1 00:00:06,757 --> 00:00:10,395 NARRATOR: On the 22nd of March, 1980, the bodies 2 00:00:10,470 --> 00:00:14,035 of two teenage boys were discovered dumped together 3 00:00:14,044 --> 00:00:17,355 beside a freeway in California. 4 00:00:17,430 --> 00:00:21,435 Sadly, they were the first, and they wouldn't be the last. 5 00:00:21,510 --> 00:00:24,355 You've got this killer, and he is almost ghostlike. 6 00:00:24,430 --> 00:00:26,315 He is dumping bodies, and then he's 7 00:00:26,390 --> 00:00:28,762 disappearing into the night. 8 00:00:28,837 --> 00:00:32,242 NARRATOR: Bodies of young boys, most of them hitchhikers, 9 00:00:32,317 --> 00:00:35,475 had been discarded like trash. 10 00:00:35,550 --> 00:00:39,275 The victims had all been tied up and sexually assaulted 11 00:00:39,284 --> 00:00:41,835 before being strangled. 12 00:00:41,910 --> 00:00:43,635 He was incredibly violent. 13 00:00:43,710 --> 00:00:48,475 He was evil, and he would hurt you just to hear you scream. 14 00:00:48,550 --> 00:00:50,322 NARRATOR: The killer was a local truck 15 00:00:50,397 --> 00:00:52,635 driver called William Bonin. 16 00:00:52,644 --> 00:00:56,235 This sadistic predator, together with a small band 17 00:00:56,310 --> 00:00:59,835 of accomplices, spread fear amongst the community. 18 00:00:59,844 --> 00:01:02,635 It seemed that no young man was safe. 19 00:01:02,710 --> 00:01:06,595 He enjoyed having the boy at his mercy 20 00:01:06,670 --> 00:01:12,155 and hearing the boy cry and plead for his life. 21 00:01:12,230 --> 00:01:15,155 And Bill felt powerful when he was 22 00:01:15,230 --> 00:01:17,395 in the act of murdering a kid. 23 00:01:17,470 --> 00:01:19,842 NARRATOR: In just 13 months, the monster 24 00:01:19,917 --> 00:01:23,915 dubbed the Freeway Killer was responsible for the murders 25 00:01:23,990 --> 00:01:27,435 of up to 21 young boys and teenagers. 26 00:01:27,510 --> 00:01:31,155 William Bonin had been revealed as one of the world's most 27 00:01:31,230 --> 00:01:32,475 evil killers. 28 00:01:32,550 --> 00:01:36,042 [music playing] 29 00:01:52,637 --> 00:01:57,995 During the summer of 1979, the naked bodies of young boys 30 00:01:58,004 --> 00:02:02,195 were being discovered beside freeways and other major roads 31 00:02:02,270 --> 00:02:04,482 across Southern California. 32 00:02:04,557 --> 00:02:06,682 DAVE LOPEZ: It started very slowly. 33 00:02:06,757 --> 00:02:09,395 There would be a dead body found on the side of a road. 34 00:02:09,404 --> 00:02:12,355 It started out there was maybe one, maybe two, 35 00:02:12,430 --> 00:02:14,475 and then when it got to like the fourth body 36 00:02:14,550 --> 00:02:18,682 that had been found, then we started saying, wait a minute. 37 00:02:18,757 --> 00:02:20,515 Is there a pattern here? 38 00:02:20,590 --> 00:02:24,435 NARRATOR: Victims were being targeted at an alarming rate. 39 00:02:24,510 --> 00:02:29,635 And a wave of fear spread within communities across Los Angeles. 40 00:02:29,710 --> 00:02:31,595 These murders were very close together. 41 00:02:31,670 --> 00:02:34,435 It's almost like a killing spree at times. 42 00:02:34,510 --> 00:02:36,882 And he does it because he can. 43 00:02:36,957 --> 00:02:38,995 These people are there for the taking. 44 00:02:39,070 --> 00:02:40,575 They are vulnerable. 45 00:02:40,484 --> 00:02:43,075 And when he figures out that nobody is coming after him, 46 00:02:43,084 --> 00:02:46,075 well, he just carries on. 47 00:02:46,150 --> 00:02:49,242 This was a man who premeditated everything. 48 00:02:49,317 --> 00:02:52,955 It was all carefully thought out, carefully planned, 49 00:02:52,964 --> 00:02:55,995 and then executed meticulously. 50 00:02:56,070 --> 00:02:58,435 NARRATOR: After his arrest in 1980, 51 00:02:58,510 --> 00:03:01,675 William Bonin confessed to 21 murders. 52 00:03:01,750 --> 00:03:05,235 His youngest victim was just 12 years old. 53 00:03:05,310 --> 00:03:07,595 Prison psychologist, Vonda Pelto, 54 00:03:07,670 --> 00:03:10,675 spent many hours talking to the killer. 55 00:03:10,750 --> 00:03:13,475 VONDA PELTO: I asked him one time about a killing, 56 00:03:13,550 --> 00:03:16,075 how did it feel when you killed him? 57 00:03:16,150 --> 00:03:18,835 When he was crying and pleading for his life 58 00:03:18,910 --> 00:03:23,435 and saying, please, please don't kill me, did you feel anything? 59 00:03:23,510 --> 00:03:27,155 And Bill said, I didn't feel anything. 60 00:03:27,230 --> 00:03:29,155 I couldn't understand that. 61 00:03:29,230 --> 00:03:32,835 And I said, well, was it like killing an animal? 62 00:03:32,910 --> 00:03:38,955 And Bill said, oh, no, I have a lot of feeling for an animal. 63 00:03:39,030 --> 00:03:40,795 NARRATOR: This killer's story begins 64 00:03:40,870 --> 00:03:43,762 on the 8th of January, 1947. 65 00:03:43,837 --> 00:03:47,682 William George Bonin was born in Willimantic, Connecticut, 66 00:03:47,757 --> 00:03:49,562 to parents Robert and Alice. 67 00:03:49,637 --> 00:03:52,035 He was the middle of three brothers. 68 00:03:52,110 --> 00:03:54,235 Their father was an alcoholic, and it was 69 00:03:54,310 --> 00:03:56,635 an unhappy abusive upbringing. 70 00:03:56,710 --> 00:03:59,275 Neighbors recall the Bonin boys were always 71 00:03:59,350 --> 00:04:02,355 hungry, dirty, and ill clothed. 72 00:04:02,430 --> 00:04:04,108 GEOFFREY WANSELL: Bonin was then put 73 00:04:04,184 --> 00:04:08,922 in the hands of Alice's father who had abused her as a child. 74 00:04:08,997 --> 00:04:13,315 And he went on to abuse her sons. 75 00:04:13,390 --> 00:04:14,635 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: Bonin experienced 76 00:04:14,710 --> 00:04:16,955 a lot of sexual abuse during his childhood. 77 00:04:17,030 --> 00:04:20,435 And, sadly, it was something that he just came to expect. 78 00:04:20,510 --> 00:04:22,355 But he also learned that sexual abuse 79 00:04:22,364 --> 00:04:26,235 was a way of gaining power and control over other people. 80 00:04:26,310 --> 00:04:29,435 NARRATOR: When Bonin was six he was sent to an orphanage. 81 00:04:29,444 --> 00:04:33,115 His mother, Alice, claimed this was to protect her sons 82 00:04:33,190 --> 00:04:36,162 from an abusive home life. 83 00:04:36,237 --> 00:04:37,628 VONDA PELTO: Bill and his younger brother 84 00:04:37,704 --> 00:04:40,635 were put in the Catholic-run orphanage. 85 00:04:40,710 --> 00:04:45,515 And the parents never did come to see him, he told me. 86 00:04:45,590 --> 00:04:48,162 And said that, for sure, he thought 87 00:04:48,237 --> 00:04:51,835 they had died because they didn't come to see him. 88 00:04:51,910 --> 00:04:55,315 NARRATOR: From the orphanage, young William Bonin was sent 89 00:04:55,390 --> 00:04:57,595 to a youth detention center. 90 00:04:57,670 --> 00:04:59,955 The reason why is unknown. 91 00:05:00,030 --> 00:05:02,435 But what is certain is that during his time 92 00:05:02,510 --> 00:05:04,962 there, at the age of just eight, he 93 00:05:05,037 --> 00:05:07,915 was subjected to yet another sexual assault. 94 00:05:07,990 --> 00:05:10,235 This time by an older boy. 95 00:05:10,244 --> 00:05:13,602 Allegedly he asked for his hands to be tied during this. 96 00:05:13,677 --> 00:05:16,195 And that signifies to me that this is somebody 97 00:05:16,270 --> 00:05:18,235 who has been sexually abused. 98 00:05:18,310 --> 00:05:21,642 There is a familiarity with that kind of behavior. 99 00:05:21,717 --> 00:05:25,995 And that is something that's incredibly disturbing for me, 100 00:05:26,070 --> 00:05:28,482 especially at such a young age. 101 00:05:28,557 --> 00:05:32,435 NARRATOR: By 1969, 22-year-old Bonin 102 00:05:32,510 --> 00:05:35,195 had reconnected with his mother and was living 103 00:05:35,270 --> 00:05:37,795 with her in Downey, California. 104 00:05:37,870 --> 00:05:40,115 After a brief career in the army, 105 00:05:40,190 --> 00:05:42,515 he turned to a life of crime. 106 00:05:42,590 --> 00:05:46,035 He was arrested for sexually assaulting five boys. 107 00:05:46,110 --> 00:05:48,355 And he's also later emerged that Bonin 108 00:05:48,430 --> 00:05:50,955 and raped two soldiers at gunpoint 109 00:05:51,030 --> 00:05:53,402 during his military service. 110 00:05:53,477 --> 00:05:57,155 He hasn't just turned into a sexual predator overnight. 111 00:05:57,230 --> 00:05:59,835 This is behavior that will have developed over time. 112 00:05:59,910 --> 00:06:03,475 But it's probably gone undetected up until this point. 