just exciting to see
567
00:37:28,567 --> 00:37:28,920
these kids become
part of your life.
568
00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:29,000
these kids become
part of your life.
569
00:37:30,767 --> 00:37:33,667
And you're trying
to impact them in a, uh,
570
00:37:33,667 --> 00:37:34,900
in a positive way.
571
00:37:42,767 --> 00:37:46,000
May of 1980 was a day
I will never forget.
572
00:37:48,100 --> 00:37:51,200
Well, we're at the,
uh, location where,
573
00:37:52,100 --> 00:37:53,867
uh, we ran into Sean.
574
00:37:54,500 --> 00:37:56,367
We pulled right up here
575
00:37:56,867 --> 00:37:57,900
and, uh,
576
00:37:59,100 --> 00:38:01,300
I look to my right
as I'm getting ready to exit
577
00:38:01,367 --> 00:38:04,000
and I said to my wife,
"That looks like Sean."
578
00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:06,567
And she looked over
and she goes, "That is Sean."
579
00:38:06,567 --> 00:38:08,767
So he continued walking
this way
580
00:38:08,767 --> 00:38:11,700
and he came around the car.
581
00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:16,867
I can still see
the blonde hair
and those big blue eyes.
582
00:38:18,066 --> 00:38:21,700
He's like a kid that is
just starting off life.
583
00:38:23,767 --> 00:38:26,567
We started talking about,
obviously, the transition
he's making.
584
00:38:26,567 --> 00:38:28,920
The, uh, starting over
at a new junior high.
585
00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:29,000
The, uh, starting over
at a new junior high.
586
00:38:32,300 --> 00:38:34,600
I said, "I see you walking,
did your mom drop you off
587
00:38:34,667 --> 00:38:36,400
at the corner
or something like that?"
588
00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:40,967
He goes, "No, I take the bus,"
you know, "I live
at Firestone Boulevard."
589
00:38:40,967 --> 00:38:43,000
I said, "Well, you...
you have a good day."
590
00:38:44,767 --> 00:38:49,667
Little did I know that that
morning was going to be
the last time I saw Sean.
591
00:39:06,500 --> 00:39:08,467
{\an8}[detective speaking]
592
00:39:08,467 --> 00:39:10,500
{\an8}[Bonin speaking]
593
00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:36,100
{\an8}[detective speaking]
594
00:39:36,166 --> 00:39:37,967
{\an8}[Bonin speaking]
595
00:39:50,667 --> 00:39:55,667
We got home from work
and, uh, I get a call
from Sean's mom.
596
00:39:55,667 --> 00:39:57,700
And she goes,
"Sean has not arrived."
597
00:39:57,767 --> 00:39:58,867
I said, "Hmm."
598
00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:04,500
I took a drive
looking for Sean.
599
00:40:10,166 --> 00:40:12,700
I remember calling
our youth president
600
00:40:12,767 --> 00:40:15,000
and I said, "Hey,
can you get everybody to..."
601
00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:16,600
Just start calling
all of... all the kids
602
00:40:16,667 --> 00:40:18,000
and say, "Hey,
is Sean with you?"
603
00:40:19,767 --> 00:40:22,900
And then we see
that breaking news...
604
00:40:22,967 --> 00:40:26,667
[reporter] ... 14-year-old boy
has disappeared
in a suspected kidnapping.
605
00:40:26,667 --> 00:40:28,920
He was last seen
at Firestone Boulevard.
606
00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:29,000
He was last seen
at Firestone Boulevard.
607
00:40:33,100 --> 00:40:34,767
And one of the kids,
kind of, looked back,
608
00:40:34,767 --> 00:40:36,800
"Isn't that where Sean
takes the bus?"
609
00:40:36,867 --> 00:40:40,100
And it's like,
all of a sudden,
we, kind of, knew.
610
00:40:46,567 --> 00:40:47,667
[Bonin speaking]
611
00:41:18,667 --> 00:41:19,967
[Ray] I mean,
where do you look?
612
00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:23,767
Where are they headed?
Nothing. You have zero
to work on.
613
00:41:26,567 --> 00:41:28,920
We heard of the Freeway Killer
through the news,
614
00:41:28,920 --> 00:41:29,000
We heard of the Freeway Killer
through the news,
615
00:41:29,166 --> 00:41:31,867
I said, "You know what,
they've been trying
to break this case,
616
00:41:32,667 --> 00:41:34,166
all the indicators were there
617
00:41:34,166 --> 00:41:37,100
and they have not been able
to break this case."
618
00:41:37,166 --> 00:41:38,700
And the kids said,
"Let's just pray."
619
00:41:46,467 --> 00:41:48,300
{\an8}[Bonin speaking]
620
00:41:56,367 --> 00:41:57,367
Uh...
621
00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:12,166
{\an8}[detective speaking]
622
00:42:12,166 --> 00:42:14,367
{\an8}[Bonin speaking]
623
00:42:53,467 --> 00:42:54,900
There is nothing we can do.
624
00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:04,200
[Dave] I interviewed
Sean King's mother
a number of times.
625
00:43:04,266 --> 00:43:06,600
She's a very, very,
very sweet woman.
626
00:43:06,667 --> 00:43:09,266
You met these people,
you met family members,
627
00:43:09,266 --> 00:43:10,700
you met the brothers,
628
00:43:10,767 --> 00:43:14,000
you met the sisters,
you met the moms,
you met the dads.
629
00:43:14,066 --> 00:43:17,400
I mean, they were just
absolutely heart-broken.
630
00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:20,166
And you felt so bad
631
00:43:20,166 --> 00:43:22,600
'cause you felt so helpless
that you couldn't do anything.
632
00:43:25,100 --> 00:43:28,920
More than once,
after I would be finished,
I would go home,
633
00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:29,000
More than once,
after I would be finished,
I would go home,
634
00:43:29,166 --> 00:43:30,867
you know, a lot of times
it'd be late at night
635
00:43:30,867 --> 00:43:33,900
and my kids were growing up
at that time, they were small,
636
00:43:33,967 --> 00:43:36,100
and, uh, I would just
look at them
637
00:43:36,100 --> 00:43:38,367
and just, you know,
almost have a tear
come to my eye
638
00:43:38,367 --> 00:43:40,467
knowing how lucky
and fortunate I am
639
00:43:40,467 --> 00:43:42,100
that they're safe and sound.
640
00:43:42,100 --> 00:43:44,367
You count your lucky stars
at a time like that.
641
00:43:48,367 --> 00:43:49,967
Sean King's mother,
642
00:43:49,967 --> 00:43:52,367
like so many other people
that I had interviewed,
643
00:43:52,367 --> 00:43:54,400
they were... they just wanted
to know why.
644
00:43:57,166 --> 00:43:58,920
{\an8}[detective speaking]
645
00:43:58,920 --> 00:43:59,000
{\an8}[detective speaking]
646
00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:07,066
{\an8}[Bonin speaking]
647
00:44:13,367 --> 00:44:15,967
[Dr. David] In spite
of the fact that
William Bonin's brain
648
00:44:15,967 --> 00:44:17,667
did not develop normally,
649
00:44:17,667 --> 00:44:20,100
and he did not have
the capacity
650
00:44:20,166 --> 00:44:24,467
for normal affiliation
and empathy,
651
00:44:24,467 --> 00:44:28,000
he still had this longing
for connection.
652
00:44:29,367 --> 00:44:31,867
{\an8}[Bonin speaking]
653
00:44:33,600 --> 00:44:35,467
{\an8}[detective speaking]
654
00:44:35,467 --> 00:44:38,967
{\an8}[Bonin speaking]
655
00:44:38,967 --> 00:44:41,266
[Dr. David] If we got
into the details
656
00:44:41,266 --> 00:44:43,900
of what happened
when he was growing up,
657
00:44:43,967 --> 00:44:48,266
we would see what he did was
replicate the type of abuse.
658
00:44:50,100 --> 00:44:55,200
He was bound by the older boys
in the juvenile system
659
00:44:55,266 --> 00:44:58,800
who would rape and,
um, beat him.
660
00:44:59,767 --> 00:45:02,100
He was strangled by them.
661
00:45:04,467 --> 00:45:09,400
We form bonds under intense
emotional experience.
