The Descent into Darkness: How the Hillside Strangler Emerged
Between October 1977 and February 1978, Los Angeles was gripped by fear as a series of brutal murders unfolded in the city’s hilly neighborhoods. The killer, dubbed the “Hillside Strangler” by the press, targeted young women, leaving their bodies in grim displays on hillsides. The victims, ranging in age from 12 to 28, were raped, tortured, and strangled, their bodies often washed to remove evidence before being discarded. The randomness of the attacks—striking sex workers, students, and everyday women—created a citywide panic, with residents locking doors and avoiding solitary outings. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) faced immense pressure to solve the case, but the killer’s meticulous methods left few clues, making the investigation a labyrinth of dead ends. The moniker “Hillside Strangler” stuck due to the eerie consistency of the crime scenes, often staged in remote, elevated areas like Glendale or Mount Washington.
What set this case apart was the chilling realization that it wasn’t one killer but two. Cousins Angelo Buono Jr. and Kenneth Bianchi, later identified as the perpetrators, operated as a depraved duo. Their partnership began when Bianchi moved from Rochester, New York, to Los Angeles in 1976 to live with Buono. The two fed off each other’s dark impulses, transforming their shared obsession with control into a four-month killing spree. Their choice of victims reflected a twisted opportunism, preying on those they believed society would overlook. The case’s early days were marked by confusion, as police initially believed they were hunting a single predator. This misconception, coupled with the killers’ ability to evade detection, allowed the terror to escalate unchecked.
The Trail of Evidence: Clues That Broke the Case
The investigation into the Hillside Strangler murders was a slow burn, hampered by the killers’ efforts to erase forensic evidence. Bodies were often scrubbed clean, leaving little for detectives to work with. However, small breakthroughs began to emerge. One key piece of evidence came from a surviving victim, Catharine Lorre, who encountered Bianchi and Buono in 1977. Posing as police officers, they attempted to abduct her, but she escaped after showing them a photo of herself with her father, actor Peter Lorre, which spooked the pair. Her description of the men and their vehicle—a white sedan with a police-like spotlight—gave investigators their first solid lead. Another clue surfaced when police found fibers on some victims’ bodies, later traced to a specific type of upholstery in Buono’s auto shop, where many of the crimes took place.
The case cracked open when Bianchi, after moving to Bellingham, Washington, in 1978, killed two college students, Karen Mandic and Diane Wilder. The similarities between these murders and the Los Angeles killings raised red flags. Witnesses in Washington linked Bianchi to the victims, and his arrest in January 1979 led to a cascade of revelations. Under interrogation, Bianchi confessed to the Los Angeles murders and implicated Buono, detailing their gruesome methods. Police searches of Buono’s home and shop uncovered incriminating items, including jewelry belonging to victims and tools consistent with the torture marks found on bodies. Bianchi’s plea deal, in exchange for testifying against Buono, led to their convictions in 1983 after one of the longest criminal trials in California history, as documented in court records from the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Lingering Shadows: Unanswered Questions and Legacy
Despite the convictions, the Hillside Strangler case left lingering questions that continue to haunt true crime enthusiasts. Why did Bianchi and Buono stop their spree in Los Angeles so abruptly? Some speculate that Bianchi’s move to Washington was driven by internal conflicts or a fear of getting caught, but no definitive motive has been confirmed. Additionally, the exact number of victims remains uncertain. Bianchi claimed they killed more than the 10 attributed to them in Los Angeles, but no further cases were conclusively linked. The psychological dynamics between the cousins also remain a point of fascination—Buono’s domineering personality contrasted with Bianchi’s manipulative charm, creating a lethal synergy that experts still study in criminal psychology texts, such as those by Dr. Robert D. Keppel.
The Hillside Strangler case reshaped Los Angeles’ sense of safety and influenced policing practices. The LAPD’s struggle to connect the dots early on highlighted the need for better coordination in serial killer investigations, leading to advancements in profiling and inter-agency collaboration. For those interested in exploring the case further, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department archives offer detailed records, and sites like the Glendale Police Department’s historical exhibits provide context on the investigation’s challenges. The case also inspired true crime books, such as Darcy O’Brien’s The Hillside Stranglers, which delves into the killers’ psychology without sensationalizing their crimes. While the mystery is solved, its impact endures, a grim reminder of the darkness that can lurk in plain sight.
Comments
Comments section coming soon!