113 00:06:03,550 --> 00:06:07,155 And, to me, this is somebody who is on a very clear trajectory 114 00:06:07,230 --> 00:06:09,835 to becoming a very dangerous and a potentially 115 00:06:09,910 --> 00:06:12,635 homicidal offender. 116 00:06:12,710 --> 00:06:14,675 GEOFFREY WANSELL: It's the oldest question in the book, 117 00:06:14,750 --> 00:06:16,595 isn't it? 118 00:06:16,670 --> 00:06:17,715 What came first? 119 00:06:17,790 --> 00:06:20,035 Was it nature or nurture? 120 00:06:20,110 --> 00:06:23,555 In this case, I think it was both. 121 00:06:23,630 --> 00:06:28,515 Together, they created a formidable combination. 122 00:06:28,590 --> 00:06:32,122 NARRATOR: Bonin's deviant behavior would inevitably 123 00:06:32,197 --> 00:06:34,035 land him in hot water. 124 00:06:34,110 --> 00:06:36,315 Instead of serving time in prison, 125 00:06:36,390 --> 00:06:39,035 the young man wound up in a state hospital 126 00:06:39,110 --> 00:06:42,555 where he actually honed his predatory instincts. 127 00:06:42,630 --> 00:06:44,155 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: Now, during this time, 128 00:06:44,230 --> 00:06:47,235 he gets to learn about the institutional environment. 129 00:06:47,244 --> 00:06:50,835 He gets to know the kind of things he needs to say to staff 130 00:06:50,910 --> 00:06:52,635 at that facility, the type of things 131 00:06:52,710 --> 00:06:55,595 that they need to hear to secure his release. 132 00:06:55,670 --> 00:06:58,755 He's becoming more dangerous now because he's developing 133 00:06:58,830 --> 00:07:00,555 that manipulativeness. 134 00:07:00,630 --> 00:07:03,395 NARRATOR: After five years of incarceration, 135 00:07:03,404 --> 00:07:05,635 William Bonin was a free man. 136 00:07:05,710 --> 00:07:10,475 Far from rehabilitated, he was ready to strike again. 137 00:07:10,550 --> 00:07:14,915 In early September, 1975, David McVicker 138 00:07:14,990 --> 00:07:17,555 was a 14-year-old schoolboy enjoying 139 00:07:17,630 --> 00:07:20,955 the last long warm days of summer break. 140 00:07:21,030 --> 00:07:23,355 Life seemed free and easy and there 141 00:07:23,430 --> 00:07:27,355 was no problem getting around to catch up with his friends. 142 00:07:27,364 --> 00:07:28,802 DAVID MCVICKER: Everybody hitchhiked. 143 00:07:28,877 --> 00:07:30,315 There was no buses or anything like that. 144 00:07:30,390 --> 00:07:32,515 Say, at the beach, at the end of the day, 145 00:07:32,590 --> 00:07:35,835 it wasn't unusual to see 150 kids 146 00:07:35,910 --> 00:07:38,435 down there with their beach towel and their thumb out. 147 00:07:38,444 --> 00:07:41,442 NARRATOR: Whilst the youth of Los Angeles focused on making 148 00:07:41,517 --> 00:07:43,715 the most out of their time off, they 149 00:07:43,790 --> 00:07:47,202 were blissfully unaware of the potential danger they 150 00:07:47,277 --> 00:07:48,995 were putting themselves in. 151 00:07:49,070 --> 00:07:54,715 At 5:30 PM, on September 8, a sadistic sexual predator was 152 00:07:54,790 --> 00:07:57,355 looking for a boy to pick up. 153 00:07:57,364 --> 00:07:59,355 DAVID MCVICKER: I'd just said goodbye to my friends. 154 00:07:59,430 --> 00:08:03,315 I left their house and gone to hitchhike home. 155 00:08:03,390 --> 00:08:05,755 And, as soon as I crossed this major street, 156 00:08:05,830 --> 00:08:07,635 a car pulled up next to me. 157 00:08:07,710 --> 00:08:11,835 And this guy says, hey, can you tell me where Euclid street is? 158 00:08:11,910 --> 00:08:13,515 I said, it's about a mile ahead. 159 00:08:13,590 --> 00:08:14,955 He goes, well, where are you going? 160 00:08:15,030 --> 00:08:16,835 I said, I'm going to go to Brookhurst 161 00:08:16,910 --> 00:08:18,555 and go towards the beach. 162 00:08:18,564 --> 00:08:20,202 And he said, well, why don't you jump in, 163 00:08:20,277 --> 00:08:21,595 and I'll give you a ride. 164 00:08:21,404 --> 00:08:23,522 And I thought, cool, that's perfect. 165 00:08:23,597 --> 00:08:27,995 NARRATOR: But this kind motorist wasn't at all what he seemed. 166 00:08:28,004 --> 00:08:29,642 DAVID MCVICKER: I got in the car and everything 167 00:08:29,717 --> 00:08:30,595 was cool at first. 168 00:08:30,670 --> 00:08:32,042 He was really nice. 169 00:08:31,884 --> 00:08:33,355 You would have never thought anything was wrong. 170 00:08:33,430 --> 00:08:36,875 And then, about, maybe, five minutes into the ride, 171 00:08:36,950 --> 00:08:39,595 he said something to ask if I had 172 00:08:39,670 --> 00:08:43,355 ever tried anything like a gay act or something like that. 173 00:08:43,430 --> 00:08:44,795 And I was kind of in shock. 174 00:08:44,870 --> 00:08:45,742 I was like, no. 175 00:08:45,684 --> 00:08:47,555 No, I would never do that. 176 00:08:47,630 --> 00:08:50,075 And then I immediately tried to get out of the car. 177 00:08:50,150 --> 00:08:51,762 I said, do me a favor. I said, pull over. 178 00:08:51,837 --> 00:08:52,875 Let me out of the car. 179 00:08:52,950 --> 00:08:54,235 And he didn't. 180 00:08:54,244 --> 00:08:55,635 He started going faster. 181 00:08:55,710 --> 00:08:58,722 So I got really scared and I opened up the door. 182 00:08:58,797 --> 00:08:59,675 And I went like that. 183 00:08:59,750 --> 00:09:00,562 And I turn around. 184 00:09:00,637 --> 00:09:01,762 There's a gun right here. 185 00:09:01,837 --> 00:09:04,115 He goes, get back in the car or I'll shoot you. 186 00:09:04,190 --> 00:09:06,195 NARRATOR: The driver was 28-year-old, 187 00:09:06,270 --> 00:09:09,955 convicted rapist and pedophile, William Bonin. 188 00:09:10,030 --> 00:09:12,995 He drove around for some time, all the while, 189 00:09:13,070 --> 00:09:16,002 holding a gun pointed straight at David. 190 00:09:16,077 --> 00:09:19,602 As the light faded, Bonin parked up in a field. 191 00:09:19,677 --> 00:09:20,682 I was scared to death. 192 00:09:20,757 --> 00:09:22,482 I was petrified. 193 00:09:22,557 --> 00:09:25,035 I knew that something really bad was going to happen. 194 00:09:25,110 --> 00:09:27,195 I didn't know if I was going to live or die. 195 00:09:27,270 --> 00:09:30,395 I was fighting for my life to try to get out of the car. 196 00:09:30,470 --> 00:09:32,995 He grabbed me and started to beat me up. 197 00:09:33,070 --> 00:09:36,255 I knew that if I didn't do what he said, I was going to die. 198 00:09:39,710 --> 00:09:42,195 NARRATOR: David's ordeal that summer evening 199 00:09:42,270 --> 00:09:44,435 was the stuff of nightmares 200 00:09:44,510 --> 00:09:48,242 He had my t-shirt around my neck with the tire iron. 201 00:09:48,317 --> 00:09:49,822 You know, to change the tire. 202 00:09:49,897 --> 00:09:51,595 He had that going through the sleeves of my shirt, 203 00:09:51,670 --> 00:09:54,195 and he was twisting it, strangling me. 204 00:09:54,270 --> 00:09:55,635 While he was raping me. 205 00:09:55,710 --> 00:09:57,602 And then, with what I thought was my last breath, 206 00:09:57,677 --> 00:09:59,995 because I couldn't breathe in anymore, I just kind of went, 207 00:10:00,070 --> 00:10:03,395 "God, help" like that, and he stopped. 208 00:10:03,470 --> 00:10:07,035 NARRATOR: Amazingly, Bonin let him go. 209 00:10:07,110 --> 00:10:10,795 Later that day, 14-year-old David and his mother 210 00:10:10,870 --> 00:10:13,915 reported the assault to the police. 211 00:10:13,990 --> 00:10:16,475 Several months later, David's school day 212 00:10:16,550 --> 00:10:20,155 was interrupted by a visit from the Sheriff's officers. 213 00:10:20,230 --> 00:10:22,602 He was taken to the Orange County jail, 214 00:10:22,677 --> 00:10:24,882 where they'd arranged a lineup. 215 00:10:24,957 --> 00:10:26,635 We went into this little dark room, 216 00:10:26,710 --> 00:10:30,035 and these six guys come streaming out. 217 00:10:30,110 --> 00:10:32,635 And before they even stopped, I saw the guy. 218 00:10:32,710 --> 00:10:34,055 I knew it was him. 219 00:10:34,130 --> 00:10:37,435 So I said out loud that's him, number three. 220 00:10:37,510 --> 00:10:41,355 NARRATOR: In December, 1975, 28-year-old 221 00:10:41,430 --> 00:10:45,315 William Bonin was found guilty of lewd and lascivious conduct 222 00:10:45,390 --> 00:10:49,195 and sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. 223 00:10:49,270 --> 00:10:52,675 For unknown reasons, he was released on parole 224 00:10:52,750 --> 00:10:54,995 after serving less than three. 