William Bonin

William George Bonin was a serial killer and rapist who was responsible for the deaths, assaults, and torture of at least 21 young men and boys between 1979 and 1980 in Southern California. Due to his consistent dumping of the bodies along California freeways, Bonin became known in the media as “The Freeway Killer”. Bonin would select prostitutes, students, or hitchhikers as his targets, and would either force or entice them into his van. Bonin would then bind them with rope or handcuff them, and would begin to torture them. His victims were sexually assaulted, extensively beaten, and then strangled with their own shirts. On at least three occasions Bonin drove an ice pick through their ears and one victim was forced to drink hydrochloric acid. The victims were typically killed inside of his van before being disposed along the side of a freeway. After being put under surveillance, Bonin was caught in the act of raping 17-year-old Orange County runaway Harold Tate. Evidence found in his van and a letter from one of his victim’s mothers lead Bonin to confess to his crimes. He was sentenced to death by lethal injection in 1983, officially being executed in 1996.

Bonin’s last meal request was for two pepperoni and sausage pizzas, three servings of chocolate ice cream, and three six-packs of Coca-Cola and Pepsi.