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Biography[]

Early life[]

Bianchi-Kenneth13

Bianchi as young

Kenneth Alessio Bianchi was born on May 22, 1951, in Rochester, New York. Raised in an unstable environment, he experienced strained relationships within his family. As a teenager, he faced legal troubles, including theft and forging checks.

Military Service[]

In an attempt to avoid criminal charges, Bianchi enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1969. He served in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and later stationed in West Germany. During his time in the military, he faced disciplinary issues and was eventually discharged.

Move to Los Angeles[]

After his discharge, Bianchi moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s. There, he developed a scheme of impersonating a police officer, engaging in various criminal activities such as theft and fraud.

Collaboration with Angelo Buono[]

Angelo-buono-talking-to-woman2

Angelo Buono talks to a woman in front of his auto upholstery shop in Los Angeles on April 23, 1979.

In 1977, Bianchi joined forces with his cousin, Angelo Buono. Together, they embarked on a series of heinous crimes that would later be known as the Hillside Strangler murders.

Hillside Strangler Murders[]

Between October 1977 and February 1978, the duo kidnapped, raped, and murdered ten women in the Los Angeles area. The victims ranged in age and backgrounds, making it challenging for investigators to identify a pattern.

Solo Murders[]

After the arrest of Angelo Buono, Bianchi continued his murderous spree. In Bellingham, Washington, he killed two more women, Karen Mandic and Diane Wilder, in 1979. These were his last known solo murders before his capture.

Arrest and Trial[]

The Hillside Strangler case attracted widespread media attention, putting immense pressure on law enforcement. In 1979, Kenneth Bianchi was arrested in Bellingham, Washington, after attempting to commit a similar crime. He later confessed to the Hillside Strangler murders and implicated Angelo Buono. He would also attempt to use a false multiple personality disorder defense.

During the trial, Bianchi struck a deal to testify against Buono in exchange for a reduced sentence. In 1981, he pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder and received a life sentence.

Manipulation from Prison[]

While incarcerated, Bianchi attempted various schemes to gain attention, including feigning mental illness. In the 1980s, he orchestrated a series of violent crimes from prison, leading to additional charges.

Veronica compton

Veronica Compton

He also attempted to use Veronica Compton, a woman he befriended, to carry out copycat crimes. In 1980, Compton was arrested for attempting to strangle a woman in a manner similar to the Hillside Strangler murders. The authorities uncovered the plot, and Bianchi's attempts at manipulation were exposed.

Bianchi is currently serving multiple life sentences and is held in the Washington State Penitentiary. His crimes and the Hillside Strangler case continue to be studied by criminologists and law enforcement agencies. The case remains a dark chapter in the history of serial killings in the United States.

Victims[]

Name Age Date of Death Cause of Death
Yolanda Washington 19 October 17, 1977 Strangulation
Judy Miller 15 October 31, 1977 Strangulation
Lissa Kastin 21 November 5, 1977 Strangulation
Jane King 28 November 9, 1977 Strangulation
Dolores "Dolly" Cepeda 12 November 13, 1977 (body found November 20, 1977) Strangulation
Sonja Johnson 14 November 13, 1977 (body found November 20, 1977) Strangulation
Kristina Weckler 20 November 20, 1977
Lauren Wagner 18 November 28, 1977
Kimberley "Kim" Martin 17 December 13, 1977
Cindy Lee Hudspeth 20 February 16, 1978 (body found Feb 17, 1978) Strangulation
Karen Mandic 22 January 11, 1979 Strangulation
Diane Wilder 27 January 11, 1979 Strangulation

Timeline[]

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Bibliography[]

Literature[]

  • O'Brien, Darcy (1990). Two of a Kind: The Hillside Strangler, Signet. ISBN 978-0451163028
  • O'Brien, Darcy (2017). The Hillside Stranglers: The Inside Story of the Killing Spree That Terrorized Los Angeles, Open Road Media. ISBN 978-1504047883

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In popular culture[]

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