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My Take
William Bonin is one of those cases that haunts you not because of mystery, but because of sheer scale and brazenness. Known as the Freeway Killer, he operated across southern California's highways in the late 1970s, preying on young men and boys, and the fact that he had at least one accomplice in several of the killings makes the whole thing even more chilling — this wasn't a lone, isolated predator but something almost social in its horror. He confessed to 21 murders but was convicted of 14, and the gap between those numbers is its own kind of tragedy. What sticks with me is the contrast: a Good Conduct Medal from the military, then decades later a death sentence carried out in 1996. His case had a real impact on how California handled serial killer investigations and remains a grim landmark in true-crime history.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- William Bonin
- Name (Japanese)
- ウィリアム・ボニン
- Reading
- うぃりあむ・ぼにん
- Born
- January 8, 1947 – February 23, 1996
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Boar
- Origin
- Willimantic, Connecticut, United States
- Occupation
- truck driver / serial killer
2. Background
- High school
- North High School
Awards & achievements
- Good Conduct Medal
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was William Bonin born?
January 8, 1947 – February 23, 1996.
Where is William Bonin from?
William Bonin is from Willimantic, Connecticut, United States.
What does William Bonin do?
William Bonin works as truck driver, serial killer.
Serial killer — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.