225 00:10:55,004 --> 00:10:59,675 The 31-year-old settled back into the community. 226 00:10:59,684 --> 00:11:02,835 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: He appears to be creating some semblance 227 00:11:02,910 --> 00:11:04,555 of a normal life, but what he's doing 228 00:11:04,630 --> 00:11:06,242 is putting in place the structures 229 00:11:06,317 --> 00:11:09,235 that will make him into a more successful offender. 230 00:11:09,310 --> 00:11:11,435 So he has this veneer of normality, 231 00:11:11,510 --> 00:11:13,835 this veneer of respectability. 232 00:11:13,910 --> 00:11:17,795 And when you look like a normal member of society, 233 00:11:17,870 --> 00:11:20,635 you're more likely to go unnoticed. 234 00:11:20,710 --> 00:11:23,715 NARRATOR: Bonin secured a job as a truck driver 235 00:11:23,790 --> 00:11:25,515 and rented an apartment. 236 00:11:25,590 --> 00:11:29,155 However, the following year, he was arrested yet again 237 00:11:29,230 --> 00:11:31,435 for molesting a teenage boy. 238 00:11:31,510 --> 00:11:33,995 He'd violated his parole, and should 239 00:11:34,070 --> 00:11:36,162 have been returned to prison. 240 00:11:36,237 --> 00:11:38,555 There's an administrative error. 241 00:11:38,564 --> 00:11:41,875 Bonin is not sent straight back to jail. 242 00:11:41,950 --> 00:11:44,435 He's set free. 243 00:11:44,510 --> 00:11:49,235 When he's released, Bonin is picked up by a friend. 244 00:11:49,310 --> 00:11:52,435 And he tells the friend, this is never 245 00:11:52,510 --> 00:11:55,362 going to happen to me again. 246 00:11:55,437 --> 00:11:58,275 The friend thought that that meant he was never 247 00:11:58,284 --> 00:12:01,235 going to commit a crime again. 248 00:12:01,310 --> 00:12:05,155 Tragically, grotesquely, it meant that he was never going 249 00:12:05,230 --> 00:12:09,795 to leave a victim alive again. 250 00:12:09,870 --> 00:12:13,195 NARRATOR: The string of sexual convictions to his name 251 00:12:13,270 --> 00:12:16,235 didn't seem to affect Bonin's social life. 252 00:12:16,310 --> 00:12:20,082 In fact, he was starting to explore his sexuality. 253 00:12:20,157 --> 00:12:21,302 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: He's gay. 254 00:12:21,377 --> 00:12:23,595 And, at this time-- the late 1970s-- 255 00:12:23,670 --> 00:12:26,202 this is still quite a stigmatized social 256 00:12:26,277 --> 00:12:28,242 identity in the United States. 257 00:12:28,317 --> 00:12:30,515 So the fact that he's trying to make connections 258 00:12:30,590 --> 00:12:33,115 with people like him is something that could 259 00:12:33,190 --> 00:12:36,715 appear to be quite positive. 260 00:12:36,790 --> 00:12:41,515 NARRATOR: He became a regular at one of his neighbors parties. 261 00:12:41,590 --> 00:12:44,115 Bonin's meeting up with people who were 262 00:12:44,190 --> 00:12:46,235 after exactly the same as his-- 263 00:12:46,310 --> 00:12:51,802 sex, drugs, a great deal of alcohol, and adventures. 264 00:12:51,877 --> 00:12:55,195 And it's at the friend's house that he first encounters 265 00:12:55,270 --> 00:12:58,435 a 21-year-old young man called Vernon 266 00:12:58,510 --> 00:13:01,475 Butts, who is a part time magician 267 00:13:01,550 --> 00:13:05,315 and works in a porcelain factory. 268 00:13:05,390 --> 00:13:07,835 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: He's been described as being fascinated 269 00:13:07,910 --> 00:13:10,115 by and terrified by Bonin. 270 00:13:10,190 --> 00:13:11,875 And that rings an alarm bell for me 271 00:13:11,950 --> 00:13:13,722 in terms of coercive control. 272 00:13:13,797 --> 00:13:18,035 When you have a perpetrator who basically tries to take away 273 00:13:18,110 --> 00:13:21,235 the identity and the personhood of the individual 274 00:13:21,310 --> 00:13:23,202 they're in a relationship with. 275 00:13:23,277 --> 00:13:25,915 And this sounds incredibly familiar when 276 00:13:25,990 --> 00:13:27,395 we look at this description. 277 00:13:27,470 --> 00:13:29,922 So that's very concerning for me. 278 00:13:29,997 --> 00:13:33,635 NARRATOR: Bonin was never going to resist the urge to assault 279 00:13:33,710 --> 00:13:35,595 a young boy for long. 280 00:13:35,670 --> 00:13:40,435 On the 5th of August, 1979, Bonin and his new friend, 281 00:13:40,510 --> 00:13:44,675 Vernon Butts, were out cruising in Bonin's van. 282 00:13:44,684 --> 00:13:49,395 Bonin spotted Markus Grabs, a 17-year-old German tourist 283 00:13:49,470 --> 00:13:52,475 who was hitchhiking beside Newport Beach. 284 00:13:52,550 --> 00:13:55,242 They pulled over and offered him a ride. 285 00:13:55,317 --> 00:13:57,235 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: At this point in time a lot of people 286 00:13:57,310 --> 00:14:00,635 traveled around, hitching lifts with other people. 287 00:14:00,710 --> 00:14:02,235 It was a cultural norm. 288 00:14:02,244 --> 00:14:05,355 So, I think, to realize that this everyday mode of transport 289 00:14:05,430 --> 00:14:07,555 has put you in a situation where you're going 290 00:14:07,630 --> 00:14:09,315 to lose your life, that must have been 291 00:14:09,390 --> 00:14:11,995 absolutely horrendous for him. 292 00:14:12,070 --> 00:14:14,555 NARRATOR: 17-year-old Markus was subjected 293 00:14:14,564 --> 00:14:17,035 to an horrific assault in which he 294 00:14:17,044 --> 00:14:19,715 was tied up and raped by Bonin. 295 00:14:19,724 --> 00:14:24,235 Years later, Bonin described the attack in detail to prison 296 00:14:24,310 --> 00:14:27,035 psychologist, Vonda Pelto. 297 00:14:27,044 --> 00:14:30,035 VONDA PELTO: Markus Grabs was laying 298 00:14:30,110 --> 00:14:32,915 there in the back of his van. 299 00:14:32,990 --> 00:14:35,075 And Bonin had a knife. 300 00:14:35,150 --> 00:14:38,035 And he said, you know, I just got 301 00:14:38,110 --> 00:14:40,915 to thinking I could kill him. 302 00:14:40,990 --> 00:14:46,075 And then Bonin said, I just started stabbing him wildly. 303 00:14:46,150 --> 00:14:50,395 He said, I just stabbed and stabbed and stabbed. 304 00:14:50,470 --> 00:14:52,595 GEOFFREY WANSELL: He was stabbed 77 305 00:14:52,670 --> 00:14:57,955 times in an outburst of violence that's almost unimaginable. 306 00:14:58,030 --> 00:15:00,395 NARRATOR: The lifeless body of Markus Grabs 307 00:15:00,470 --> 00:15:03,635 was found the following day in nearby Malibu. 308 00:15:03,710 --> 00:15:07,115 The 17-year-old was naked and had orange cord 309 00:15:07,190 --> 00:15:09,155 still wrapped around his head. 310 00:15:09,230 --> 00:15:12,715 Markus had been raped and murdered by William Bonin. 311 00:15:12,790 --> 00:15:17,835 Watched on by his macabre cheerleader, Vernon Butts. 312 00:15:17,910 --> 00:15:21,115 GEOFFREY WANSELL: Butts admitted later that he positively 313 00:15:21,190 --> 00:15:25,362 enjoyed watching Bonin in action, 314 00:15:25,437 --> 00:15:31,795 that he was both terrified of him and yet hypnotized by him. 315 00:15:31,870 --> 00:15:36,715 The perfect accomplice, the Sorcerer's apprentice. 316 00:15:36,790 --> 00:15:41,995 NARRATOR: The deadly duo had made their first kill. 317 00:15:42,070 --> 00:15:43,795 There's almost a sense in which they're waiting 318 00:15:43,870 --> 00:15:45,282 to see what's going to happen. 319 00:15:45,357 --> 00:15:47,435 Are the police going to catch up with them? 320 00:15:47,510 --> 00:15:49,675 Is anybody going to come looking for them? 321 00:15:49,750 --> 00:15:52,402 And when they realize that that's not going to happen, 322 00:15:52,477 --> 00:15:55,835 they get that sense of power and that sense of invincibility, 323 00:15:55,844 --> 00:15:59,075 and think, well, why not do it again? 324 00:15:59,150 --> 00:16:01,635 NARRATOR: Over the next five weeks, two more 325 00:16:01,710 --> 00:16:04,595 young men would die at the hands of Bonin 326 00:16:04,670 --> 00:16:06,402 and his sidekick, Butts-- 327 00:16:06,477 --> 00:16:11,155 15-year-old Donald Hyden and 17-year-old David Murillo. 328 00:16:11,230 --> 00:16:14,715 Were both sodomized, strangled, and discarded 329 00:16:14,790 --> 00:16:17,115 along the Ventura freeway. 330 00:16:17,190 --> 00:16:19,275 VONDA PELTO: He was very clever. 331 00:16:19,350 --> 00:16:22,675 So that the police were confused, 332 00:16:22,750 --> 00:16:26,115 he would just scatter these kids all over the place. 