662
00:45:09,467 --> 00:45:12,867
So he forms these
sadomasochistic bonds
663
00:45:12,867 --> 00:45:17,500
by being bound
and choked and raped
664
00:45:17,567 --> 00:45:19,567
by 12 to 19-year-olds.
665
00:45:20,166 --> 00:45:21,600
Who are those he kills?
666
00:45:21,667 --> 00:45:23,100
Twelve to 19-year-olds.
667
00:45:26,100 --> 00:45:28,920
He needed someone who could
668
00:45:28,920 --> 00:45:29,000
He needed someone who could
669
00:45:29,767 --> 00:45:33,600
share his experience
and so he went about
trying to create
670
00:45:33,667 --> 00:45:37,000
those who were victimized
like he was victimized.
671
00:45:38,767 --> 00:45:40,367
{\an8}[detective speaking]
672
00:45:41,300 --> 00:45:42,700
{\an8}[Bonin speaking]
673
00:45:44,100 --> 00:45:45,100
{\an8}[detective speaking]
674
00:45:46,667 --> 00:45:48,767
{\an8}[Bonin speaking]
675
00:45:54,667 --> 00:45:56,667
[Dr. David]
He exclusively states
676
00:45:56,667 --> 00:45:58,920
what he enjoyed was not...
It wasn't about the sex.
677
00:45:58,920 --> 00:45:59,000
what he enjoyed was not...
It wasn't about the sex.
678
00:46:00,066 --> 00:46:02,000
It was about the feeling
of control,
679
00:46:02,066 --> 00:46:04,066
about feeling of dominance.
680
00:46:04,066 --> 00:46:07,567
The worst feeling
for a human being
is helplessness.
681
00:46:07,567 --> 00:46:10,567
All of his life he's
just a helpless wave.
682
00:46:10,567 --> 00:46:12,367
When it finally
explodes forward
683
00:46:12,367 --> 00:46:14,567
and he has no right hemisphere
to evaluate,
684
00:46:15,867 --> 00:46:16,767
terror,
685
00:46:17,500 --> 00:46:18,166
rage,
686
00:46:19,200 --> 00:46:20,166
despair.
687
00:46:21,066 --> 00:46:22,300
It's inevitable.
688
00:46:22,367 --> 00:46:25,100
There's nothing
that he could do to stop it.
689
00:46:36,467 --> 00:46:39,166
[reporter] For Steven,
June 2nd started
like most days did
690
00:46:39,166 --> 00:46:41,266
in the last three months
of his life.
691
00:46:41,266 --> 00:46:44,367
He left this small
Downey apartment
where he lived alone
692
00:46:44,367 --> 00:46:46,867
and he took a bus
to work in Los Angeles.
693
00:46:46,867 --> 00:46:48,300
When last seen alive,
694
00:46:48,367 --> 00:46:50,166
Steven was at this bus stop
695
00:46:50,166 --> 00:46:51,400
shortly after 3 o'clock.
696
00:46:52,467 --> 00:46:54,967
Sometime between 8:00 p.m.
and midnight,
697
00:46:54,967 --> 00:46:56,767
that's when Steven
was strangled,
698
00:46:56,767 --> 00:46:58,500
his nude body then dumped
699
00:46:58,567 --> 00:47:01,000
and discovered shortly
before 1:00 a.m.
700
00:47:01,000 --> 00:47:02,723
behind this dark,
deserted gas station
in Huntington Beach.
701
00:47:02,723 --> 00:47:03,000
behind this dark,
deserted gas station
in Huntington Beach.
702
00:47:09,700 --> 00:47:12,166
[reporter] These bodies
of young boys are now
being discovered...
703
00:47:12,166 --> 00:47:16,367
On a murderous rampage
across Southern California
704
00:47:16,367 --> 00:47:18,867
appears to be escalating.
705
00:47:18,867 --> 00:47:22,567
[Ronald] Back in the '70s
and the '80s,
the homicide detectives
706
00:47:22,567 --> 00:47:24,900
didn't have all the tools
available to them
707
00:47:24,967 --> 00:47:27,066
as homicide detectives
do today.
708
00:47:29,800 --> 00:47:32,667
We didn't have DNA,
the computers.
709
00:47:32,667 --> 00:47:32,723
They had to be very creative.
710
00:47:32,723 --> 00:47:33,000
They had to be very creative.
711
00:47:34,900 --> 00:47:36,800
By 1980,
712
00:47:36,867 --> 00:47:38,967
they were looking
for a break in the case.
713
00:47:38,967 --> 00:47:40,667
They were using, uh,
714
00:47:40,667 --> 00:47:42,600
pc tape, or scotch tape
715
00:47:42,667 --> 00:47:45,767
and they would put it
on different parts
of the body of the victims
716
00:47:45,767 --> 00:47:48,700
to see if they could detect
any type of hair,
717
00:47:48,767 --> 00:47:49,967
any type of fiber.
718
00:47:52,767 --> 00:47:54,900
And they noticed
on Steven Wood,
719
00:47:54,967 --> 00:47:57,200
it was a green fiber,
720
00:47:57,266 --> 00:48:00,467
and they compared it
up to other,
721
00:48:00,467 --> 00:48:02,723
uh, fibers that were taken
off the other victims
722
00:48:02,723 --> 00:48:03,000
uh, fibers that were taken
off the other victims
723
00:48:03,467 --> 00:48:04,533
and it was the same.
724
00:48:09,767 --> 00:48:12,000
[Wyatt] They took
all that in to the labs
725
00:48:12,066 --> 00:48:14,266
and they came up
with a fiber
726
00:48:15,166 --> 00:48:16,867
that was from a carpet
727
00:48:17,567 --> 00:48:19,567
that was sold to vans,
728
00:48:22,900 --> 00:48:25,367
and actually found
the type of carpet,
729
00:48:25,367 --> 00:48:27,567
the manufacturer
of the carpet,
730
00:48:27,567 --> 00:48:30,166
then they start looking
at where it was sold the most.
731
00:48:32,467 --> 00:48:32,723
[Ronald] This was a big break.
732
00:48:32,723 --> 00:48:33,000
[Ronald] This was a big break.
733
00:48:33,867 --> 00:48:37,767
Now they knew there was,
uh, a scientific connection
734
00:48:37,767 --> 00:48:39,266
between these cases.
735
00:48:42,500 --> 00:48:44,567
But nothing was uncovered
736
00:48:44,567 --> 00:48:47,767
to point a clue as to who
that suspect could be.
737
00:48:57,467 --> 00:48:59,567
And then sometime later,
738
00:48:59,567 --> 00:49:02,723
in the most bizarre way,
everything changed.
739
00:49:02,723 --> 00:49:02,800
in the most bizarre way,
everything changed.
740
00:49:06,266 --> 00:49:08,266
There was a young juvenile,
741
00:49:09,867 --> 00:49:12,600
Billy Pugh was his name
and he was a car thief.
742
00:49:15,467 --> 00:49:17,367
Stole one, he got caught.
743
00:49:27,700 --> 00:49:31,266
[reporter] In the majority
of cases, the bodies had been
dumped near freeways.
744
00:49:31,266 --> 00:49:32,723
So the suspect
investigators are looking for
745
00:49:32,723 --> 00:49:33,000
So the suspect
investigators are looking for
746
00:49:33,567 --> 00:49:36,200
has been dubbed
the Freeway Killer.
747
00:49:36,266 --> 00:49:40,066
[Ronald] He was in custody,
waiting for his case
to come up,
748
00:49:40,066 --> 00:49:43,266
and for some reason
he heard on the radio
749
00:49:43,266 --> 00:49:46,266
somebody talking
about the Freeway Killer,
750
00:49:46,266 --> 00:49:51,000
and the nude bodies,
and the remote locations,
and so forth.
751
00:49:52,300 --> 00:49:55,100
Now, Billy Pugh didn't like
the fact that he got caught,
752
00:49:56,000 --> 00:49:58,767
so he was willing
to make a deal.
753
00:49:59,367 --> 00:50:01,500
So, he said to his counsellor,
754
00:50:01,567 --> 00:50:02,723
"I think I know
who that could be."
755
00:50:02,723 --> 00:50:03,000
"I think I know
who that could be."
