Speed Freak Killers
California Serial Killer Duo
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
San Joaquin County, California
TIME PERIOD
November 27, 1984 – November 18, 1998
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
The Speed Freak Killers, Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine, were apprehended on March 17, 1999, for a series of murders spanning from November 27, 1984, to November 18, 1998, in San Joaquin County, California. Initially convicted of four murders, they are suspected of being involved in the deaths of up to 72 individuals, as indicated by a letter from Shermantine in 2012. Herzog, who died by suicide in January 2012, had his convictions overturned, while Shermantine remains on death row in San Quentin State Prison. Key evidence includes confessions and the duo's known history of methamphetamine abuse, which contributed to their violent behavior.
Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine are believed to be responsible for the deaths of up to 72 people, as suggested by a letter Shermantine wrote in 2012. There is speculation regarding additional undiscovered victims, and the duo's methamphetamine addiction is thought to have fueled their violent crimes. Some community members theorize that the pair may have had accomplices or that their criminal activities were part of a larger network of violence in the area.
The Speed Freak Killers: A Deadly Duo
In the quiet town of Linden, California, two boys grew up as neighbors, bonded by the absence of other children to play with. Loren Joseph Herzog and Wesley "Wes" Howard Shermantine Jr. were more than just childhood friends; they were partners in a twisted saga that would haunt the region for decades. Together, they became infamously known as the Speed Freak Killers, a name inspired by their relentless methamphetamine use and a chilling letter Shermantine penned in 2012, suggesting their involvement in as many as 72 murders.
The Unlikely Friendship
Loren Herzog, born on December 8, 1965, in Linden, and his partner in crime, Wesley Shermantine, born on February 24, 1966, shared a childhood filled with hunting and fishing in the San Joaquin County countryside. Despite Shermantine's father's wealth as a successful contractor, the boys gravitated towards darker pursuits. They graduated from Linden High School in 1984, and their lives spiraled into drug use and violence. Known for their methamphetamine abuse, they frequented the Linden Inn bar, owned by the father of Kim Vanderheiden, with whom Herzog had a brief affair.
The Disappearance of Cyndi Vanderheiden
The serene facade of Linden shattered on November 14, 1998, when Kim's sister, 25-year-old Cyndi Vanderheiden, vanished after leaving the Linden Inn with Herzog and Shermantine. Her disappearance sparked an investigation that would unravel a series of gruesome events. In January 1999, investigators found Cyndi's blood in Shermantine's repossessed car, leading them to Herzog, who eventually disclosed chilling details about their crimes.
Herzog confessed to the 1994 murder of a hunter in northern Utah and the brutal killing of Henry Howell, a 41-year-old man found dead on Highway 88. Howell was shot and bludgeoned before being robbed. Herzog also recounted Shermantine's sadistic murder of 24-year-old Robin Armtrout, whose stabbed body was discovered near Potter Creek. These confessions led to the arrest of both men on March 17, 1999.
Trials and Convictions
In 2001, Shermantine faced trial and was convicted of four murders: Cyndi Vanderheiden, drifters Howard King and Paul Raymond Cavanaugh, and 16-year-old Chevelle "Chevy" Wheeler, who disappeared in 1985. Witnesses testified about Shermantine's violent tendencies, including rapes and assaults. His ex-wife and sister revealed years of abuse. Ultimately, Shermantine was sentenced to death and remains on death row at San Quentin State Prison.
Herzog, charged with five counts of murder, faced his own trial in 2001. He was found guilty of three murders, convicted as an accessory in Howell's case, and acquitted in Armtrout's murder. Originally sentenced to 78 years, Herzog's convictions were overturned in 2004 due to coerced confessions, leading to a plea deal that reduced his sentence to 14 years. He was paroled in 2010 but committed suicide in 2012, just as Shermantine prepared to reveal locations of their victims' remains.