333 00:16:26,190 --> 00:16:27,395 They were trash. 334 00:16:27,470 --> 00:16:30,522 Once they were dead, they were trash to him. 335 00:16:30,597 --> 00:16:32,322 They were nothing. 336 00:16:32,397 --> 00:16:34,475 NARRATOR: The bodies of young male victims 337 00:16:34,550 --> 00:16:37,362 were being discovered in various different counties 338 00:16:37,437 --> 00:16:39,555 in and around Los Angeles. 339 00:16:39,630 --> 00:16:42,435 Noticing a similarity between the murders, 340 00:16:42,510 --> 00:16:47,835 investigators at the LAPD began to contact other agencies. 341 00:16:47,910 --> 00:16:51,995 Larry Malmberg was investigating the murder of 17-year-old, Mark 342 00:16:52,070 --> 00:16:55,115 Shelton, who had been found beside a freeway 343 00:16:55,190 --> 00:16:58,835 in the Devore area of San Bernardino County. 344 00:16:58,910 --> 00:17:00,675 LAPD brought it to my attention 345 00:17:00,750 --> 00:17:05,235 that the one case in Devore fit the cases from LA 346 00:17:05,310 --> 00:17:08,755 County and Orange County. 347 00:17:08,830 --> 00:17:12,435 And, then, that's what made me realize that, you know, 348 00:17:12,510 --> 00:17:13,902 we were dealing with a serial killer. 349 00:17:13,977 --> 00:17:18,035 And we all met together, all the agencies, exchanging 350 00:17:18,044 --> 00:17:21,195 information on murder cases, especially 351 00:17:21,270 --> 00:17:24,035 any type of murder cases that involved the body being 352 00:17:24,044 --> 00:17:26,915 dumped anywhere near a freeway. 353 00:17:26,990 --> 00:17:29,275 NARRATOR: The multi-agency investigation 354 00:17:29,350 --> 00:17:32,955 identified at least five possible victims, all of them 355 00:17:33,030 --> 00:17:35,755 boys under the age of 17. 356 00:17:35,830 --> 00:17:39,635 News of the man the press were calling the Freeway Killer 357 00:17:39,710 --> 00:17:41,502 soon spread. 358 00:17:41,577 --> 00:17:44,995 Over the next three months, four more young victims were found 359 00:17:45,004 --> 00:17:47,202 that matched the killer's MO. 360 00:17:47,277 --> 00:17:50,835 Reporter, Dave Lopez, remembers that the community 361 00:17:50,910 --> 00:17:52,755 was on a knife edge. 362 00:17:52,830 --> 00:17:54,475 DAVE LOPEZ: There are a lot of bodies being found. 363 00:17:54,550 --> 00:17:56,322 All of Southern California was terrified. 364 00:17:56,397 --> 00:17:59,035 I mean, here was a guy running around. 365 00:17:59,110 --> 00:18:02,635 And they knew it was a van picking up kids, 366 00:18:02,710 --> 00:18:04,475 and these kids were found dead. 367 00:18:04,550 --> 00:18:07,355 I mean, it was a very, very terrifying time. 368 00:18:07,364 --> 00:18:10,635 NARRATOR: And, tragically, there would be many more victims. 369 00:18:10,710 --> 00:18:13,682 At the turn of the decade, the Freeway Killer 370 00:18:13,757 --> 00:18:16,075 had no intention of stopping. 371 00:18:16,150 --> 00:18:19,195 But William Bonin wasn't working alone. 372 00:18:19,270 --> 00:18:21,755 Over the course of his murderous career, 373 00:18:21,830 --> 00:18:25,722 the 32-year-old had a number of accomplices. 374 00:18:25,797 --> 00:18:28,635 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: When you've got a team-killing situation, 375 00:18:28,710 --> 00:18:32,915 there's a participation and spectator element to this. 376 00:18:32,990 --> 00:18:36,675 And there's a sense of power in watching somebody else kill, 377 00:18:36,750 --> 00:18:39,355 and there's also a sense of power in performing 378 00:18:39,364 --> 00:18:40,935 a murder before an audience. 379 00:18:43,844 --> 00:18:47,155 VONDA PELTO: Growing up, Bonin didn't have any friends 380 00:18:47,230 --> 00:18:51,195 and so these young killers were his friends. 381 00:18:51,270 --> 00:18:54,755 And also his sexual partners. 382 00:18:54,830 --> 00:18:58,195 NARRATOR: Another individual who was to become one of Bonin's 383 00:18:58,270 --> 00:19:01,915 chosen few, was an 18-year-old from Texas called 384 00:19:01,990 --> 00:19:03,448 Gregory Miley. 385 00:19:03,524 --> 00:19:08,555 He was illiterate and made money as a casual laborer. 386 00:19:08,630 --> 00:19:11,835 GEOFFREY WANSELL: In February, 1980, Bonin, 387 00:19:11,910 --> 00:19:15,955 this time with Miley, who he'd met at one of those parties, 388 00:19:16,030 --> 00:19:19,515 was out searching for a victim. 389 00:19:19,590 --> 00:19:23,202 NARRATOR: Later, Miley described that night's events to prison 390 00:19:23,277 --> 00:19:26,315 psychologist, Vonda Pelto. 391 00:19:26,390 --> 00:19:29,595 VONDA PELTO: Gregory Miley had this pretty long blonde hair. 392 00:19:29,670 --> 00:19:30,842 I remember. 393 00:19:30,917 --> 00:19:35,835 And he had an IQ of about 57 I think. 394 00:19:35,910 --> 00:19:38,835 And he was definitely led by Bill. 395 00:19:38,910 --> 00:19:42,355 NARRATOR: As Miley recounted to Vonda after his arrest, 396 00:19:42,430 --> 00:19:44,762 Bonin brought up the subject of murder. 397 00:20:03,844 --> 00:20:07,242 NARRATOR: Their victim was 15-year-old Charles Miranda. 398 00:20:19,790 --> 00:20:23,635 NARRATOR: Bonin goaded Miley asking, can you do it? 399 00:20:23,710 --> 00:20:25,835 Let me show you how to do this. 400 00:20:25,844 --> 00:20:29,482 Charles was raped and strangled in the back of the van. 401 00:20:38,157 --> 00:20:42,235 NARRATOR: But the night was just getting started. 402 00:20:42,310 --> 00:20:45,435 VONDA PELTO: Miley told me that, I was ready to go home. 403 00:20:45,510 --> 00:20:49,035 I was tired after we killed the first one. 404 00:20:49,110 --> 00:20:51,635 But Bonin said, no, I need another one. 405 00:20:51,710 --> 00:20:54,475 And that's when they picked up the 12-year-old, 406 00:20:54,550 --> 00:20:57,235 the youngest of all. 407 00:20:57,310 --> 00:21:01,115 NARRATOR: They found James Macabe waiting at a bus stop. 408 00:21:01,190 --> 00:21:04,235 He wanted to get to Disneyland. 409 00:21:04,310 --> 00:21:05,995 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: They lured him into their vehicle 410 00:21:06,070 --> 00:21:07,235 under the premise that they were going 411 00:21:07,310 --> 00:21:08,835 to take him to Disneyland. 412 00:21:08,910 --> 00:21:10,182 But they didn't. 413 00:21:10,257 --> 00:21:13,115 Bonin raped him whilst Miley drove the vehicle. 414 00:21:13,124 --> 00:21:16,875 And he was beaten, and he was strangled. 415 00:21:16,950 --> 00:21:19,795 So you now have two murders in one day. 416 00:21:19,870 --> 00:21:22,755 And I think Bonin feels a real sense of accomplishment 417 00:21:22,830 --> 00:21:24,715 as a serial killer now. 418 00:21:24,790 --> 00:21:27,715 NARRATOR: The police soon discovered the lifeless bodies 419 00:21:27,790 --> 00:21:31,315 of both boys taking the number of the Freeway Killer's 420 00:21:31,390 --> 00:21:34,555 suspected victims to at least 12. 421 00:21:34,630 --> 00:21:37,435 As the media reported the latest slayings, 422 00:21:37,510 --> 00:21:40,595 David McVicker found it all very familiar. 423 00:21:40,670 --> 00:21:42,315 DAVID MCVICKER: It was like, every time that I read 424 00:21:42,390 --> 00:21:43,675 about these kids in the newspaper, 425 00:21:43,750 --> 00:21:46,762 it was like I just felt this pit in my stomach. 426 00:21:46,837 --> 00:21:48,475 And it's like, that happened to me. 427 00:21:48,550 --> 00:21:49,602 That happened to me. 428 00:21:49,677 --> 00:21:51,675 You know, I just had this feeling it was him. 429 00:21:51,750 --> 00:21:54,962 But I knew in my heart it couldn't be him because he's 430 00:21:55,037 --> 00:21:57,075 still in prison, right? 431 00:21:57,084 --> 00:21:58,735 NARRATOR: But he wasn't. 432 00:21:58,810 --> 00:22:02,402 William Bonin had been free for over a year in which time 433 00:22:02,477 --> 00:22:04,915 he claimed the lives of many boys. 434 00:22:04,990 --> 00:22:09,555 And the sadistic serial killer was only just getting started. 435 00:22:09,630 --> 00:22:13,875 On the 15th of March, the naked body of another young man 436 00:22:13,950 --> 00:22:17,562 was found beside a freeway in LA County. 437 00:22:17,637 --> 00:22:22,275 33-year-old Bonin had so far involved several accomplices, 438 00:22:22,350 --> 00:22:25,035 and he was about to recruit another. 439 00:22:25,110 --> 00:22:27,355 He'd been introduced to a 17-year-old 440 00:22:27,430 --> 00:22:32,435 called Billy Pugh at one of his neighbors parties. 