756
00:50:04,867 --> 00:50:06,166
The counsellor
757
00:50:06,967 --> 00:50:08,467
took that information
758
00:50:08,467 --> 00:50:11,667
and contacted
a police officer on the case,
759
00:50:11,667 --> 00:50:12,967
Jigsaw John.
760
00:50:16,266 --> 00:50:20,467
He came out the next day
and talked to Billy Pugh.
761
00:50:20,467 --> 00:50:23,166
And that's when
Billy Pugh said,
762
00:50:23,166 --> 00:50:26,166
"You know, I was
at a party one time and I...
763
00:50:26,166 --> 00:50:28,667
I left the party,
I came outside
764
00:50:28,667 --> 00:50:30,667
and a guy offered me a ride.
765
00:50:34,767 --> 00:50:37,767
Then he started
kinda playing around with me,
766
00:50:37,767 --> 00:50:39,567
touching me,
which I didn't like.
767
00:50:41,166 --> 00:50:44,000
He started telling me
how he liked to kill people.
768
00:50:44,000 --> 00:50:45,967
He liked to molest people.
769
00:50:50,767 --> 00:50:53,300
Billy Pugh was kind of afraid.
770
00:50:53,367 --> 00:50:55,166
He wanted to get away.
771
00:50:55,166 --> 00:50:57,166
And when he got to his house,
772
00:50:57,166 --> 00:51:00,567
the guy said to him,
"Okay, I'm gonna let you go
773
00:51:00,567 --> 00:51:02,500
because people
saw us together."
774
00:51:07,200 --> 00:51:10,800
Billy Pugh explains
to Jigsaw John that, uh,
775
00:51:10,867 --> 00:51:12,266
his name was William Bonin.
776
00:51:19,000 --> 00:51:21,467
As soon as Jigsaw John
finished the interview,
777
00:51:21,467 --> 00:51:25,266
he went back down,
talked to the task force.
778
00:51:25,266 --> 00:51:29,367
And he ran the name
"William Bonin"
through the rap sheet.
779
00:51:31,567 --> 00:51:32,723
They couldn't believe
what they were reading.
780
00:51:32,723 --> 00:51:33,000
They couldn't believe
what they were reading.
781
00:51:34,667 --> 00:51:36,800
One offense after
another offense,
782
00:51:36,867 --> 00:51:38,200
after another offense.
783
00:51:39,367 --> 00:51:42,767
All of the sex crimes
that he had been convicted of.
784
00:51:43,900 --> 00:51:47,000
The fact that he had been
sent to Atascadero,
785
00:51:47,000 --> 00:51:49,367
the mental hospital
for California.
786
00:51:52,166 --> 00:51:54,100
Then he was sent
to the state prison
787
00:51:54,100 --> 00:51:57,100
because there wasn't anything
that they could do with him
after the whole situation.
788
00:51:59,266 --> 00:52:02,667
Well, this was a big break
in the case.
789
00:52:17,100 --> 00:52:21,367
[Dr. Vonda Pelto] When Bonin
was convicted in 1969,
790
00:52:21,367 --> 00:52:27,600
he was convicted
of sexually abusing
791
00:52:27,667 --> 00:52:30,000
four teenagers.
792
00:52:32,166 --> 00:52:34,600
Would you bring
the patient in, please?
793
00:52:34,667 --> 00:52:38,100
[Dr. Vonda Pelto] And so,
the court decided to have him,
794
00:52:38,166 --> 00:52:39,893
uh, interviewed
by a psychiatrist
795
00:52:39,893 --> 00:52:40,000
uh, interviewed
by a psychiatrist
796
00:52:41,166 --> 00:52:46,000
who then put the label
of mentally disordered,
sexual offender.
797
00:52:49,166 --> 00:52:51,967
Then he was sent off
to Atascadero
798
00:52:51,967 --> 00:52:54,266
for hospitalization
799
00:52:54,266 --> 00:52:58,000
to be cured
of these tendencies
800
00:52:58,066 --> 00:53:02,066
with homosexuality
and raping young boys.
801
00:53:03,967 --> 00:53:07,767
[narrator] Whilst in his cell,
a man's condition
should be checked often.
802
00:53:07,767 --> 00:53:09,767
It's not unusual
for mentally disturbed people
803
00:53:09,767 --> 00:53:09,893
to have moods that swing
from one extreme to the other.
804
00:53:09,893 --> 00:53:10,000
to have moods that swing
from one extreme to the other.
805
00:53:16,266 --> 00:53:18,767
[Dr. David Foster] At the time
that Bonin was there,
806
00:53:18,767 --> 00:53:24,367
they would use, uh,
extremely aversive techniques.
807
00:53:24,367 --> 00:53:28,300
Um, shocks, using
electro-convulsive therapy.
808
00:53:28,367 --> 00:53:31,800
Not as treatment,
but as a way
of softening someone up.
809
00:53:36,200 --> 00:53:39,867
They have this
ancient notion that
810
00:53:39,867 --> 00:53:39,893
if you had
a homosexual orientation,
811
00:53:39,893 --> 00:53:40,000
if you had
a homosexual orientation,
812
00:53:42,867 --> 00:53:48,266
you could force someone
into a conversion
to heterosexuality.
813
00:53:51,700 --> 00:53:56,467
[Don Kilhefner]
We tried to intervene
at Atascadero State Hospital
814
00:53:56,467 --> 00:54:01,600
and bring some sanity
into that, um, arena.
815
00:54:03,467 --> 00:54:09,767
There are record of gay men
as young as 14
being sent there.
816
00:54:09,767 --> 00:54:09,893
They could do
whatever they wanted to there.
817
00:54:09,893 --> 00:54:10,000
They could do
whatever they wanted to there.
818
00:54:12,667 --> 00:54:15,467
Chemical emasculation.
819
00:54:15,467 --> 00:54:19,900
A whole new mental illness
was created around us.
820
00:54:19,967 --> 00:54:24,467
It wasn't only at Atascadero,
it was happening
all over the country.
821
00:54:26,266 --> 00:54:29,367
[Dr. David Foster]
I think the understanding
of these things
822
00:54:29,367 --> 00:54:31,767
was so primitive at that time.
823
00:54:32,500 --> 00:54:35,467
The methods were so limited
824
00:54:35,467 --> 00:54:38,667
that the efforts were more
damaging than helpful.
825
00:54:41,767 --> 00:54:47,066
The tragedy of
what made Bonin who he is
is incalculable.
826
00:54:51,500 --> 00:54:55,467
[Dr. Vonda Pelto] Ultimately,
he was in Atascadero
827
00:54:55,467 --> 00:54:59,600
because the staff was saying
that he was not cured.
828
00:54:59,667 --> 00:55:03,667
But the psychiatrist said
there's still hope for him.
829
00:55:05,400 --> 00:55:09,893
So ultimately, Bonin,
after years of treatment
in Atascadero, imprisoned.
830
00:55:09,893 --> 00:55:10,000
So ultimately, Bonin,
after years of treatment
in Atascadero, imprisoned.
831
00:55:12,367 --> 00:55:15,667
He was released in late '78.
832
00:55:19,367 --> 00:55:21,266
[Ronald E Bowers]
Well, what's interesting
about it was that
833
00:55:21,266 --> 00:55:23,166
just six months or so later
834
00:55:23,166 --> 00:55:29,467
was the genesis
of the freeway killer
serial killings.
835
00:55:30,166 --> 00:55:33,567
And in his diary, he says,
836
00:55:33,567 --> 00:55:37,767
"From now on,
there will not be any more
victims left alive."
837
00:55:44,000 --> 00:55:47,500
[Dave Lopez] William Bonin
should have never been
released from prison.
838
00:55:47,567 --> 00:55:50,166
This was definitely
a lost opportunity.
839
00:55:50,166 --> 00:55:52,467
One of the victims was 12
for God's sake.
840
00:55:52,467 --> 00:55:55,367
You're at the prime
of your life.
You're just beginning living.
841
00:55:55,367 --> 00:56:02,100
{\an8}And to let...
Have society let someone out
like a Bonin roam free,
842
00:56:02,166 --> 00:56:05,467
not fair, it's not right,
and sure, it leaves me angry.
843
00:56:09,567 --> 00:56:09,893
[reporter] Investigators
now believe the death toll
has reached 21 bodies.
