Patrick Kearney
Encyclopedia
Patrick Wayne Kearney (born 1940) is an American serial killer
who preyed on young men in California
during the 1970s. He is sometimes referred to as "The Freeway Killer
", a nickname he shares with two other separate serial killers, William Bonin
and Randy Steven Kraft
.
, however; a thin and sickly child, he became a target for bullies at school. In his teens, he became withdrawn and fantasized
about killing people.
Originally from Texas
, Kearney moved to California after a brief marriage ended in divorce
, and eventually worked as an engineer
for Hughes Aircraft
. He claimed to have killed his first victim around 1965, a hitch-hiker
he picked up and murdered in Orange, California
. He claimed several more victims before moving to Redondo Beach
, near Los Angeles, in 1967 with a younger man named David Hill, who became his lover.
s and kill them. He was primarily a necrophile; he would shoot his victims without warning then dismember
and mutilate
the bodies. Eventually, Kearney would dump the victim along the freeway or in the desert, usually wrapped in garbage bags.
Kearney's final victim was a young man named John LaMay, who he killed on March 13, 1977. LaMay had gone to Kearney's house looking for Hill, who wasn't home, and Kearney invited him to watch television. Without provocation, Kearney then shot LaMay in the back of the head and later dumped the remains in the desert.
, Texas
, with Kearney resigning from his job. They were persuaded to turn themselves in by their families.
Hill, 36 years old at the time, was eventually cleared of any involvement in his partner's crimes and was released.
Kearney, on the other hand, made a full confession of his crimes, initially admitting to a total of 28 murders, and subsequently to seven more. In order to avoid the death penalty, he agreed to plead guilty. Kearney was charged with 21 counts of murder, and as agreed, he pled guilty and was given twenty-one life sentences. Police are certain that Kearney was responsible for the other seven murders he had admitted, but they did not have the physical evidence to charge him. Kearney is incarcerated at California State Prison, Mule Creek
as of 2009.
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
who preyed on young men in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
during the 1970s. He is sometimes referred to as "The Freeway Killer
Freeway Killer
The Freeway Killer was a nickname given by the media—and later police forces—to what they believed was a single serial killer claiming victims in California, USA, during the 1970s and often dumping the victims along the freeways...
", a nickname he shares with two other separate serial killers, William Bonin
William Bonin
William George Bonin was an American serial killer and a twice-paroled sex offender, also known as the Freeway Killer, a nickname he shares with two other serial killers. Between 1979 and 1980, Bonin tortured, raped and killed a minimum of 21 boys and young men, and is suspected of committing a...
and Randy Steven Kraft
Randy Steven Kraft
Randy Steven Kraft is an American serial killer. He was convicted of 16 murders and is strongly suspected of committing at least 51 others.-Early life:...
.
Early life
He was the youngest of three sons and was raised in a reasonably stable family. His early life was not without some traumaPsychological trauma
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
, however; a thin and sickly child, he became a target for bullies at school. In his teens, he became withdrawn and fantasized
Fantasy (psychology)
Fantasy in a psychological sense is broadly used to cover two different senses, conscious and unconscious. In the unconscious sense, it is sometimes spelled "phantasy".-Conscious fantasy:...
about killing people.
Originally from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Kearney moved to California after a brief marriage ended in divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
, and eventually worked as an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
for Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes in Culver City, California as a division of Hughes Tool Company...
. He claimed to have killed his first victim around 1965, a hitch-hiker
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is a means of transportation that is gained by asking people, usually strangers, for a ride in their automobile or other road vehicle to travel a distance that may either be short or long...
he picked up and murdered in Orange, California
Orange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
. He claimed several more victims before moving to Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
, near Los Angeles, in 1967 with a younger man named David Hill, who became his lover.
Murders
The pair would frequently argue, and Kearney would go out for long drives on his own. It was then that he would pick up young male hitch-hikers or young men from gay barGay bar
A gay bar is a drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender clientele; the term gay is used as a broadly inclusive concept for LGBT and queer communities...
s and kill them. He was primarily a necrophile; he would shoot his victims without warning then dismember
Dismemberment
Dismemberment is the act of cutting, tearing, pulling, wrenching or otherwise removing, the limbs of a living thing. It may be practiced upon human beings as a form of capital punishment, as a result of a traumatic accident, or in connection with murder, suicide, or cannibalism...
and mutilate
Mutilation
Mutilation or maiming is an act of physical injury that degrades the appearance or function of any living body, usually without causing death.- Usage :...
the bodies. Eventually, Kearney would dump the victim along the freeway or in the desert, usually wrapped in garbage bags.
Kearney's final victim was a young man named John LaMay, who he killed on March 13, 1977. LaMay had gone to Kearney's house looking for Hill, who wasn't home, and Kearney invited him to watch television. Without provocation, Kearney then shot LaMay in the back of the head and later dumped the remains in the desert.
Capture and imprisonment
LaMay's remains were found on May 18, 1977. The police soon discovered that LaMay had been seen in the company of Kearney and Hill. The two fled to El PasoEl Paso
El Paso, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, on the border with Mexico.El Paso may also refer to:-Geography:Colombia:* El Paso, CesarSpain:*El Paso, Santa Cruz de TenerifeUnited States:...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, with Kearney resigning from his job. They were persuaded to turn themselves in by their families.
Hill, 36 years old at the time, was eventually cleared of any involvement in his partner's crimes and was released.
Kearney, on the other hand, made a full confession of his crimes, initially admitting to a total of 28 murders, and subsequently to seven more. In order to avoid the death penalty, he agreed to plead guilty. Kearney was charged with 21 counts of murder, and as agreed, he pled guilty and was given twenty-one life sentences. Police are certain that Kearney was responsible for the other seven murders he had admitted, but they did not have the physical evidence to charge him. Kearney is incarcerated at California State Prison, Mule Creek
Mule Creek State Prison
Mule Creek State Prison is a California State Prison. It was opened in June 1987 and covers located in Ione, California. The current population is 3,769 although it was designed for a capacity of 1,700. The prison has a staff of 1,242 and an annual operating budget of $157 million...
as of 2009.