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Biography[]
Early life[]
Patrick Wayne Kearney was born on September 24, 1939, in East Los Angeles, California. Little is known about his early life, but Kearney's later actions would earn him infamy as a serial killer.
Military Service[]
Kearney served in the U.S. Army and later in the Army Reserve during the 1960s. His military background would play a role in his later crimes.
Criminal Beginnings[]
In the early 1970s, Kearney's criminal activities escalated. He began a series of gruesome murders that terrorized Southern California. Kearney targeted young men and boys, often those who were hitchhiking or seeking companionship.
Modus Operandi[]
Kearney's modus operandi involved shooting his victims, dismembering their bodies, and disposing of the remains in trash bags along freeways. This earned him the chilling nickname "The Trash Bag Killer."
Victims[]
While Kearney claimed to have committed as many as 28 murders, the exact number remains uncertain. His victims ranged in age, and the seemingly random nature of his crimes made him difficult to apprehend.
Capture and Confession[]
Kearney's killing spree came to an end in 1977 when he was arrested for an unrelated offense. During questioning, he confessed to a series of murders, providing details that matched the known crimes attributed to him.
Cooperation with Authorities[]
In an unprecedented move, Kearney cooperated with law enforcement, providing information about his crimes and leading investigators to the locations where he disposed of his victims' remains.
Legal Proceedings[]
In 1978, Kearney pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His cooperation with authorities, leading to the recovery of victims' bodies, influenced his sentencing.
Victims[]
Confirmed victims[]
| # | Name | Age | Date of Death | Body Found | Cause of Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Unknown" 1 | 19 | Spring, 1962 | Shooting | |
| 2 | "Unknown" 2 | 16 | 1962 | Shooting | |
| 3 | "Mike" | 18 | Shooting | ||
| 4 | "George" | December 1968 | July 8, 1977 | Shooting | |
| 5 | John Demchik | 13 | June 26, 1971 | February 9, 1973 | Shooting |
| 6 | James Fletcher Barwick | 17 | September 22, 1973 | September 22, 1973 | Shooting |
| 7 | Ronald Dean Smith Jr. | 5 | August 24, 1974 | October 12, 1974 | Suffocation |
| 8 | Albert Rivera | 21 | April 13, 1975 | April 13, 1975 | Shooting |
| 9 | Larry Gene Walters | 20 | October 31, 1975 | November 10, 1975 | Shooting |
| 10 | Kenneth Eugene Buchanan | 17 | March 1, 1976 | April 7, 1976 | Shooting |
| 11 | Oliver Peter Molitor | 13 | March 21, 1976 | Never found | Shooting |
| 12 | Larry Armendariz | 15 | April 18, 1976 | April 19, 1976 | Shooting |
| 13 | Michael Craig McGhee | 13 | June 11, 1976 | Shooting | |
| 14 | John Woods | 23 | June 20, 1976 | June 21, 1977 | Shooting |
| 15 | Larry Espy | 17 | 1976 | August 23, 1976 | Shooting |
| 16 | Wilfrid Lawrence Faherty | 20 | August, 1976 | August 28, 1976 | Shooting |
| 17 | Randall Lawrence Moore | 16 | August, 1976 | October 10, 1976 | Shooting |
| 18 | Timothy Brian Ingham | 19 | September 15, 1976 | September 24, 1976 | Shooting |
| 19 | Robert Benniefiel | 17 | Fall, 1976 | Fall, 1976 | Shooting |
| 20 | David Allen | 27 | Fall, 1976 | October 9, 1976 | Shooting |
| 21 | Mark Andrew Orach | 20 | October 5, 1976 | October 6, 1976 | Shooting |
| 22 | Nicolas Hernandez-Jimenez | 28 | January 1977 | January 23, 1977 | Shooting |
| 23 | Arturo Ramos Marquez | 24 | c. February 26, 1977 | March 3, 1977 | Shooting |
| 24 | John Otis LaMay | 17 | March 13, 1977 | March 18, 1977 | Shooting |
| 25 | Merle "Hondo" Chance | 8 | April 6, 1977 | May 26, 1977 | Smothered |
Suspected victims[]
| Name | Age | Disappeared | Body Found | Cause of Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Timeline[]
Bibliography[]
Literature[]
- Stewart, Tony. The Trash Bag Murderer,. ISBN 978-0557908998
Articles[]
- Wyatt Redd (June 14, 2018). The Story Of Patrick Kearney, The Genius Serial Killer Who Had Sex With His Victims After Murdering Them. All That's Interesting.
Documentaries[]
Television[]
YouTube Documentaries[]
Podcasts[]
- Patrick Wayne Kearney - Part 1. Serial Killers with Greg Polcyn & Vanessa Richardson.
- Patrick Wayne Kearney - Part 2. Serial Killers with Greg Polcyn & Vanessa Richardson.
In popular culture[]
Film adaptation[]
Related Articles[]
See also[]
- Other serial killers also known as "The Freeway Killer":
Links[]
- Patrick Kearney at Wikipedia
- Patrick Kearney on IMDb
- Patrick Kearney. Radford University.
- Inmate Locator (KEARNEY, PATRICK WAYNE B88913).[permanent dead link]