Biography[]
Early life[]
Angelo Anthony Buono Jr. was born on October 5, 1934, in Rochester, New York. Raised in a troubled environment, Buono had a criminal record from a young age, including charges related to theft and violence.
Criminal Activities[]
Angelo Buono talks to a woman in front of his auto upholstery shop in Los Angeles on April 23, 1979.
Buono's criminal activities continued into adulthood, involving charges of pandering, statutory rape, and other offenses. In the 1960s, he operated a series of prostitution rings, establishing a pattern of exploiting vulnerable individuals.
Collaboration with Kenneth Bianchi[]
In 1977, Buono formed a deadly partnership with his cousin, Kenneth Bianchi. Together, they committed a series of murders that terrorized Los Angeles between October 1977 and February 1978. The victims, ten in total, were young women who were kidnapped, raped, and murdered.
Distinct Roles in the Crimes[]
Buono and Bianchi had distinct roles in their crimes. While Bianchi often lured victims with promises of employment, Buono was responsible for the logistics and disposal of the bodies. The pair's criminal actions earned them the moniker "The Hillside Strangler."
Arrest and Trial[]
Angelo Buono arrested
Buono's criminal activities came to an end in 1979 when he was arrested along with Bianchi. The Hillside Strangler case had garnered significant media attention, and the pressure on law enforcement to capture the perpetrators was intense.
During the trial, Buono consistently denied his involvement in the murders and attempted to distance himself from the crimes. However, the evidence presented, including eyewitness testimonies and the accounts of surviving victims, led to his conviction.
Conviction and Sentencing[]
In 1983, Angelo Buono was found guilty of nine counts of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The decision reflected the severity of his crimes and the impact on the victims and their families.
Later Years and Death[]
Buono spent the remainder of his life in prison, maintaining his innocence despite overwhelming evidence. He died on September 21, 2002, at the Calipatria State Prison in California.
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 |
Timeline[]
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
Articles[]
- Bardsley, Marilyn. Buono and Bianchi, the Hillside Stranglers. Crime Library. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015.
- Mark Oliver (May 13, 2023). The Hillside Stranglers, The Predators Who Raped And Murdered 10 Victims. All That's Interesting.
Documentaries[]
Television[]
- Mugshots: The Hillside Strangler on IMDb
- Born to Kill?: Kenneth Bianchi & Angelo Buono Jr: The Hollywood Hillside Strangler (October 2012) on IMDb
- World's Most Evil Killers: The Hillside Stranglers - Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono (July 2020) on IMDb
- City of Angels, City of Death (2021 — ) on IMDb
- The Hillside Strangler (2021–2022) on IMDb
YouTube Documentaries[]
- Hillside Stranglers: The Deadly Cousin Duo (World's Most Evil Killers), Real Crime on YouTube
- Who Were The Hollywood Stranglers? (Born To Kill), Our Life on YouTube
- The Horrifying Case Of The Hillside Stranglers, Our Life on YouTube
- The Case of the Hillside Strangler, That Chapter on YouTube
Podcasts[]
- The Hillside Stranglers - Part 1. Serial Killers with Greg Polcyn & Vanessa Richardson.
- The Hillside Stranglers - Part 2. Serial Killers with Greg Polcyn & Vanessa Richardson.
- The Real-Life Harley Quinn, The Casual Criminalist on YouTube
In popular culture[]
Film adaptations[]
- The Case of the Hillside Stranglers (1989) on IMDb
- The Hillside Stranglers (2001) on IMDb
- The Hillside Strangler (2004) on IMDb (The Hillside Strangler trailer on YouTube)
- Rampage: The Hillside Strangler Murders (2006) on IMDb
Related Articles[]
See also[]
- The Killing Cousins are also a pair of Serial Killer cousins.
Links[]
- Angelo Buono Jr. at Wikipedia
- Angelo Buono Jr. on IMDb
- Angelo Buono, Jr.. Radford University.
- Hillside Strangler victims: a Virtual Cemetery at Find a Grave
- Hillside Strangler / The Rampage of Cousins in the Hills of LA. WickedWe.