844
00:56:09,893 --> 00:56:10,000
[reporter] Investigators
now believe the death toll
has reached 21 bodies.
845
00:56:13,967 --> 00:56:18,967
Putting the murderer in league
with America's most deadly
serial killers.
846
00:56:18,967 --> 00:56:23,100
Homicide detectives say that
they're pursuing a number
of suspects in the case.
847
00:56:25,767 --> 00:56:30,500
[Ronald E Bowers] After Jigsaw
John had gotten the
information from Billy Pugh,
848
00:56:30,567 --> 00:56:35,667
this gave law enforcement
the opportunity to zero in.
849
00:56:39,200 --> 00:56:39,893
But they had no evidence
on this William Bonin.
850
00:56:39,893 --> 00:56:40,000
But they had no evidence
on this William Bonin.
851
00:56:49,867 --> 00:56:53,266
The ball is now in the court
of the detectives
852
00:56:53,266 --> 00:56:56,300
to figure out a way.
How are they going
to build a case?
853
00:56:58,300 --> 00:57:00,567
They decided, "We gotta
catch him in the act."
854
00:57:32,467 --> 00:57:36,667
On the ninth day,
William Bonin drives
to the Hollywood area.
855
00:57:41,166 --> 00:57:43,767
The surveillance team
is trying to follow him.
856
00:57:54,500 --> 00:57:58,867
He's driving up and down,
and he pick up a young man.
857
00:58:01,967 --> 00:58:04,800
There's some type
of transaction
that takes place.
858
00:58:14,567 --> 00:58:16,567
They drive
to an isolated area.
859
00:58:18,467 --> 00:58:21,266
After a while,
the van starts shaking.
860
00:58:24,667 --> 00:58:29,367
But at what stage
do the detectives get out
and go over there
861
00:58:29,367 --> 00:58:31,667
and look inside
to see what's going on?
862
00:58:35,800 --> 00:58:38,567
If they waited too long,
what could happen?
863
00:58:38,567 --> 00:58:39,893
That victim could be
the next person killed.
864
00:58:39,893 --> 00:58:40,000
That victim could be
the next person killed.
865
00:58:54,867 --> 00:58:58,100
And immediately,
they could see that, uh,
866
00:58:58,100 --> 00:59:02,667
this victim was tied up.
Was... I think,
was handcuffed.
867
00:59:05,200 --> 00:59:09,400
They realized that
he was being
sexually molested.
868
00:59:11,100 --> 00:59:14,100
This victim was 17 years old.
869
00:59:14,100 --> 00:59:17,867
That meant that they could
arrest William Bonin
870
00:59:17,867 --> 00:59:21,066
for committing
an insidious act
on a minor.
871
00:59:21,066 --> 00:59:25,567
Now, if he had been an adult,
they most likely would not
have been able to arrest him.
872
00:59:30,266 --> 00:59:33,700
There was kind of a green shag
carpeting in the back.
873
00:59:33,767 --> 00:59:37,867
Uh, very similar
to the fibers that
they had found earlier.
874
00:59:41,567 --> 00:59:44,767
But also
in the side of the van,
875
00:59:44,767 --> 00:59:50,166
there was a cord,
pliers, a carjack.
876
00:59:50,800 --> 00:59:53,100
There was a tire iron.
877
00:59:53,100 --> 00:59:55,767
There was blood spatter
on the walls,
878
00:59:55,767 --> 00:59:57,667
there was blood on the floor.
879
01:00:00,967 --> 01:00:05,867
In the glove box, we found
newspaper clippings
of the freeway killer.
880
01:00:08,667 --> 01:00:09,893
But also, there were
no handles on the door.
881
01:00:09,893 --> 01:00:10,000
But also, there were
no handles on the door.
882
01:00:11,767 --> 01:00:15,400
If you were a victim
in that van,
883
01:00:15,467 --> 01:00:17,100
there was no way of escaping.
884
01:00:26,300 --> 01:00:27,600
So, he's arrested.
885
01:00:27,667 --> 01:00:30,166
Now they know they have him
off the street.
886
01:00:34,166 --> 01:00:37,367
But they didn't arrest him
for being the freeway killer,
887
01:00:37,367 --> 01:00:39,893
they arrested him for eluding
the city's conduct
on a minor.
888
01:00:39,893 --> 01:00:40,000
they arrested him for eluding
the city's conduct
on a minor.
889
01:00:42,867 --> 01:00:46,266
Now they had to see
if they could find
any concrete evidence
890
01:00:46,266 --> 01:00:48,567
that they could tie him
to these serial killings.
891
01:00:49,567 --> 01:00:51,500
They needed the smoking gun.
892
01:00:55,000 --> 01:00:57,266
[reporter 1] Los Angeles
Police Department
said last night
893
01:00:57,266 --> 01:00:59,367
they have arrested a man
in connection with
894
01:00:59,367 --> 01:01:01,900
-the so called freeway killer.
-[reporter 2]
...very cautious right now.
895
01:01:01,967 --> 01:01:03,900
[reporter 3]
So far, 33 year old
William Bonin...
896
01:01:03,967 --> 01:01:06,400
[reporters talking
indistinctly]
897
01:01:12,867 --> 01:01:14,700
[reporter 4] William Bonin
remains in custody
898
01:01:14,767 --> 01:01:16,667
as investigators
process the evidence
899
01:01:16,667 --> 01:01:18,767
obtained during
the search of his home.
900
01:01:18,767 --> 01:01:21,800
Authorities from
various jurisdictions
are trying to see if...
901
01:01:21,867 --> 01:01:25,200
[Dave Lopez] The night
that Bonin was arrested
902
01:01:25,266 --> 01:01:26,867
put up the address
of his, uh...
903
01:01:28,567 --> 01:01:30,033
the house.
904
01:01:31,100 --> 01:01:35,467
Every station in town
was there.
Every reporter was there.
905
01:01:35,467 --> 01:01:39,266
There must have been
20 to 30 detectives
just swarming.
906
01:01:39,266 --> 01:01:39,893
It was a mad house.
907
01:01:39,893 --> 01:01:40,000
It was a mad house.
908
01:01:52,000 --> 01:01:53,567
This was the home
of his mother.
909
01:01:55,567 --> 01:01:59,600
Through all of this bedlam,
I saw this woman.
910
01:02:00,900 --> 01:02:02,700
Thought almost right away
that this was his mother.
911
01:02:03,467 --> 01:02:05,066
And she was all by herself.
912
01:02:08,000 --> 01:02:09,700
Obviously she was in shock.
913
01:02:09,767 --> 01:02:09,893
And I felt sorry for her.
914
01:02:09,893 --> 01:02:10,000
And I felt sorry for her.
915
01:02:11,867 --> 01:02:14,400
You know, just sitting there
in all this commotion
all around her
916
01:02:14,467 --> 01:02:16,900
and she looked like
the loneliest person
in the world.
917
01:02:20,367 --> 01:02:23,266
I took note of it.
Said, "You know what,
I'm gonna come back."
918
01:02:31,567 --> 01:02:36,000
The next morning, I showed up,
and to my surprise,
there was absolutely nobody.
919
01:02:36,066 --> 01:02:38,066
I mean, nobody was
in front of that house.
920
01:02:40,567 --> 01:02:44,100
She, uh, answered the door
and I introduced myself.
921
01:02:44,166 --> 01:02:47,767
I told her who I... Who I am.
And would she like
to talk about her son.
922
01:02:47,767 --> 01:02:49,266
About what she went through
last night.
923
01:02:49,266 --> 01:02:52,266
And what she has
to say about it.
About... About him.
924
01:02:53,166 --> 01:02:54,867
And to my shock, she agreed.
925
01:02:56,100 --> 01:02:58,800
I spoke to his mother
in an exclusive interview,
926
01:02:58,867 --> 01:03:02,567
and she freely talked
about her son
and about his tendencies.
927
01:03:04,667 --> 01:03:07,200
I know he's a homosexual.
928
01:03:07,266 --> 01:03:09,467
And they'd been trying
to cure him of it.
929
01:03:09,467 --> 01:03:09,893
But, uh, he's not a murderer.
930
01:03:09,893 --> 01:03:10,000
But, uh, he's not a murderer.
