Comments on: Thriller Thursday: The Freeway Killer

By: Max

Max — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 07:25:55 +0000

From the research i have done on Bonin, he wasn’t the type to lace drinks with sedatives, he was very much into overpowering his victims with Vernon Butss as his main accomplice, this is evident in the kind of torture Bonin inflicted on these boys, Thomas Lundgren his first known murder is a case in point, emasculated, bludgeoned about the face and head, slashed accross the throat, stabbed and strangled, there was no real consistency with the method of murder, some strangled, somes battered to death, stabbed, ice picks through ears, forced to drink acid, i think this monster was in some kind of manic state when he finally got around to ending the victims suffering which was a delight for Bonin, None of these boys would have gotten away with a quick death.

By: Tony Pierson

Tony Pierson — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 18:50:07 +0000

I was from Bell Gardens and remember Charles Miranda. It haunts me to this day, because I could have stopped William Bonin before he killed some of those kids. I was ~14 (the year escapes me…before Charles was killed though) and I was walking by Colmar elementary in BG. This guy in an old car came up and asked if I knew where Downey was…and I told him yes, and he asked if I wanted to earn $5 helping him move. Without thinking, I said yes. Once in the car, he offered me the last sips of a soda (luckily I said no…Seemed like warm backwash to me). When we arrived at his apartment, I was the first one to walk inside, and I immediately sat by the door (another lucky move). He sat across from me. I looked down and there were porn magazines…which I thought was odd…he also asked for me to lock the door because “the neighborhood was bad”. I also realized about now that the apartment was well lived in…I.e. no need to help him “move in”. At this point, I became spooked and I got up to leave. He pleaded with me to wait, but I was out the door rather quickly. That was the end o the story…I just thought it was a strange pervert…and I never told anyone. But about a year or so later, there was a televised trial on the television (seemed like every day for months). Being a kid, I didn’t really watch much news…but the name “William Bonin” was definitely coming out of the news reports daily….One day, I happened to look at the TV screen, and to my utter shock, the defendant was the same guy that had picked me up. I guess I got lucky…but I am haunted by the fact that I did not go to the police. I guess the only thing I can add to the story is that I believe that the “soda” may have been laced with a bolus of some sort of sedative…and that’s how he may have incapacitated some of his victims. Rest in peace, Charles….

By: Stacy Green

Stacy Green — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:25:21 +0000

In reply to hawleywood40.

Me too. I don’t know why he had to do that but I’m hoping he had no choice. Yes, I think Bonin would be a true sociopath, no empathy or emotional attachment. Very sad – I wonder if he was profiled before his execution? Anyway, thank you!

By: hawleywood40

hawleywood40 — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:33:38 +0000

Stacy, I think the officer waiting until he was sodomizing that boy was the part that made my gut churn the most. Definitely a mind wired in a way to have no empathy and unable to see other human beings as worthy of compassion or remorse. I don’t think he should have been given a second chance, but hindsight is 20/20. Excellent job in writing this piece and compiling his history!

By: Stacy Green

Stacy Green — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:15:02 +0000

In reply to Laura Pauling. Very true. Hindsight is always 20/20. His childhood was brutal, but as you said, how much can we blame the past? It's almost as if some of these killers have the perfect formula for evil. And thanks for the tip about your blog. Will check try to fix it:)

By: Laura Pauling

Laura Pauling — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:12:10 +0000

Just wanted to let you know that the website address that you comment with on my blog leads to your old blog, not this one. 🙂 Not sure how you can change that.

By: Laura Pauling

Laura Pauling — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:10:32 +0000

I would say no. But that’s in hindsight. What a horrible childhood. Except at what point do we blame the past and at what point has someone given in to evil and not found help.

Gruesome!

By: Stacy Green

Stacy Green — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:14:08 +0000

In reply to Colline.

That’s very true. It does come down to choice. I just believe that evil like this is some kind of genetic anomaly, a disorder. Not to say it’s mental instability, but there has to be something in a person’s DNA that causes them to make such terrible choices, regardless of environment.

Thanks for stopping by.

By: Colline

Colline — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:09:40 +0000

Environment does play a role in shaping us. But there comes a point when we make a choice. Even though he was abused as a child, Bonin reached a point in his life where he chose to continue the abuse – and take it a step further towards murder.

By: Stacy Green

Stacy Green — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:49:01 +0000

In reply to Catie Rhodes.

Thanks. Like always, I worry if I’m including the right thing or giving too much information. I didn’t know that about Ed Kemper…unreal. It’s a lot like Mary, the child killer. The system has to abide by the law set for the age group, and it’s not right. But in Kemper’s case, if he was a teen he could have been charged as an adult.

Glad you enjoyed the post!