441 00:22:32,510 --> 00:22:34,002 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: So this individual 442 00:22:34,077 --> 00:22:37,075 could just as well have been one of Bonin's victims 443 00:22:37,150 --> 00:22:39,155 as well as an accomplice. 444 00:22:39,230 --> 00:22:42,642 So he got a ride home with him from a party, 445 00:22:42,717 --> 00:22:44,995 and Bonin proposition Pugh. 446 00:22:45,070 --> 00:22:46,722 An Pugh turned him down. 447 00:22:46,797 --> 00:22:48,762 He was quite shocked at this. 448 00:22:48,837 --> 00:22:52,395 And during this encounter, Bonin tells Pugh that he likes 449 00:22:52,470 --> 00:22:55,362 to abduct and kill young boys. 450 00:22:55,437 --> 00:22:58,042 And what Bonin is essentially saying here 451 00:22:58,117 --> 00:23:00,715 is, I could kill you if I wanted to. 452 00:23:00,790 --> 00:23:04,995 And Pugh was quite fascinated, but also quite terrified 453 00:23:05,070 --> 00:23:06,315 by this. 454 00:23:06,390 --> 00:23:09,235 NARRATOR: On the 20th of March, less than a week 455 00:23:09,310 --> 00:23:13,395 after his last killing, Bonin, together with young Billy Pugh, 456 00:23:13,470 --> 00:23:16,395 went to Hollywood on the hunt for a victim. 457 00:23:16,404 --> 00:23:19,195 They lured 15-year-old runaway, Harry 458 00:23:19,270 --> 00:23:22,635 Todd Turner, into the van. 459 00:23:22,710 --> 00:23:27,115 Harry Todd Turner, was prey for the pair of them. 460 00:23:27,190 --> 00:23:30,315 Once again, the boy is forced to strip. 461 00:23:30,390 --> 00:23:35,115 He is beaten, sodomized, and strangled with a ligature. 462 00:23:35,190 --> 00:23:37,195 NARRATOR: It wasn't enough to satisfy 463 00:23:37,270 --> 00:23:39,435 Bonin's growing desires. 464 00:23:39,510 --> 00:23:43,515 The following afternoon, he was yet again cruising the streets. 465 00:23:43,524 --> 00:23:46,435 This time, he was alone. 466 00:23:46,510 --> 00:23:48,235 He's been killing with accomplices 467 00:23:48,310 --> 00:23:49,902 for quite a long time now. 468 00:23:49,977 --> 00:23:53,035 And I think he wants to mix it up and make things interesting. 469 00:23:53,110 --> 00:23:57,035 And he also has that confidence because he hasn't been caught. 470 00:23:57,110 --> 00:24:00,195 So he decides, I'm going to try killing on my own. 471 00:24:00,270 --> 00:24:02,082 And I think he feels quite confident he's 472 00:24:02,157 --> 00:24:03,668 going to get away with it. 473 00:24:03,744 --> 00:24:06,715 NARRATOR: He came across 14-year-old, Glenn Barker, 474 00:24:06,790 --> 00:24:08,955 hitchhiking in Westminster. 475 00:24:09,030 --> 00:24:10,235 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: Glenn Barker's mother 476 00:24:10,310 --> 00:24:12,635 had been hearing about other boys who 477 00:24:12,710 --> 00:24:14,755 had been turning up dead, and she was rightly 478 00:24:14,764 --> 00:24:16,595 incredibly worried about this. 479 00:24:16,604 --> 00:24:19,835 So in order to encourage Glenn not to hitchhike, 480 00:24:19,910 --> 00:24:22,915 she gave him money so we could take the bus instead. 481 00:24:22,990 --> 00:24:25,115 But, like any young lad, he's not going 482 00:24:25,124 --> 00:24:26,495 to spend his money on the bus. 483 00:24:26,570 --> 00:24:29,235 He was going to save it up for other things. 484 00:24:29,310 --> 00:24:32,715 NARRATOR: It was a mistake, which cost Glenn his life. 485 00:24:32,790 --> 00:24:35,595 But claiming one young victim wasn't enough 486 00:24:35,670 --> 00:24:38,315 for Bonin that afternoon. 487 00:24:38,390 --> 00:24:40,555 GEOFFREY WANSELL: Bonin comes across a young man 488 00:24:40,630 --> 00:24:45,395 of 15, Russell Rugh, who was on his way to an after-school job. 489 00:24:45,470 --> 00:24:47,395 But he'd called his employer to tell 490 00:24:47,470 --> 00:24:49,962 him that he was running late. 491 00:24:50,037 --> 00:24:55,115 Tragically, he was hitchhiking, and was offered a lift by none 492 00:24:55,190 --> 00:24:57,995 other than William Bonin. 493 00:24:58,070 --> 00:24:59,755 NARRATOR: Glenn and Russell's bodies 494 00:24:59,830 --> 00:25:04,755 were found dumped together in a remote location 70 miles out 495 00:25:04,764 --> 00:25:07,115 of the city in Orange County. 496 00:25:07,190 --> 00:25:08,722 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: I think the fact that Glenn Barker 497 00:25:08,797 --> 00:25:11,195 and Russell Rugh's bodies were dumped together 498 00:25:11,270 --> 00:25:13,002 is incredibly significant. 499 00:25:13,077 --> 00:25:15,322 Because what the killer is doing, in terms 500 00:25:15,397 --> 00:25:18,555 of whoever finds those bodies, is saying, look, 501 00:25:18,630 --> 00:25:19,835 I've killed two people. 502 00:25:19,844 --> 00:25:21,355 I've done this on my own. 503 00:25:21,430 --> 00:25:24,195 I am displaying these bodies for you to see. 504 00:25:24,270 --> 00:25:26,555 So there's a real sense of a performance here. 505 00:25:26,564 --> 00:25:28,762 NARRATOR: Forensic investigators discover 506 00:25:28,837 --> 00:25:33,555 distinctive green carpet fibers on both victims' naked bodies. 507 00:25:33,630 --> 00:25:37,115 This firmly linked these murders with four of the Freeway 508 00:25:37,190 --> 00:25:39,275 Killer's earlier victims. 509 00:25:39,350 --> 00:25:42,355 By late April, 1980, the body count 510 00:25:42,430 --> 00:25:45,115 attributed to the mysterious Freeway Killer 511 00:25:45,190 --> 00:25:47,395 had reached a staggering 19. 512 00:25:47,470 --> 00:25:50,035 And there was no sign of him slowing down. 513 00:25:50,110 --> 00:25:54,115 It was all proving too much for David McVicker who'd survived 514 00:25:54,190 --> 00:25:57,835 an assault by Bonin in 1975. 515 00:25:57,910 --> 00:25:59,795 DAVID MCVICKER: I knew, just something in my stomach 516 00:25:59,870 --> 00:26:01,995 just told me, this is him. 517 00:26:02,070 --> 00:26:05,682 And these stories just kept going on and on. 518 00:26:05,757 --> 00:26:08,435 And, finally, one day on TV, one of the news reporters 519 00:26:08,444 --> 00:26:11,802 said that if you have any idea, even if it's a guess 520 00:26:11,877 --> 00:26:13,315 who could be doing this, call. 521 00:26:13,390 --> 00:26:15,195 And I thought, yeah, I have a guess. 522 00:26:15,270 --> 00:26:16,595 I have a good guess. 523 00:26:16,670 --> 00:26:18,235 I finally called the Sheriff's department 524 00:26:18,310 --> 00:26:20,475 and said what happened to me. 525 00:26:20,550 --> 00:26:23,555 NARRATOR: The net was closing in on William Bonin. 526 00:26:23,630 --> 00:26:27,235 His name had been firmly put on the police's radar, 527 00:26:27,310 --> 00:26:31,235 and someone else was about to name him as a suspect too. 528 00:26:31,310 --> 00:26:33,875 One of his accomplices, Billy Pugh, 529 00:26:33,950 --> 00:26:36,915 had been arrested for vehicle theft. 530 00:26:36,990 --> 00:26:38,875 GEOFFREY WANSELL: While on remand in prison, 531 00:26:38,950 --> 00:26:42,435 he tells the authorities that if he can make some kind of deal 532 00:26:42,510 --> 00:26:46,635 with them, he knows who the Freeway Killer is. 533 00:26:46,710 --> 00:26:50,562 And he points them towards William Bonin. 534 00:26:50,637 --> 00:26:52,395 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: Looking at this from the outside, 535 00:26:52,470 --> 00:26:54,835 it would appear to be completely bizarre. 536 00:26:54,910 --> 00:26:56,955 But he is out of Bonin's clutches now. 537 00:26:57,030 --> 00:27:00,915 That coercively controlling dynamic has been broken down. 538 00:27:00,924 --> 00:27:02,922 He's getting a sense of himself back, 539 00:27:02,997 --> 00:27:06,235 and he wants to protect himself. 540 00:27:06,310 --> 00:27:08,195 NARRATOR: Unaware that he was about to be 541 00:27:08,270 --> 00:27:10,995 under the spotlight, Bonin was recruiting 542 00:27:11,070 --> 00:27:12,715 yet another accomplice-- 543 00:27:12,790 --> 00:27:18,235 an 18-year-old named James Munro whom he'd taken under his wing. 544 00:27:18,244 --> 00:27:20,395 VONDA PELTO: Bill picked him up, got him a job, 545 00:27:20,470 --> 00:27:23,755 took him to live with him at his mother's house. 546 00:27:23,830 --> 00:27:28,035 And Bonin just said to Jim Munro, 547 00:27:28,110 --> 00:27:29,595 what do you think about us going out 548 00:27:29,670 --> 00:27:33,075 and picking up somebody, having sex with him, 549 00:27:33,150 --> 00:27:34,635 and then killing him? 550 00:27:34,710 --> 00:27:36,035 What do you think? 