931
01:03:13,367 --> 01:03:14,467
[Dave Lopez]
Does he talk to you openly
932
01:03:14,467 --> 01:03:16,700
-about his homosexuality?
-Yes. He's very...
933
01:03:16,767 --> 01:03:19,000
He's very frank with me.
He's very honest.
934
01:03:19,867 --> 01:03:21,266
He would not lie to me.
935
01:03:23,400 --> 01:03:26,166
The stories that
boys in the neighborhood
were saying yesterday
936
01:03:26,166 --> 01:03:28,400
about how he's offer
other boys money,
937
01:03:28,467 --> 01:03:31,367
how he'd always
want to be on the lookout
for hitchhikers.
938
01:03:32,000 --> 01:03:32,867
Is that true?
939
01:03:33,467 --> 01:03:34,600
I believe it is.
940
01:03:35,867 --> 01:03:37,967
Does he ever explain to you
or tell you in detail
941
01:03:37,967 --> 01:03:39,893
-what he does when he picks up
these boys?
-No.
942
01:03:39,893 --> 01:03:40,000
-what he does when he picks up
these boys?
-No.
943
01:03:42,767 --> 01:03:45,400
You were telling me earlier
that... That he has
admitted to you
944
01:03:45,467 --> 01:03:48,467
that he put handcuffs
on some of those boys
he would pick up?
945
01:03:48,467 --> 01:03:50,300
When he'd first come back
from Vietnam,
946
01:03:50,367 --> 01:03:51,767
he was violent, yes.
947
01:03:51,767 --> 01:03:53,266
Tell me a little more
about that, if you will.
948
01:03:54,000 --> 01:03:55,100
Well, he...
949
01:03:56,266 --> 01:03:57,867
In the courts,
when it was said
950
01:03:57,867 --> 01:03:59,266
that he did that, he...
951
01:03:59,266 --> 01:04:01,300
They put handcuffs on them
and...
952
01:04:01,367 --> 01:04:02,900
He would put it on them and...
953
01:04:04,100 --> 01:04:05,767
do his act
and then let them go.
954
01:04:06,667 --> 01:04:08,200
He never hurt them.
955
01:04:08,266 --> 01:04:09,893
What's it been like for you
the last couple of hours,
956
01:04:09,893 --> 01:04:10,000
What's it been like for you
the last couple of hours,
957
01:04:10,166 --> 01:04:11,800
the last...
The last day I guess
958
01:04:11,867 --> 01:04:13,500
-since this...
-Horrible.
959
01:04:17,467 --> 01:04:19,600
I never knew someone
could go through, like...
960
01:04:19,667 --> 01:04:22,166
Something like this
without breaking down.
961
01:04:25,000 --> 01:04:26,867
He's innocent. I know he is.
962
01:04:28,800 --> 01:04:30,467
We'll prove it
some way or another.
963
01:04:40,567 --> 01:04:43,467
[Ronald E Bowers] The police,
they knew they had
the right person.
964
01:04:43,467 --> 01:04:46,166
But they needed
concrete evidence
965
01:04:46,166 --> 01:04:48,367
in order to convict
William Bonin.
966
01:04:49,467 --> 01:04:52,467
And so, they needed witnesses
to cooperate
967
01:04:52,467 --> 01:04:55,100
and come forward
to provide information.
968
01:04:56,367 --> 01:04:59,200
So, the next thing
that the task force does,
969
01:04:59,266 --> 01:05:00,767
they start asking around.
970
01:05:01,567 --> 01:05:04,000
"Who knows William Bonin?"
971
01:05:04,066 --> 01:05:07,266
They go wherever
he has had contact.
972
01:05:08,700 --> 01:05:09,893
Someone said, "Yeah, yeah.
You know, we've seen
William Bonin."
973
01:05:09,893 --> 01:05:10,000
Someone said, "Yeah, yeah.
You know, we've seen
William Bonin."
974
01:05:12,266 --> 01:05:14,867
He hangs out
with Vernon Butts.
975
01:05:19,667 --> 01:05:24,166
-So, they find his address
and they go over to his house.
- [siren blaring]
976
01:05:26,867 --> 01:05:31,200
Vernon Butts, he says,
"Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I know who William Bonin is."
977
01:05:31,266 --> 01:05:33,367
"I sometimes drive his van."
978
01:05:33,367 --> 01:05:36,967
But then he starts
talking about "We...
We would drive at night
979
01:05:36,967 --> 01:05:38,567
and pick up hitchhikers."
980
01:05:41,467 --> 01:05:44,200
Immediately,
that police officer thinks,
981
01:05:44,266 --> 01:05:45,900
"Wow, we got something here."
982
01:05:47,200 --> 01:05:51,100
Vernon Butts said
Bonin would get
in the back of the van
983
01:05:51,100 --> 01:05:53,166
and they would
pull the curtain.
984
01:05:54,600 --> 01:05:57,467
Vernon Butts could hear
different things going on.
985
01:05:57,467 --> 01:06:00,467
Screaming. He could hear
sexual activity.
986
01:06:02,000 --> 01:06:06,200
Constantly, Buss is
downplaying his involvement.
987
01:06:06,266 --> 01:06:09,893
But the detectives realized,
"Wow. You know,
he's confessing."
988
01:06:09,893 --> 01:06:10,000
But the detectives realized,
"Wow. You know,
he's confessing."
989
01:06:14,200 --> 01:06:16,467
This was a big break
in the case.
990
01:06:16,467 --> 01:06:19,400
And so, detectives arrested
Vernon Butts.
991
01:06:20,867 --> 01:06:23,266
He was essential
for the prosecution.
992
01:06:23,266 --> 01:06:25,567
And we were willing
to make a deal with him.
993
01:06:25,567 --> 01:06:30,000
That if he would testify,
well, against William Bonin,
994
01:06:30,066 --> 01:06:32,800
we would not go
for the death penalty.
995
01:06:33,367 --> 01:06:35,367
And he did it.
996
01:06:35,367 --> 01:06:39,100
He gave some names.
He said, "You better check
these people out."
997
01:06:39,166 --> 01:06:39,893
And they couldn't believe
what was uncovered.
998
01:06:39,893 --> 01:06:40,000
And they couldn't believe
what was uncovered.
999
01:06:49,266 --> 01:06:52,667
[Ronald E Bowers]
William Bonin, when, uh,
committing his crimes,
1000
01:06:52,667 --> 01:06:55,367
he had all these accomplices.
1001
01:06:55,367 --> 01:06:59,667
He was smart in a way
of knowing how to use people.
1002
01:06:59,667 --> 01:07:01,266
Manipulate people.
1003
01:07:01,333 --> 01:07:05,867
And that's why he would
pick on people
who weren't that bright.
1004
01:07:05,867 --> 01:07:11,934
Vernon Butts
was the main accomplice
who would do the driving.
1005
01:07:11,934 --> 01:07:16,567
He testified that also
there was a Munroe.
1006
01:07:16,567 --> 01:07:17,069
He was homeless. He helped him
at the very end do a killing.
1007
01:07:17,069 --> 01:07:18,000
He was homeless. He helped him
at the very end do a killing.
1008
01:07:21,433 --> 01:07:24,166
Greg Miley, he was one
that could be talked into it.
1009
01:07:24,233 --> 01:07:26,133
Did it a few times for him.
1010
01:07:27,166 --> 01:07:29,433
But the one
that was most surprising,
1011
01:07:30,100 --> 01:07:32,133
was Billy Pugh.
1012
01:07:32,133 --> 01:07:36,133
Billy Pugh was the one
that blew the whistle.
1013
01:07:37,033 --> 01:07:39,667
These young men
would help him out in
1014
01:07:39,734 --> 01:07:42,266
picking up hitchhikers,
driving the van,
1015
01:07:42,266 --> 01:07:46,934
so that he could molest
the victim in the back
of the van.
1016
01:07:46,934 --> 01:07:47,069
{\an8}Very strange
for a serial killer
to use another person.
1017
01:07:47,069 --> 01:07:48,000
{\an8}Very strange
for a serial killer
to use another person.
1018
01:07:53,000 --> 01:07:56,033
When you have somebody else,
another accomplice,
1019
01:07:56,033 --> 01:07:58,634
that means that person
could be a witness
against you.