Uncovering the Remains
Shermantine's revelations led to significant discoveries in 2012. A map he provided led authorities to a well near Linden, where over 1,000 bone fragments were found. DNA tests identified remains of Kimberly Ann Billy and Joann Hobson, missing since the mid-1980s, along with an unidentified victim and fetus. Further searches in Calaveras County uncovered Cyndi Vanderheiden's body and another unidentified victim near Shermantine's former property.
Despite Shermantine leading authorities to additional sites, some searches yielded no results, and he eventually ceased cooperation. Allegations emerged against the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office for mishandling the investigation and deliberately obstructing the search for more victims.
The Legacy of Terror
The true extent of Herzog and Shermantine's crimes remains unknown. Convicted of four murders, they are suspected in at least 19 more. They hunted their victims for sport, brutally ending lives and discarding bodies in remote locations. Shermantine, in a chilling statement, claimed responsibility for as many as 72 murders, but withheld information unless compensated financially.
The saga of the Speed Freak Killers remains a haunting chapter in true crime history, a reminder of the chilling capabilities of human depravity masked by the facade of an ordinary small-town upbringing.
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First Confirmed Murders
Howard King and Paul Cavanaugh are shot dead by Shermantine and Herzog.
Cyndi Vanderheiden Disappears
Cyndi Vanderheiden goes missing after leaving a bar with Herzog and Shermantine.
Arrests Made
Herzog and Shermantine are arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder.
Shermantine Convicted
Wesley Shermantine is found guilty of four murders and sentenced to death.
Herzog's Convictions Overturned
An appeals court overturns Herzog's convictions, ruling some confessions were coerced.
Herzog Paroled
Loren Herzog is paroled after serving 11 years of a reduced sentence.
Herzog Commits Suicide
Loren Herzog hangs himself in his trailer shortly after learning of Shermantine's plans.
Victims' Remains Discovered
Authorities recover over 1,000 human bone fragments from a well in Linden.
Identities Confirmed
The remains of Kimberly Billy and Joann Hobson are identified from the Linden well.
Case Reopened
The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office announces the reopening of the Speed Freak Killers case.
The Speed Freak Killers, Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine, were apprehended on March 17, 1999, for a series of murders spanning from November 27, 1984, to November 18, 1998, in San Joaquin County, California. Initially convicted of four murders, they are suspected of being involved in the deaths of up to 72 individuals, as indicated by a letter from Shermantine in 2012. Herzog, who died by suicide in January 2012, had his convictions overturned, while Shermantine remains on death row in San Quentin State Prison. Key evidence includes confessions and the duo's known history of methamphetamine abuse, which contributed to their violent behavior.
Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine are believed to be responsible for the deaths of up to 72 people, as suggested by a letter Shermantine wrote in 2012. There is speculation regarding additional undiscovered victims, and the duo's methamphetamine addiction is thought to have fueled their violent crimes. Some community members theorize that the pair may have had accomplices or that their criminal activities were part of a larger network of violence in the area.
The Speed Freak Killers: A Deadly Duo
In the quiet town of Linden, California, two boys grew up as neighbors, bonded by the absence of other children to play with. Loren Joseph Herzog and Wesley "Wes" Howard Shermantine Jr. were more than just childhood friends; they were partners in a twisted saga that would haunt the region for decades. Together, they became infamously known as the Speed Freak Killers, a name inspired by their relentless methamphetamine use and a chilling letter Shermantine penned in 2012, suggesting their involvement in as many as 72 murders.
The Unlikely Friendship
Loren Herzog, born on December 8, 1965, in Linden, and his partner in crime, Wesley Shermantine, born on February 24, 1966, shared a childhood filled with hunting and fishing in the San Joaquin County countryside. Despite Shermantine's father's wealth as a successful contractor, the boys gravitated towards darker pursuits. They graduated from Linden High School in 1984, and their lives spiraled into drug use and violence. Known for their methamphetamine abuse, they frequented the Linden Inn bar, owned by the father of Kim Vanderheiden, with whom Herzog had a brief affair.