551 00:27:36,110 --> 00:27:39,515 And Jim Munro told me, he thought he was kidding. 552 00:27:39,590 --> 00:27:42,835 And Jim said, he didn't want to sound 553 00:27:42,910 --> 00:27:45,075 like he was afraid to do that. 554 00:27:45,150 --> 00:27:48,435 NARRATOR: On the 2nd of June, whilst the LAPD began 555 00:27:48,444 --> 00:27:51,595 to organize a 24-hour surveillance operation 556 00:27:51,670 --> 00:27:54,402 on William Bonin, their new prime suspect 557 00:27:54,477 --> 00:27:57,835 for the Freeway Killer, Bonin and James Munro 558 00:27:57,910 --> 00:28:00,842 had picked up another young man. 559 00:28:00,917 --> 00:28:03,075 What stands out about this is that it 560 00:28:03,150 --> 00:28:05,755 didn't just happen in the back of a van, down a road 561 00:28:05,830 --> 00:28:06,835 somewhere. 562 00:28:06,910 --> 00:28:08,755 Steven Wells was taken to the house 563 00:28:08,830 --> 00:28:10,555 where Bonin's mother lived. 564 00:28:10,630 --> 00:28:13,675 Now, taking a victim to a house where you live 565 00:28:13,750 --> 00:28:15,635 is incredibly risky. 566 00:28:15,710 --> 00:28:19,035 So Bonin really does feel completely invincible 567 00:28:19,110 --> 00:28:21,515 at this point in time. 568 00:28:21,590 --> 00:28:25,035 VONDA PELTO: They killed Steven Wells in Bonin's house, 569 00:28:25,110 --> 00:28:27,835 and then took him over to Vernon Butts' house. 570 00:28:27,910 --> 00:28:32,635 And they said to Vernon, hey, Vern, come on out in the van 571 00:28:32,710 --> 00:28:34,435 and look what we've got. 572 00:28:34,444 --> 00:28:38,315 And Vern went out there, and kind of poked the kid, 573 00:28:38,390 --> 00:28:41,235 and said, oh, yeah, that's a good one. 574 00:28:41,310 --> 00:28:45,035 And Bill said to Vern, what do you 575 00:28:45,110 --> 00:28:46,835 think we ought to do with him? 576 00:28:46,910 --> 00:28:51,195 Vern said, well, you could keep him as a souvenir 577 00:28:51,270 --> 00:28:53,475 or just dump him off. 578 00:28:53,550 --> 00:28:57,835 And, hey, no big deal, you could always get another one. 579 00:28:57,910 --> 00:29:01,515 NARRATOR: The surveillance team set up outside Bonin's house 580 00:29:01,590 --> 00:29:05,955 just in time to witness and Munro return in the van 581 00:29:06,030 --> 00:29:08,755 after disposing of Steven's body. 582 00:29:08,830 --> 00:29:12,195 As investigators watched the callous duo jovially 583 00:29:12,270 --> 00:29:15,875 enter the house, they had no idea what horrors had happened 584 00:29:15,950 --> 00:29:18,402 there just hours earlier. 585 00:29:18,477 --> 00:29:21,635 All the police could do was watch and wait. 586 00:29:21,710 --> 00:29:24,835 Nine days later, on the 11th of June, 587 00:29:24,844 --> 00:29:27,835 they got their opportunity. 588 00:29:27,910 --> 00:29:29,515 The police had witnessed him talking 589 00:29:29,590 --> 00:29:32,395 to a number of young men on street corners 590 00:29:32,470 --> 00:29:33,848 as they were following him. 591 00:29:33,924 --> 00:29:37,875 And one 17-year-old actually got into his van. 592 00:29:37,950 --> 00:29:40,922 The detectives who had been standing, watching the van, 593 00:29:40,997 --> 00:29:42,435 could see it moving. 594 00:29:42,444 --> 00:29:46,402 They could also hear sounds, groans. 595 00:29:46,477 --> 00:29:49,195 A physical attack could be about to take place. 596 00:29:49,270 --> 00:29:54,035 And, at that point, they decide to get into the van. 597 00:29:54,110 --> 00:29:56,235 They caught him, literally, right in the act-- 598 00:29:56,310 --> 00:29:58,075 right smack in the act. 599 00:29:58,150 --> 00:30:01,195 They saved the kid, and they caught Bonin red-handed. 600 00:30:01,270 --> 00:30:04,755 NARRATOR: Finally, William Bonin was in police custody. 601 00:30:04,830 --> 00:30:07,715 The man who was believed to be responsible for the murder 602 00:30:07,790 --> 00:30:12,355 of 21 young men and boys was safely behind bars. 603 00:30:12,430 --> 00:30:14,955 As the news broke, the whole of LA, 604 00:30:15,030 --> 00:30:17,162 and one keen viewer in particular, 605 00:30:17,237 --> 00:30:20,155 breathed a huge sigh of relief. 606 00:30:20,230 --> 00:30:21,995 We were watching the news and all of a sudden 607 00:30:22,070 --> 00:30:23,288 this flash comes on-- 608 00:30:23,164 --> 00:30:25,395 Freeway Killer arrested. 609 00:30:25,470 --> 00:30:27,802 And it was him. 610 00:30:27,877 --> 00:30:29,395 NARRATOR: William Bonin was charged 611 00:30:29,470 --> 00:30:33,235 with the sodomy and oral copulation of the teenage boy 612 00:30:33,310 --> 00:30:35,275 who was rescued from his van. 613 00:30:35,350 --> 00:30:37,915 He was due in court for a preliminary hearing. 614 00:30:37,990 --> 00:30:41,995 And unless investigators could prove he was also a murderer, 615 00:30:42,070 --> 00:30:46,035 it was likely he would be released on bail. 616 00:30:46,110 --> 00:30:48,835 At the very last minute, officers searching 617 00:30:48,910 --> 00:30:53,075 Vernon Butts' home discovered large amounts of blood 618 00:30:53,150 --> 00:30:54,588 in his shower. 619 00:30:54,664 --> 00:30:57,075 ELIZABETH YARDLEY: Butts had probably been told by Bonin, 620 00:30:57,150 --> 00:30:58,435 don't worry. 621 00:30:58,510 --> 00:31:00,362 There's no evidence, deny everything. 622 00:31:00,437 --> 00:31:01,788 It's fine. 623 00:31:01,864 --> 00:31:04,402 But then the luminol shows up this blood, 624 00:31:04,477 --> 00:31:06,515 which is completely unexpected. 625 00:31:06,590 --> 00:31:09,035 Now, up until this point everything had been planned. 626 00:31:09,110 --> 00:31:10,115 Everything had been predictable. 627 00:31:10,190 --> 00:31:11,835 It was going fine. 628 00:31:11,910 --> 00:31:13,315 But this is a real curveball. 629 00:31:13,390 --> 00:31:16,595 And this is when things start to unravel. 630 00:31:16,670 --> 00:31:19,235 NARRATOR: Butts immediately started talking. 631 00:31:19,310 --> 00:31:22,635 He confirmed that he and Bonin had been responsible 632 00:31:22,710 --> 00:31:24,235 for several of the murders. 633 00:31:24,310 --> 00:31:27,035 Bonin was kept in jail. 634 00:31:27,110 --> 00:31:29,755 In the meantime, forensic investigators 635 00:31:29,830 --> 00:31:33,155 have been examining every inch of Bonin's van. 636 00:31:33,164 --> 00:31:34,635 They'd had a breakthrough. 637 00:31:34,710 --> 00:31:37,595 The rear had been lined with green carpet, which 638 00:31:37,670 --> 00:31:40,842 was a match for the distinctive fibers that had been 639 00:31:40,917 --> 00:31:43,675 found on eight of the victims. 640 00:31:43,750 --> 00:31:48,035 They lift up the green carpet in the back of the van 641 00:31:48,044 --> 00:31:49,835 and discover blood. 642 00:31:49,910 --> 00:31:54,635 Now there are convincing links between the killings. 643 00:31:54,710 --> 00:31:57,555 NARRATOR: As the case against William Bonin mounted, 644 00:31:57,630 --> 00:32:00,635 the news that so many boys and teenagers had been 645 00:32:00,710 --> 00:32:04,835 savagely abused and killed was difficult for David McVicker 646 00:32:04,910 --> 00:32:06,508 to hear. 647 00:32:06,584 --> 00:32:09,035 I can only imagine what those other kids went through. 648 00:32:09,110 --> 00:32:11,315 Because I know that, at first, they would have seen 649 00:32:11,390 --> 00:32:13,242 the same person that I saw. 650 00:32:13,317 --> 00:32:14,675 They were seen somebody who wants 651 00:32:14,684 --> 00:32:17,395 to have fun, and inviting, and be your friend, 652 00:32:17,470 --> 00:32:20,435 and maybe smoke a joint or something. 653 00:32:20,444 --> 00:32:24,315 And then, right after, they would have found out that they 654 00:32:24,390 --> 00:32:26,675 had messed up really bad. 655 00:32:26,684 --> 00:32:29,635 And he was incredibly violent. 656 00:32:29,710 --> 00:32:31,195 He was evil. 657 00:32:31,270 --> 00:32:34,995 And he would hurt you just to hear you scream. 658 00:32:35,004 --> 00:32:37,475 NARRATOR: The police finally had their man. 659 00:32:37,550 --> 00:32:40,075 Investigators worked tirelessly to put 660 00:32:40,150 --> 00:32:44,082 the case against the Freeway Killer together. 661 00:32:44,157 --> 00:32:48,395 Six months later, on the 16th of December, 1980, 662 00:32:48,470 --> 00:32:51,275 William Bonin tried to make a deal. 663 00:32:51,350 --> 00:32:54,835 He would give them information about his numerous victims 664 00:32:54,910 --> 00:32:58,195 on the understanding that his confessions could not be 665 00:32:58,270 --> 00:33:00,802 used as evidence against him. 666 00:33:00,877 --> 00:33:04,515 He was hoping that if he helped, the prosecutors wouldn't 667 00:33:04,590 --> 00:33:06,315 seek the death penalty. 