1020
01:08:05,767 --> 01:08:11,967
I met all of his recruits,
and they were all
very dependent, passive,
1021
01:08:11,967 --> 01:08:16,100
homosexual young boys,
who were not very bright.
1022
01:08:18,233 --> 01:08:25,066
One of them had an IQ of 56,
and normal is 100.
1023
01:08:25,066 --> 01:08:30,467
Bonin took these boys in
and made them his lovers,
1024
01:08:30,467 --> 01:08:34,266
and then asked them to kill.
1025
01:08:36,266 --> 01:08:40,767
He corrupted them
and made them victims also.
1026
01:08:46,133 --> 01:08:47,069
When we prosecuted the case,
we filed 14 murders
against William Bonin.
1027
01:08:47,069 --> 01:08:48,000
When we prosecuted the case,
we filed 14 murders
against William Bonin.
1028
01:08:54,266 --> 01:08:55,834
The District Attorney's
office,
1029
01:08:55,867 --> 01:08:59,266
in order to make a decision
on whether they should seek
the death penalty,
1030
01:08:59,333 --> 01:09:04,100
they needed to hear
from the defense,
as to any mitigating evidence.
1031
01:09:04,100 --> 01:09:08,634
How remorseful you are,
or whether you really did it
or not.
1032
01:09:08,634 --> 01:09:14,967
So, they gave the defendant,
William Bonin, an opportunity
to say whatever they wanted.
1033
01:09:14,967 --> 01:09:17,069
It was on the understanding
that it would not be used
against him in a court of law.
1034
01:09:17,069 --> 01:09:18,000
It was on the understanding
that it would not be used
against him in a court of law.
1035
01:09:22,166 --> 01:09:25,367
So, that's where
these tapes come from.
1036
01:09:27,867 --> 01:09:29,166
{\an8}[detective speaking]
1037
01:09:29,934 --> 01:09:32,433
{\an8}[Bernie speaking]
1038
01:09:34,834 --> 01:09:37,734
{\an8}[Bonin speaking]
1039
01:09:56,100 --> 01:10:01,166
I think we can safely,
with William Bonin, that no,
he was not an innocent person.
1040
01:10:01,233 --> 01:10:04,166
No, he could not
be rehabilitated.
1041
01:10:04,233 --> 01:10:07,266
Uh, so there could be
a strong argument
1042
01:10:07,333 --> 01:10:09,867
that he was deserving
of the death penalty.
1043
01:10:11,266 --> 01:10:15,367
{\an8}[Bonin speaking]
1044
01:10:36,667 --> 01:10:40,467
Once we had made the decision
to go for the death penalty,
1045
01:10:40,467 --> 01:10:43,767
we were never gonna use
those tapes in any way,
shape or form.
1046
01:10:43,834 --> 01:10:45,367
They were meant
to be confidential,
1047
01:10:45,367 --> 01:10:47,069
and they were never to be,
uh, told to the public.
1048
01:10:47,069 --> 01:10:48,000
and they were never to be,
uh, told to the public.
1049
01:10:54,100 --> 01:10:57,867
Vernon Butts was a man
with many problems,
1050
01:10:57,934 --> 01:11:00,533
but he was essential
for the prosecution
1051
01:11:00,533 --> 01:11:03,767
because he was
the main accomplice.
1052
01:11:05,433 --> 01:11:08,066
Butts became distraught
1053
01:11:08,066 --> 01:11:12,266
about being pressured
into testifying against Bonin.
1054
01:11:12,266 --> 01:11:14,433
And he loved Bonin.
1055
01:11:14,433 --> 01:11:17,069
So, he hung himself
in the jail.
1056
01:11:17,069 --> 01:11:17,433
So, he hung himself
in the jail.
1057
01:11:22,000 --> 01:11:26,166
[Bernie]
This was a severe blow
to the prosecution.
1058
01:11:26,166 --> 01:11:29,133
We needed Butts' testimony.
1059
01:11:29,133 --> 01:11:32,967
How is William Bonin
gonna be prosecuted now?
1060
01:11:36,834 --> 01:11:40,533
As a result of that, we had
to re-evaluate the case,
1061
01:11:40,533 --> 01:11:43,767
we had to dismiss
some of the murders,
1062
01:11:43,834 --> 01:11:47,069
because we knew
we couldn't prove them
without his testimony.
1063
01:11:47,069 --> 01:11:47,767
because we knew
we couldn't prove them
without his testimony.
1064
01:11:47,767 --> 01:11:48,000
That was when we brought in
these other accomplices.
1065
01:11:52,767 --> 01:11:56,934
We had to use them,
but it was very difficult.
1066
01:11:56,934 --> 01:12:02,467
Because of limited IQ,
they're terrible witnesses
in court.
1067
01:12:04,166 --> 01:12:06,767
And so, the case
could go down the drain.
1068
01:12:16,133 --> 01:12:17,069
[Dave] Bonin had an attorney
by name of Earl Hansen.
1069
01:12:17,069 --> 01:12:18,000
[Dave] Bonin had an attorney
by name of Earl Hansen.
1070
01:12:18,567 --> 01:12:21,567
I remember, one time,
waiting to get an interview
with Earl,
1071
01:12:21,634 --> 01:12:24,266
and he says to me,
pulls me aside and says,
1072
01:12:24,266 --> 01:12:26,033
"Dave,
I gotta tell you something.
1073
01:12:26,033 --> 01:12:29,734
Uh, saw the interview you did
with Bonin's mother.
My client saw it.
1074
01:12:29,734 --> 01:12:32,634
And he was very happy
with the way you treated
his mother.
1075
01:12:32,634 --> 01:12:36,000
Here's my card.
Take this card." And he wrote
something on the back.
1076
01:12:37,567 --> 01:12:41,266
It says on the back,
"Permission to talk to Bonin."
1077
01:12:43,166 --> 01:12:47,069
What happened back in 1980
would never happen today.
1078
01:12:47,069 --> 01:12:47,767
What happened back in 1980
would never happen today.
1079
01:12:47,767 --> 01:12:48,000
There is no way in the world
that a reporter
on a major case like this
1080
01:12:51,734 --> 01:12:53,934
would get permission
from anyone
1081
01:12:53,934 --> 01:12:56,667
to get to the jail
and talk to the defendant.
1082
01:13:02,867 --> 01:13:04,066
So, here I am.
1083
01:13:05,100 --> 01:13:07,367
I go in and I show the card.
1084
01:13:07,433 --> 01:13:09,433
The guard says,
"Okay, fine, go here."
1085
01:13:15,667 --> 01:13:17,033
In comes Bonin.
1086
01:13:17,033 --> 01:13:17,069
I though,
"Wow, this is incredible."
1087
01:13:17,069 --> 01:13:18,000
I though,
"Wow, this is incredible."
1088
01:13:19,033 --> 01:13:23,867
And I was surprised
by his size.
He wasn't all that big.
1089
01:13:23,867 --> 01:13:26,233
But there was something
about him that terrified me.
1090
01:13:27,934 --> 01:13:30,133
We just started
a casual conversation.
1091
01:13:30,133 --> 01:13:33,934
He said to me,
"I wanna thank you
for being kind to my mom."
1092
01:13:33,934 --> 01:13:37,867
I didn't even ask him
if he committed
these crimes or not.
1093
01:13:37,867 --> 01:13:40,233
I wanted to tread very,
very lightly.
1094
01:13:44,033 --> 01:13:45,266
Then the third meeting.
1095
01:13:45,333 --> 01:13:47,069
Walked in, said, "Hi."
1096
01:13:47,069 --> 01:13:47,567
Walked in, said, "Hi."
1097
01:13:47,634 --> 01:13:48,000
And he says, "Are you ready?"
1098
01:13:50,233 --> 01:13:51,934
I go, "For what?"
1099
01:13:51,934 --> 01:13:53,634
He says, "I'm gonna
tell you something."
1100
01:13:53,634 --> 01:14:00,266
And he proceeded to tell me,
hook, line and sinker,
the murders.
1101
01:14:05,533 --> 01:14:08,567
He told me
that he had killed 21.
1102
01:14:10,367 --> 01:14:15,233
I'm in shock,
listening to this guy describe
how they picked up one kid,
1103
01:14:15,233 --> 01:14:17,069
and they put an ice pick
on the side of his head.
