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The Hillside Stranglers

Kenneth Bianchi & Angelo Buono Jr. • 27 / 44 • USA

The Hillside Stranglers

Victim Overview

Claimed Killed

12

Confirmed Killed

12

Wounded

0

Description

Kenneth Alessio Bianchi and Angelo Buono Jr. became known as the "Hillside Stranglers," a name given by the media after the bodies of several young women and girls were discovered dumped on the hills surrounding Los Angeles in the late 1970s. For months, residents feared that a single serial killer was stalking the city. Investigators would eventually discover that the crimes were committed by two relatives working together. Born in 1951, Kenneth Bianchi was adopted shortly after birth and spent much of his childhood struggling with feelings of rejection and insecurity. He often exaggerated his achievements, fabricated stories about his career, and sought admiration from those around him. As a young adult, he moved to Los Angeles, where he began spending time with his older cousin, Angelo Buono Jr. Buono, born in 1934, had a lengthy criminal history before the murders began. Known for his violent temper and involvement in prostitution-related crimes, he operated an auto upholstery business in Glendale, California. Those who knew him often described him as controlling, manipulative, and abusive toward women. Together, the cousins formed a deadly partnership fueled by shared cruelty and a desire for dominance. Between October 1977 and February 1978, the pair abducted young women and teenage girls from the streets of Los Angeles. Many of their victims were vulnerable, including runaways, sex workers, or women who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some were lured into Buono's car under false pretenses, while others were kidnapped by force. Once captured, the victims were taken to Buono's home, where they were sexually assaulted, tortured, and ultimately strangled. Their bodies were then abandoned along hillsides, giving rise to the name that would define the case. The investigation quickly became one of Southern California's largest homicide cases. Detectives initially believed a single offender was responsible because of the similarities between the murders. The victims had been strangled, their bodies showed signs of sexual assault and restraint, and many had been left in remote hillside locations. Public fear spread rapidly as newspapers covered each new discovery, while investigators struggled to identify the person responsible. The murders in Los Angeles came to an apparent end after February 1978. Months later, Kenneth Bianchi moved to Bellingham, Washington, where he attempted to start a new life. In January 1979, acting alone and without Angelo Buono Jr., Bianchi murdered two young women, Diane Wilder and Kimberly Nelson, using methods strikingly similar to those employed during the Hillside murders. These killings ultimately led investigators to identify and arrest him, with evidence soon linking him to the Los Angeles murder series and exposing the involvement of both cousins. During questioning, Bianchi initially attempted to avoid responsibility by claiming he suffered from multiple personality disorder. The defense collapsed after psychiatric experts concluded he had deliberately faked the condition. Facing overwhelming evidence and the possibility of the death penalty, Bianchi agreed to testify against Buono in exchange for a plea agreement. His testimony, supported by forensic evidence and witness statements, became central to the prosecution. Angelo Buono maintained his innocence throughout the investigation and trial, insisting that Bianchi alone had committed the murders. After a lengthy legal process, Buono was convicted in 1983 of multiple counts of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Bianchi also received life sentences after pleading guilty. The Hillside Strangler case exposed how two offenders working together could complicate criminal investigations and delay the identification of those responsible. It also highlighted the vulnerability of victims who were often overlooked by society. Today, the case remains one of California's most infamous serial murder investigations, remembered not only for its brutality but also for the twelve lives that were stolen.

Killed Victims

  • Yolanda Washington (Age: 19)
  • Judith Lynn Miller (Age: 15)
  • Lissa Teresa Kastin (Age: 21)
  • Evelyn Jane King (Age: 28)
  • Dolores Ann "Dolly" Cepeda (Age: 12)
  • Sonja Johnson (Age: 14)
  • Kristina Weckler (Age: 20)
  • Lauren Rae Wagner (Age: 18)
  • Kimberly Diane Martin (Age: 17)
  • Cindy Lee Hudspeth (Age: 20)
  • Karen Lauretta Mandic (Age: 22)
  • Diane Ann Wilder (Age: 27)

Wounded Victims

No data available.

Case Discussion

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