668 00:33:06,390 --> 00:33:10,955 Detective Larry Malmberg received a call from the LAPD. 669 00:33:11,030 --> 00:33:15,282 LARRY MALMBERG: They said, hey, Bonin is going to talk to us, 670 00:33:15,357 --> 00:33:17,235 and you're invited to come down. 671 00:33:17,310 --> 00:33:19,595 And I went down to the courthouse, 672 00:33:19,670 --> 00:33:25,115 and there were officers from a tremendous amount of agencies 673 00:33:25,190 --> 00:33:26,968 that all had victims. 674 00:33:27,044 --> 00:33:31,155 NARRATOR: The LAPD had prepared charts with profiles of dozens 675 00:33:31,230 --> 00:33:33,995 of victims they had reason to believe 676 00:33:34,070 --> 00:33:35,835 may be connected to the case. 677 00:33:35,910 --> 00:33:42,315 Bonin went through them by date and name and photographs 678 00:33:42,390 --> 00:33:46,515 and identified the ones that he had murdered. 679 00:33:46,590 --> 00:33:48,435 NARRATOR: He even went on to describe 680 00:33:48,444 --> 00:33:50,955 where he dumped the body of a young boy 681 00:33:51,030 --> 00:33:52,795 that had never been found. 682 00:33:52,870 --> 00:33:56,122 He told us that he it out here in San Bernardino County, 683 00:33:56,197 --> 00:33:57,635 off the 10 freeway. 684 00:33:57,710 --> 00:34:01,515 So arrangements were made to bring Bonin out the next day 685 00:34:01,590 --> 00:34:03,115 by LA County sheriffs. 686 00:34:03,190 --> 00:34:06,155 He pointed out an area where the body had been dumped. 687 00:34:06,230 --> 00:34:08,755 They set up a grid and started doing a search 688 00:34:08,830 --> 00:34:10,395 and, ultimately, found bones. 689 00:34:10,470 --> 00:34:13,602 NARRATOR: Bonin identified the victim from a photograph 690 00:34:13,677 --> 00:34:18,675 as being missing teenager Sean King, who was 14 years old. 691 00:34:18,750 --> 00:34:21,635 His mother had been waiting anxiously for news 692 00:34:21,710 --> 00:34:23,955 of her son for seven months. 693 00:34:24,030 --> 00:34:28,595 Larry remembers that Bonin was a wolf in sheep's clothing. 694 00:34:28,604 --> 00:34:30,915 If you walked into a bar and sat down 695 00:34:30,990 --> 00:34:33,275 and he was sitting in a chair next to you, 696 00:34:33,350 --> 00:34:36,235 you would think he's a nice guy. 697 00:34:36,310 --> 00:34:39,635 It hurt, emotionally, talking to him 698 00:34:39,644 --> 00:34:43,355 and seeing that he is actually the kind of person you could 699 00:34:43,430 --> 00:34:45,635 carry on a conversation with and not 700 00:34:45,710 --> 00:34:49,035 even realize what an evil, no-good, rotten, piece 701 00:34:49,110 --> 00:34:51,435 of garbage he is. 702 00:34:51,510 --> 00:34:54,402 NARRATOR: Without being able to use Bonin confessions 703 00:34:54,477 --> 00:34:58,315 as evidence in court, the confirmation that he had indeed 704 00:34:58,390 --> 00:35:02,075 been responsible for so many killings was of limited help 705 00:35:02,084 --> 00:35:03,802 to the prosecution. 706 00:35:03,877 --> 00:35:07,995 However, as the year came to an end, several of his accomplices 707 00:35:08,004 --> 00:35:10,435 agreed to plead guilty and testify 708 00:35:10,510 --> 00:35:15,762 against Bonin in return for leniency in their sentencing. 709 00:35:15,837 --> 00:35:18,155 Meanwhile, journalist, Dave Lopez, 710 00:35:18,230 --> 00:35:20,322 had been visiting Bonin in jail. 711 00:35:20,397 --> 00:35:25,075 On the 9th of January, 1981, he had another opportunity 712 00:35:25,150 --> 00:35:26,915 to meet with the killer. 713 00:35:26,990 --> 00:35:28,302 There had been a lot of speculation 714 00:35:28,377 --> 00:35:30,595 about what was going to happen with the trial 715 00:35:30,604 --> 00:35:32,442 and what have you. 716 00:35:32,517 --> 00:35:35,322 And I said, you know, there's a rumor that you're 717 00:35:35,397 --> 00:35:38,315 going to cop out to all this. 718 00:35:38,390 --> 00:35:40,795 And he goes, I don't know if I'm going to do that or not, 719 00:35:40,870 --> 00:35:42,675 but you got a little bit of time? 720 00:35:42,750 --> 00:35:43,748 I go, yeah. 721 00:35:43,824 --> 00:35:47,675 And he says, yeah, I did it. 722 00:35:47,684 --> 00:35:49,275 I said, you did what? 723 00:35:49,350 --> 00:35:50,675 He says, I killed them. 724 00:35:50,750 --> 00:35:51,915 And I go, how many? 725 00:35:51,990 --> 00:35:54,835 And he said, 21. 726 00:35:54,910 --> 00:35:57,002 NARRATOR: It was a confession that Dave 727 00:35:57,077 --> 00:35:58,915 had not been expecting. 728 00:35:58,990 --> 00:36:01,802 DAVE LOPEZ: It was just a weird feeling knowing that he 729 00:36:01,877 --> 00:36:03,242 was telling me all this. 730 00:36:03,317 --> 00:36:06,715 And, here, I'm just sitting right across from him. 731 00:36:06,790 --> 00:36:10,115 And saying to myself, you know, he didn't have 732 00:36:10,190 --> 00:36:14,155 the look of a wild murderer. 733 00:36:14,230 --> 00:36:16,235 But, boy, he sure talked like one. 734 00:36:16,310 --> 00:36:20,435 NARRATOR: Two days later, on the 11th of January, Vernon Butts-- 735 00:36:20,510 --> 00:36:22,395 Bonin's accomplice who'd admitted 736 00:36:22,470 --> 00:36:24,955 his part in the killings and been charged 737 00:36:25,030 --> 00:36:26,675 with six of the murders-- 738 00:36:26,750 --> 00:36:28,675 committed suicide in jail. 739 00:36:28,750 --> 00:36:32,235 It was a massive blow for the prosecution. 740 00:36:32,310 --> 00:36:34,595 Now, Butts has agreed to testify 741 00:36:34,670 --> 00:36:37,115 against Bonin providing the death 742 00:36:37,124 --> 00:36:39,435 penalty is taken off the table. 743 00:36:39,510 --> 00:36:42,522 But the moment that Butts hangs himself, 744 00:36:42,597 --> 00:36:47,435 all those confessions become inadmissible in court. 745 00:36:47,510 --> 00:36:50,155 Bonin was in jail at the time, but, in order to keep him 746 00:36:50,230 --> 00:36:53,235 there, the prosecution needed to prove his guilt. 747 00:36:53,310 --> 00:36:56,202 Now, they couldn't use his confessions against him 748 00:36:56,277 --> 00:36:57,635 because that was the agreement. 749 00:36:57,710 --> 00:37:00,162 They couldn't use Butts' testimony either. 750 00:37:00,237 --> 00:37:03,835 So both of these murderers have admitted to their crimes, 751 00:37:03,910 --> 00:37:07,675 but the evidence can't be used to prove them guilty. 752 00:37:07,750 --> 00:37:11,435 NARRATOR: Six months later, in June, there was a revelation. 753 00:37:11,510 --> 00:37:14,155 Dave Lopez went public with the news 754 00:37:14,230 --> 00:37:17,035 that Bonin had confessed to him. 755 00:37:17,110 --> 00:37:18,602 DAVE LOPEZ: We put together the story 756 00:37:18,677 --> 00:37:23,842 and broadcast the fact that he confessed to me, 21 killings. 757 00:37:23,917 --> 00:37:26,755 Went into a little bit of detail, not a whole bunch. 758 00:37:26,830 --> 00:37:31,195 And, then, the proverbial you know what hit the fan. 759 00:37:31,270 --> 00:37:33,875 NARRATOR: It made the reporter a vital witness, 760 00:37:33,950 --> 00:37:38,315 and he was put under pressure to give evidence in court. 761 00:37:38,390 --> 00:37:40,395 DAVE LOPEZ: Area and their brother was coming after me, 762 00:37:40,470 --> 00:37:42,595 and they were trying to subpoena me. 763 00:37:42,604 --> 00:37:46,035 Now, at the time, California had what they call a shield law, 764 00:37:46,110 --> 00:37:49,035 which, basically, protected reporters from having 765 00:37:49,110 --> 00:37:51,595 to testify in a court of law. 766 00:37:51,670 --> 00:37:53,555 If you wanted, you can subpoena them, 767 00:37:53,630 --> 00:37:55,722 but they can only testify to what 768 00:37:55,797 --> 00:37:59,235 they had reported on the air or what they had written. 769 00:37:59,310 --> 00:38:02,075 And the state of California tried like the devil 770 00:38:02,150 --> 00:38:03,315 to try to get me to testify. 771 00:38:03,390 --> 00:38:05,275 And I wasn't going to testify. 772 00:38:05,350 --> 00:38:08,155 NARRATOR: As prosecutors tried every trick in the book 773 00:38:08,230 --> 00:38:10,315 to get Dave on the witness stand, 774 00:38:10,324 --> 00:38:14,275 Bonin seemed happy to spill the beans on his life of crime 775 00:38:14,350 --> 00:38:17,322 to prison psychologist, Vonda Pelto. 