1104
01:14:17,069 --> 01:14:18,000
and they put an ice pick
on the side of his head.
1105
01:14:19,233 --> 01:14:24,567
One of his accomplices, Butts,
went crazy and stabbed
another guy 70 times.
1106
01:14:24,567 --> 01:14:30,567
He told me about some other
kid who squealed and cried
and was easy to kill.
1107
01:14:30,634 --> 01:14:33,000
And he tells me that,
you know, he enjoyed it.
1108
01:14:33,000 --> 01:14:35,100
Once he started,
he couldn't stop.
1109
01:14:38,100 --> 01:14:42,166
I didn't take any notes,
because I knew if I had,
he would've stopped talking.
1110
01:14:44,066 --> 01:14:45,967
And then he proceeded
to tell me
1111
01:14:45,967 --> 01:14:47,069
that he wanted to avoid
the death penalty
at all costs.
1112
01:14:47,069 --> 01:14:48,000
that he wanted to avoid
the death penalty
at all costs.
1113
01:14:50,333 --> 01:14:53,667
And that he wanted me
to see if that could be done.
1114
01:14:53,734 --> 01:14:55,467
And I said, "I don't have
any power to do that."
1115
01:14:55,533 --> 01:14:59,667
So, [chuckles] I walked
out of there stunned.
1116
01:14:59,734 --> 01:15:02,033
I didn't know
what the hell to do.
1117
01:15:06,433 --> 01:15:07,734
And now, I'm stuck.
1118
01:15:07,734 --> 01:15:09,266
What in the world
am I gonna do with this?
1119
01:15:09,333 --> 01:15:11,233
I got this blockbuster story.
1120
01:15:11,233 --> 01:15:15,367
I knew that once
I put this on air,
if I ever put it on the air,
1121
01:15:15,367 --> 01:15:17,069
that police would swarm on me
like I was one
of the suspects.
1122
01:15:17,069 --> 01:15:18,000
that police would swarm on me
like I was one
of the suspects.
1123
01:15:21,533 --> 01:15:26,233
And on June 29th of 1981,
I went on CBS 2,
1124
01:15:26,233 --> 01:15:30,033
and I had told the story
of how I got the confession
and what he had said.
1125
01:15:33,166 --> 01:15:37,467
[man on TV]
This is a Channel 2
special presentation.
1126
01:15:37,467 --> 01:15:39,166
I am at the men's jail
1127
01:15:39,233 --> 01:15:42,667
and this is the scene
that Mr. Bonin has seen
at least three times.
1128
01:15:42,734 --> 01:15:44,767
This is the booking area
of the jail.
1129
01:15:44,834 --> 01:15:47,069
[Dave] It was like a bomb
had gone off.
1130
01:15:47,069 --> 01:15:47,367
[Dave] It was like a bomb
had gone off.
1131
01:15:47,367 --> 01:15:48,000
I knew that the police wanted
all the explicit details
1132
01:15:51,233 --> 01:15:53,867
of the conversations
that Bonin and I had.
1133
01:16:02,867 --> 01:16:04,967
And then, the trial begins.
1134
01:16:04,967 --> 01:16:08,166
I was under a lot of pressure
to testify.
1135
01:16:08,233 --> 01:16:12,734
Prosecution, detectives,
certain police chiefs,
1136
01:16:12,734 --> 01:16:15,166
investigators,
private investigators,
1137
01:16:15,233 --> 01:16:17,069
families of the victims.
1138
01:16:17,069 --> 01:16:17,934
families of the victims.
1139
01:16:17,934 --> 01:16:18,000
I was a reporter,
I had a credibility,
1140
01:16:21,266 --> 01:16:23,433
and I certainly was
a whole lot better witness
1141
01:16:23,433 --> 01:16:26,567
than the knuckleheads
that were with Bonin.
1142
01:16:26,634 --> 01:16:30,567
{\an8}We will indeed prove
in this courtroom
that he is The Freeway Killer,
1143
01:16:30,567 --> 01:16:34,000
{\an8}as he has bragged
to number of witnesses.
1144
01:16:35,166 --> 01:16:38,166
But, as a journalist,
you need sources,
1145
01:16:38,233 --> 01:16:43,166
and you've gotta be able
to have someone who can
give you vital information
1146
01:16:43,233 --> 01:16:46,467
know that you are going
to protect them.
1147
01:16:46,467 --> 01:16:47,069
You have heard
about the principle
among the journalists
1148
01:16:47,069 --> 01:16:48,000
You have heard
about the principle
among the journalists
1149
01:16:49,533 --> 01:16:52,834
that a reporter must protect
a confidential source.
1150
01:16:52,834 --> 01:16:55,367
[Dave] And so,
what the California
shield law does,
1151
01:16:55,433 --> 01:17:00,266
is it prevents anyone
from law enforcement
to go in and force you
1152
01:17:00,266 --> 01:17:04,166
to reveal or say what
you have not reported yet.
1153
01:17:04,166 --> 01:17:09,166
They are not allowed
to go into your private notes,
1154
01:17:09,233 --> 01:17:11,967
or your personal files
or anything like that.
1155
01:17:11,967 --> 01:17:15,967
So, in other words,
there are things
that they may want to know
1156
01:17:15,967 --> 01:17:17,069
that weren't publicized.
1157
01:17:17,069 --> 01:17:18,000
that weren't publicized.
1158
01:17:19,934 --> 01:17:24,634
If I had given that up,
I will have been run out
of the business.
1159
01:17:24,634 --> 01:17:27,333
It is our gospel.
You don't break it.
1160
01:17:28,867 --> 01:17:33,166
You know, there have
been reporters
that have gone to jail,
1161
01:17:33,233 --> 01:17:35,533
rather than give up
their source.
1162
01:17:35,533 --> 01:17:37,333
Uh, even if they're
court ordered.
1163
01:17:38,333 --> 01:17:40,233
I would've encouraged him
to do it,
1164
01:17:40,233 --> 01:17:44,166
but it was a big no-no
for him, amongst his peers.
1165
01:17:44,166 --> 01:17:47,069
[man on TV] Prosecution
has called parents
and friends to testify.
1166
01:17:47,069 --> 01:17:47,634
[man on TV] Prosecution
has called parents
and friends to testify.
1167
01:17:47,634 --> 01:17:48,000
[man] You talked to him
on that day. Did you ever see
or hear from your son again?
1168
01:17:52,934 --> 01:17:54,233
No.
1169
01:17:54,233 --> 01:17:58,000
[Dave] The trial goes on.
Bonin had pleaded not guilty.
1170
01:17:58,000 --> 01:18:03,266
And the one thing
that really haunted me
was the grieving mothers.
1171
01:18:03,333 --> 01:18:07,166
Do you recognize that
as being the body of your son?
1172
01:18:07,166 --> 01:18:09,100
Yes, sir.
1173
01:18:09,100 --> 01:18:11,467
[Dave] I just had
a lot of soul searching.
1174
01:18:11,467 --> 01:18:13,967
My dad made
a very famous quote to me.
1175
01:18:13,967 --> 01:18:17,066
He said, "That's what you get
for trying to make a deal
with the devil.
1176
01:18:17,066 --> 01:18:17,069
You shouldn't have ever
got yourself put
in this predicament."
1177
01:18:17,069 --> 01:18:18,000
You shouldn't have ever
got yourself put
in this predicament."
1178
01:18:19,834 --> 01:18:22,133
I did, so what was I gonna do?
1179
01:18:32,233 --> 01:18:34,867
[Dave] I went to a couple
of very prominent people
1180
01:18:34,867 --> 01:18:36,533
that I worked with
in the business,
1181
01:18:36,533 --> 01:18:40,000
and there was one man
named Bill Stall,
and he said to me,
1182
01:18:41,166 --> 01:18:42,734
"I know your predicament,
1183
01:18:42,734 --> 01:18:44,634
but you gotta
remember something,
1184
01:18:44,634 --> 01:18:48,367
we are citizens first
and journalists second.