The Disappearance of Cyndi Vanderheiden
The serene facade of Linden shattered on November 14, 1998, when Kim's sister, 25-year-old Cyndi Vanderheiden, vanished after leaving the Linden Inn with Herzog and Shermantine. Her disappearance sparked an investigation that would unravel a series of gruesome events. In January 1999, investigators found Cyndi's blood in Shermantine's repossessed car, leading them to Herzog, who eventually disclosed chilling details about their crimes.
Herzog confessed to the 1994 murder of a hunter in northern Utah and the brutal killing of Henry Howell, a 41-year-old man found dead on Highway 88. Howell was shot and bludgeoned before being robbed. Herzog also recounted Shermantine's sadistic murder of 24-year-old Robin Armtrout, whose stabbed body was discovered near Potter Creek. These confessions led to the arrest of both men on March 17, 1999.
Trials and Convictions
In 2001, Shermantine faced trial and was convicted of four murders: Cyndi Vanderheiden, drifters Howard King and Paul Raymond Cavanaugh, and 16-year-old Chevelle "Chevy" Wheeler, who disappeared in 1985. Witnesses testified about Shermantine's violent tendencies, including rapes and assaults. His ex-wife and sister revealed years of abuse. Ultimately, Shermantine was sentenced to death and remains on death row at San Quentin State Prison.
Herzog, charged with five counts of murder, faced his own trial in 2001. He was found guilty of three murders, convicted as an accessory in Howell's case, and acquitted in Armtrout's murder. Originally sentenced to 78 years, Herzog's convictions were overturned in 2004 due to coerced confessions, leading to a plea deal that reduced his sentence to 14 years. He was paroled in 2010 but committed suicide in 2012, just as Shermantine prepared to reveal locations of their victims' remains.
Uncovering the Remains
Shermantine's revelations led to significant discoveries in 2012. A map he provided led authorities to a well near Linden, where over 1,000 bone fragments were found. DNA tests identified remains of Kimberly Ann Billy and Joann Hobson, missing since the mid-1980s, along with an unidentified victim and fetus. Further searches in Calaveras County uncovered Cyndi Vanderheiden's body and another unidentified victim near Shermantine's former property.
Despite Shermantine leading authorities to additional sites, some searches yielded no results, and he eventually ceased cooperation. Allegations emerged against the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office for mishandling the investigation and deliberately obstructing the search for more victims.
The Legacy of Terror
The true extent of Herzog and Shermantine's crimes remains unknown. Convicted of four murders, they are suspected in at least 19 more. They hunted their victims for sport, brutally ending lives and discarding bodies in remote locations. Shermantine, in a chilling statement, claimed responsibility for as many as 72 murders, but withheld information unless compensated financially.
The saga of the Speed Freak Killers remains a haunting chapter in true crime history, a reminder of the chilling capabilities of human depravity masked by the facade of an ordinary small-town upbringing.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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First Confirmed Murders
Howard King and Paul Cavanaugh are shot dead by Shermantine and Herzog.
Cyndi Vanderheiden Disappears
Cyndi Vanderheiden goes missing after leaving a bar with Herzog and Shermantine.
Arrests Made
Herzog and Shermantine are arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder.
Shermantine Convicted
Wesley Shermantine is found guilty of four murders and sentenced to death.
Herzog's Convictions Overturned
An appeals court overturns Herzog's convictions, ruling some confessions were coerced.
Herzog Paroled
Loren Herzog is paroled after serving 11 years of a reduced sentence.
Herzog Commits Suicide
Loren Herzog hangs himself in his trailer shortly after learning of Shermantine's plans.
Victims' Remains Discovered
Authorities recover over 1,000 human bone fragments from a well in Linden.
Identities Confirmed
The remains of Kimberly Billy and Joann Hobson are identified from the Linden well.
Case Reopened
The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office announces the reopening of the Speed Freak Killers case.