776 00:38:17,397 --> 00:38:20,235 Over the coming weeks, he went into detail 777 00:38:20,310 --> 00:38:22,835 about the depraved killings. 778 00:38:22,910 --> 00:38:25,595 VONDA PELTO: He said that he went 779 00:38:25,604 --> 00:38:28,915 out and picked up these kids because he wanted sex. 780 00:38:28,990 --> 00:38:30,602 He wanted to rape them. 781 00:38:30,677 --> 00:38:37,115 And then he said that he had this epiphany, I guess, 782 00:38:37,124 --> 00:38:41,035 where he realized and admitted to himself 783 00:38:41,110 --> 00:38:43,195 it wasn't the sex at all. 784 00:38:43,270 --> 00:38:45,435 He enjoyed the killing. 785 00:38:45,510 --> 00:38:52,915 He enjoyed having the boy at his mercy and hearing the boy cry 786 00:38:52,990 --> 00:38:55,235 and plead for his life. 787 00:38:55,310 --> 00:38:56,715 NARRATOR: On the 4th of November, 788 00:38:56,790 --> 00:39:01,635 1981, at the Los Angeles Superior Court, Bonin's trial 789 00:39:01,710 --> 00:39:03,375 began. 790 00:39:03,451 --> 00:39:07,155 He was indicted for 12 murders in Los Angeles County. 791 00:39:07,230 --> 00:39:09,635 GEOFFREY WANSELL: The trial was a sensation. 792 00:39:09,710 --> 00:39:13,195 People queued for hours to get into the public gallery. 793 00:39:13,270 --> 00:39:16,835 It was the most extraordinary spectacle. 794 00:39:16,844 --> 00:39:20,595 NARRATOR: Without any of Bonin's confessions on the record, 795 00:39:20,604 --> 00:39:24,962 there was a real chance that he could get away with murder. 796 00:39:25,037 --> 00:39:27,835 After six weeks of trial and testimony, 797 00:39:27,910 --> 00:39:31,835 the fate of the Freeway Killer hung in the balance. 798 00:39:31,910 --> 00:39:34,035 DAVE LOPEZ: Once they started closing arguments, that's it, 799 00:39:34,110 --> 00:39:35,315 the case is over. 800 00:39:35,390 --> 00:39:38,035 There's no more testimony, no more nothing. 801 00:39:38,110 --> 00:39:39,595 And I hadn't testified yet. 802 00:39:39,670 --> 00:39:43,555 Then, I got a phone call saying that the closing 803 00:39:43,630 --> 00:39:45,715 arguments were delayed. 804 00:39:45,790 --> 00:39:46,955 I go, why? 805 00:39:47,030 --> 00:39:49,002 Well, because Bonin was in the holding 806 00:39:49,077 --> 00:39:50,675 cell with another inmate. 807 00:39:50,750 --> 00:39:53,602 The inmate realized who he was, and he beat the crap out 808 00:39:53,677 --> 00:39:56,195 of him, to the point where Bonin was physically 809 00:39:56,270 --> 00:39:58,035 unable to go to court. 810 00:39:58,110 --> 00:40:02,715 NARRATOR: This unexpected news had a profound effect on Dave. 811 00:40:02,790 --> 00:40:06,675 I do believe that, sometimes, when you get signs-- 812 00:40:06,750 --> 00:40:09,995 may they be subtle or however you want to believe it. 813 00:40:10,070 --> 00:40:11,528 But the way I looked at it, I said, 814 00:40:11,604 --> 00:40:16,715 it was so unusual for a guy to be beaten up the day 815 00:40:16,790 --> 00:40:18,235 of the closing arguments. 816 00:40:18,310 --> 00:40:20,675 And the closing arguments were delayed. 817 00:40:20,750 --> 00:40:24,435 I said to myself, you know, I better not ignore this. 818 00:40:24,510 --> 00:40:27,155 So I called the prosecutor, and I said, hey, look, 819 00:40:27,164 --> 00:40:28,235 you still need me? 820 00:40:28,310 --> 00:40:29,795 Because I'll testify. 821 00:40:29,870 --> 00:40:33,435 NARRATOR: Dave Lopez was on the stand for two days. 822 00:40:33,510 --> 00:40:38,562 He detailed the 21 murders Bonin had confessed to him. 823 00:40:38,637 --> 00:40:41,722 In many ways, it was a controversial decision 824 00:40:41,797 --> 00:40:43,162 because-- 825 00:40:43,237 --> 00:40:46,115 as a reporter myself, and I've covered many trials-- 826 00:40:46,190 --> 00:40:48,315 you're supposed to be there as an observer 827 00:40:48,390 --> 00:40:50,835 and to remain impartial. 828 00:40:50,910 --> 00:40:55,115 It is extremely rare for someone to leave the press 829 00:40:55,190 --> 00:40:58,235 box for the witness box. 830 00:40:58,244 --> 00:41:02,435 NARRATOR: On the 6th of January, 1982, 33-year-old 831 00:41:02,510 --> 00:41:04,675 William Bonin was found guilty of 10 832 00:41:04,750 --> 00:41:09,235 murders in Los Angeles County and given the death penalty. 833 00:41:09,310 --> 00:41:12,235 The following year, Bonin was tried and found 834 00:41:12,310 --> 00:41:16,475 guilty of a further four murders in neighboring Orange County. 835 00:41:16,550 --> 00:41:19,955 He received a second death sentence. 836 00:41:20,030 --> 00:41:22,235 A lot of people said, I was the main reason 837 00:41:22,310 --> 00:41:24,995 that he got convicted. 838 00:41:25,070 --> 00:41:26,655 I don't think that at all. 839 00:41:26,564 --> 00:41:29,555 I think, if anything, I was just icing on the cake for the jury. 840 00:41:29,564 --> 00:41:32,355 All of Bonin's surviving accomplices 841 00:41:32,430 --> 00:41:36,395 were also found guilty and sentenced to time in jail. 842 00:41:36,470 --> 00:41:38,515 Despite taking the police directly 843 00:41:38,590 --> 00:41:42,075 to the location of 14-year-old Sean King's body, 844 00:41:42,150 --> 00:41:44,475 Bonin was acquitted of that crime. 845 00:41:44,550 --> 00:41:47,435 Without being able to use his confession in court, 846 00:41:47,510 --> 00:41:50,315 there was insufficient evidence for conviction. 847 00:41:50,390 --> 00:41:52,435 VONDA PELTO: The sad thing is that he admitted 848 00:41:52,510 --> 00:41:56,795 doing 21 murders, but they only busted him or convicted him 849 00:41:56,870 --> 00:41:58,475 for killing 14. 850 00:41:58,550 --> 00:42:00,235 So there were seven families that 851 00:42:00,310 --> 00:42:02,602 didn't get their cases solved or justice 852 00:42:02,677 --> 00:42:06,402 even though he admitted it. 853 00:42:06,477 --> 00:42:10,635 NARRATOR: In 1996, after 14 years on death row, 854 00:42:10,710 --> 00:42:13,075 William Bonin became the first prisoner 855 00:42:13,150 --> 00:42:17,315 executed by lethal injection in California. 856 00:42:17,390 --> 00:42:21,435 David McVicker was present during those final moments. 857 00:42:21,510 --> 00:42:23,955 DAVID MCVICKER: It was probably like six feet away from him-- 858 00:42:24,030 --> 00:42:25,462 something like that. 859 00:42:25,537 --> 00:42:28,835 And he just eventually turned purple. 860 00:42:28,910 --> 00:42:32,915 And he went, pthhpth, like that, and that was the end of it. 861 00:42:32,990 --> 00:42:35,875 But it was, for me, total release. 862 00:42:35,950 --> 00:42:39,275 It was like these demon nightmares 863 00:42:39,350 --> 00:42:41,475 were just coming out. 864 00:42:41,550 --> 00:42:46,435 NARRATOR: William George Bonin was pronounced dead at 12:13 AM 865 00:42:46,510 --> 00:42:50,115 on the 23rd of February, 1996. 866 00:42:50,190 --> 00:42:53,515 He never showed any remorse for his crimes. 867 00:42:53,590 --> 00:42:56,315 He said, there are some guys that were born on this world 868 00:42:56,324 --> 00:42:57,275 to do certain things. 869 00:42:57,284 --> 00:42:59,235 I was born to be a killer. 870 00:42:59,310 --> 00:43:01,475 LARRY MALMBERG: There are all kinds out there, 871 00:43:01,550 --> 00:43:06,435 and Bonin was one of the most evil ones in my opinion. 872 00:43:06,510 --> 00:43:09,355 Certainly the most evil I ever dealt with. 873 00:43:09,430 --> 00:43:15,115 VONDA PELTO: I asked Bill, one time, do you have any regrets? 874 00:43:15,190 --> 00:43:20,075 And he said, well, I did kill two in one day. 875 00:43:20,150 --> 00:43:23,915 But he said, I always wanted to kill three. 876 00:43:23,990 --> 00:43:28,242 And he said, I really regret not having that opportunity. 877 00:43:31,070 --> 00:43:33,275 NARRATOR: Bonin was a sexual predator 878 00:43:33,284 --> 00:43:35,842 who killed for sheer pleasure. 879 00:43:35,917 --> 00:43:38,955 He was convicted of murdering 14 boys, 880 00:43:39,030 --> 00:43:42,155 but he's believed to have been responsible for many more 881 00:43:42,230 --> 00:43:43,635 lost lives. 882 00:43:43,710 --> 00:43:46,235 He targeted those who were vulnerable. 883 00:43:46,310 --> 00:43:49,075 And, by his own admission, would have continued 884 00:43:49,150 --> 00:43:51,555 to kill if he hadn't been caught, 885 00:43:51,630 --> 00:43:56,795 making William Bonin one of the world's most evil killers. 886 00:43:56,870 --> 00:44:00,242 [music playing]