1185
01:18:52,033 --> 01:18:54,233
[female reporter]
Nine weeks into the trial
of William Bonin,
1186
01:18:54,233 --> 01:18:55,533
the man accused
in the so-called
1187
01:18:55,533 --> 01:18:57,667
Freeway Murders
of 21 young men,
1188
01:18:57,734 --> 01:18:58,270
a surprise witness
came forward,
1189
01:18:58,270 --> 01:18:59,000
a surprise witness
came forward,
1190
01:18:59,767 --> 01:19:02,367
claiming he could no longer
live with his conscience.
1191
01:19:02,433 --> 01:19:07,567
Television reporter Dave Lopez
revealed Bonin confessed
to him nearly a year ago.
1192
01:19:07,634 --> 01:19:10,767
He says, "I killed them all
except one."
1193
01:19:10,834 --> 01:19:12,166
[man] Are those words
Mr. Bonin said?
1194
01:19:12,233 --> 01:19:15,066
Those are his exact words.
"I killed them all
except one."
1195
01:19:15,934 --> 01:19:18,266
I asked him point blank.
I said, "Bill,
1196
01:19:18,266 --> 01:19:20,333
if you were still out
on the street, what would you
be doing right now?"
1197
01:19:21,333 --> 01:19:22,967
He says
he'll still be killing.
1198
01:19:22,967 --> 01:19:24,767
"Couldn't stop killing,"
he said.
1199
01:19:24,767 --> 01:19:27,166
"It got easier
with each victim we did."
1200
01:19:27,166 --> 01:19:28,270
[Dave] I answered
every question and went into
detail of what he told me.
1201
01:19:28,270 --> 01:19:29,000
[Dave] I answered
every question and went into
detail of what he told me.
1202
01:19:32,166 --> 01:19:36,000
I testified as a citizen,
because I firmly believe
1203
01:19:36,000 --> 01:19:39,333
that when the question
comes up, are we journalists
or citizens first,
1204
01:19:39,333 --> 01:19:41,166
we are citizens first.
1205
01:19:41,233 --> 01:19:45,266
The public has a right
to know. The jury
has a right to know.
1206
01:19:45,333 --> 01:19:48,467
Every mother and father
whoever loved a child
have the right to know.
1207
01:19:49,367 --> 01:19:51,133
[Dave] I got some criticism.
1208
01:19:51,133 --> 01:19:55,133
A lot of people thought
I did the wrong thing,
that were in my business.
1209
01:19:55,133 --> 01:19:58,066
In no way, gentlemen,
do I feel that I have,
in any way,
1210
01:19:58,066 --> 01:19:58,270
embarrassed the profession
or embarrassed myself.
1211
01:19:58,270 --> 01:19:59,000
embarrassed the profession
or embarrassed myself.
1212
01:20:00,433 --> 01:20:06,767
He took an awful lot of heat
from a lot of his peers.
1213
01:20:06,834 --> 01:20:10,033
But I supported him
100 percent.
1214
01:20:10,033 --> 01:20:14,567
Most of the citizens out there
appreciated he was
very involved
1215
01:20:14,634 --> 01:20:16,634
in getting this maniac
off the streets.
1216
01:20:17,767 --> 01:20:21,166
He was law enforcement's hero,
I'll guarantee you.
1217
01:20:30,467 --> 01:20:34,767
{\an8}Pursuant to
penal code section 190.3
of the state of California,
1218
01:20:34,834 --> 01:20:37,667
do determine the penalty
shall be death.
1219
01:20:37,734 --> 01:20:43,033
Well, he was convicted
of ten first degree murders
out of Los Angeles County.
1220
01:20:43,033 --> 01:20:46,667
William George Bonin
has demonstrated
a total disregard
1221
01:20:47,433 --> 01:20:50,000
for the sanctity
of human right
1222
01:20:50,000 --> 01:20:52,266
and the dignity
of a civilized society.
1223
01:20:54,233 --> 01:20:57,967
William George Bonin
shall be put to death.
1224
01:20:57,967 --> 01:20:58,270
He'll be administered
lethal gas
1225
01:20:58,270 --> 01:20:59,000
He'll be administered
lethal gas
1226
01:21:00,567 --> 01:21:03,767
within the walls
of the state prison
of San Quentin, California.
1227
01:21:11,967 --> 01:21:14,467
[Dave] The families,
I know they were very happy.
1228
01:21:14,467 --> 01:21:16,934
There were tears of joy
from a lot of them.
1229
01:21:16,934 --> 01:21:20,166
{\an8}I'm thankful
that it's over with
and we had a super jury
1230
01:21:20,233 --> 01:21:24,033
{\an8}and the verdict was...
He earned it. He earned it.
1231
01:21:24,033 --> 01:21:27,634
In Los Angeles, William Bonin
has been convicted
of ten murders.
1232
01:21:27,634 --> 01:21:28,270
He was convicted
for the homosexual
torture murders
1233
01:21:28,270 --> 01:21:29,000
He was convicted
for the homosexual
torture murders
1234
01:21:29,834 --> 01:21:31,567
of ten young men and boys.
1235
01:21:31,634 --> 01:21:35,567
Today, the so-called
Freeway Killer was sentenced
to death in the gas chamber.
1236
01:21:37,767 --> 01:21:40,667
[Ronald] Greg Miley,
he got 25 years to life.
1237
01:21:41,767 --> 01:21:47,634
He was killed
in custody in 2016.
1238
01:21:47,634 --> 01:21:52,133
James Munro,
he got 15 to life.
He is still in custody.
1239
01:21:53,266 --> 01:21:58,270
And Billy Pugh,
he got six years
and is now out.
1240
01:21:58,270 --> 01:21:58,467
And Billy Pugh,
he got six years
and is now out.
1241
01:22:03,433 --> 01:22:07,233
Two years later,
they were able to convict
William Bonin
1242
01:22:07,233 --> 01:22:10,066
of four murders
in Orange County.
1243
01:22:10,066 --> 01:22:13,667
The Orange County jury
also agreed
on the death penalty.
1244
01:22:15,367 --> 01:22:19,367
He was permanently sent up
to San Quentin,
placed on death row,
1245
01:22:19,433 --> 01:22:22,567
where he remained
for 14 years.
1246
01:22:33,567 --> 01:22:36,166
[Ronald] Bonin's guilt
is beyond dispute.
1247
01:22:36,166 --> 01:22:40,133
His case has been argued
and examined from every angle.
1248
01:22:40,133 --> 01:22:42,533
The whole process
has consumed more years
1249
01:22:42,533 --> 01:22:45,433
than Bonin has allowed
some of his victims to live.
1250
01:22:47,767 --> 01:22:49,867
[Dave] I still see
those faces.
1251
01:22:51,834 --> 01:22:54,233
It's still haunting at times.
1252
01:22:54,233 --> 01:22:58,233
But, um, I'm glad I was able
to do my part as a citizen,
1253
01:22:58,233 --> 01:22:58,270
and I, uh,
I hold my head high.
1254
01:22:58,270 --> 01:22:59,000
and I, uh,
I hold my head high.
1255
01:23:03,166 --> 01:23:07,433
For certain crimes,
justice demands
the ultimate punishment.
1256
01:23:07,433 --> 01:23:09,567
William Bonin
will never kill again.
1257
01:23:10,667 --> 01:23:12,533
Clemency is denied.
1258
01:23:25,066 --> 01:23:28,066
[Dr. David] It makes me feel
compassion for him,
1259
01:23:28,066 --> 01:23:28,270
and sadness and outrage
1260
01:23:28,270 --> 01:23:29,000
and sadness and outrage
1261
01:23:30,967 --> 01:23:34,567
that over and over and over,
1262
01:23:34,634 --> 01:23:38,133
there were opportunities
to intervene
in this child's life.
1263
01:23:42,066 --> 01:23:46,433
And then we have
the tragic loss
of all he killed.
1264
01:23:52,767 --> 01:23:58,270
{\an8}I think as a society,
we need to understand
what made Bonin who he is,
1265
01:23:58,270 --> 01:23:59,000
{\an8}I think as a society,
we need to understand
what made Bonin who he is,
1266
01:23:59,767 --> 01:24:05,166
{\an8}so that we can take both
policy actions
and individual actions
1267
01:24:05,166 --> 01:24:09,767
{\an8}to help prevent
these kinds of tragedies
from happening again.
1268
01:24:12,066 --> 01:24:17,166
{\an8}[man] Okay, roll of the tape
ends here at 2040 hours.