The Chilling Chronicles of Kenneth Bianchi: The Hillside Strangler

Early Life: A Troubled Beginning

Kenneth Alessio Bianchi, an American serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist, was born on May 22, 1951, in Rochester, New York. His life began in turmoil, born to a 17-year-old prostitute who surrendered him for adoption two weeks after his birth. Nicholas Bianchi and Frances Scioliono-Bianchi adopted him in August 1951, raising him as their only child. From an early age, Kenneth showed signs of deep-seated issues. His adoptive mother labeled him a "compulsive liar," a habit that emerged with his first words. His eyes would roll back during inattentive trances, leading to a diagnosis of petit mal seizures at just five years old. Further compounding his struggles, Kenneth suffered from involuntary urination, a source of shame frequently examined by doctors.

Kenneth's childhood was marred by anger, insomnia, and frequent bedwetting. A fall from a jungle gym on January 2, 1957, resulted in a face-first landing, prompting his mother to seek behavioral change through private Catholic schooling and psychiatric sessions. By ten, Kenneth had been diagnosed with passive-aggressive personality disorder. Despite an intelligence quotient of 116 at eleven, he underachieved, clashing with teachers and being removed from schools. His mother saw him as "lazy," while educators noted his failure to realize his potential.

In July 1963, an unsettling incident unfolded when Kenneth pulled down a six-year-old girl's underwear, an act he later admitted enjoying. The sudden death of his adoptive father from pneumonia in 1964 left Kenneth unfazed, showing no grief or tears. Following her husband's death, Frances worked while Kenneth attended public high school, where he was known for frequent absences. Despite this, he dated often and joined a motorcycle club. A marriage to high school sweetheart Brenda Beck ended abruptly after eight months, with Brenda leaving without explanation.

In adulthood, Kenneth aspired to join law enforcement, enrolling at Monroe Community College to study police science and psychology. However, he dropped out after one semester, drifting through menial jobs before landing a security guard position at a jewelry store. This role provided opportunities for theft, with stolen goods used to secure loyalty from girlfriends and prostitutes. His application to the local sheriff's department was rejected, and his petty thefts kept him on the move. In 1976, he relocated to Los Angeles, California.

The Hillside Strangler Murders

In Los Angeles, Kenneth reconnected with his older cousin, Angelo Buono Jr., Frances' nephew. Buono's flashy lifestyle and ability to dominate women impressed Kenneth. Together, they began working as pimps, but by late 1977, their activities escalated to the infamous "Hillside Strangler" murders. The duo raped and murdered ten young women and girls before their arrest in early 1979.

Kenneth and Angelo, often impersonating police officers, wielded fake badges to coerce victims into Kenneth's Cadillac, claiming it was an unmarked police vehicle. Once inside, they handcuffed their victims and took them to Angelo's upholstery shop, where they suffered sexual abuse and strangulation. The pair experimented with various killing methods, including lethal injection, electric shock, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Despite his heinous activities, Kenneth applied for a job with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), even participating in police ride-alongs during the Hillside Strangler investigation. The following details recount the gruesome series of murders committed by Bianchi and Buono:

• Yolanda Washington: A 19-year-old sex worker, her nude body was discovered on October 17, 1977, near the Ventura Freeway in Los Angeles. Beaten, raped, and strangled, her body bore faint rope marks on the neck, wrists, and ankles, marking her as the first confirmed victim of the duo.
• Judith Lynn Miller: At 15, this Hollywood High School student and prostitute was murdered on October 31, 1977, in Angelo's upholstery shop. Her body, raped, sodomized, and strangled, was found in a parkway above Glendale, posed with her legs in a diamond shape.
• Elissa Teresa Kastin: A 21-year-old dancer and waitress, her body was discovered on November 6, 1977. She had been beaten, raped, and strangled, with rope marks on her wrists and ankles.
• Evelyn Jane King: Vanished on November 9, 1977, this 28-year-old aspiring actress was found dead on November 23. Decomposition hindered the determination of rape or torture, but strangulation was evident.
• Dolores Ann “Dolly” Cepeda and Sonja Johnson: Abducted on November 13, 1977, after leaving a bus at Eagle Rock Plaza, their bodies were discovered on November 20, 1977, in Highland Park. Both were raped and strangled.
• Kristina Weckler: A 20-year-old ArtCenter College honors student, her body was found on November 20, 1977, with ligature marks and signs of torture, including Windex injection and asphyxiation.
• Lauren Rae Wagner: An 18-year-old business school student, found on November 29, 1977, with burn marks and signs of handcuffing.
• Kimberly “Kim” Diane Martin: A 17-year-old sex worker, her body was found on December 14, 1977, dumped near Los Angeles City Hall. She was raped, tortured, and strangled.
• Cindy Lee Hudspeth: A 20-year-old waitress, found on February 17, 1978, after being sexually assaulted, strangled, and dumped in her car's trunk off Angeles Crest Highway.

Kenneth's final two murders were committed alone on January 11, 1979, in Bellingham, Washington. Using his security guard role, he lured Western Washington University students, Karen Lauretta Mandic and Diane Amy Wilder, to a house he was guarding. Both were strangled, leaving clues that led to Kenneth's capture on January 12, 1979.

The Investigation and Trial

Kenneth's arrest revealed a chilling admission: he and Angelo had once targeted Catharine Lorre, daughter of actor Peter Lorre, but released her upon learning her identity. He was also a suspect in the unsolved Alphabet murders in Rochester, New York, from 1971 to 1973, although never charged. Additionally, the deaths of Laura Collins, Jill Terry Barcomb, Kathleen Kimberly Robinson, and others were initially linked to the Hillside Strangler but later determined unrelated.

During his trial, Kenneth pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, claiming an alternate personality, "Steve Walker," committed the crimes. Inspired by the movie Sybil, he convinced some psychiatrists of his multiple personality disorder. However, Martin Orne, a psychiatrist, exposed Kenneth's deception by pointing out inconsistencies in his claims, leading to his conviction.

Imprisonment and Legacy

Kenneth Bianchi was sentenced to life imprisonment at Washington State Penitentiary, where he remains. Despite being a suspect in the Alphabet murders, he denied involvement and was not charged. His crimes, alongside Angelo Buono, left a chilling legacy as the Hillside Strangler, a name that continues to evoke fear and fascination.

Sources

For more details, visit the Wikipedia article on Kenneth Bianchi.