A person deemed a serial killer with exceptional intelligence exhibited troubling behavior at the age of just 13, starting with the slaughter of pigs. Patrick Kearney, born in 1939, went on to be convicted of murdering 21 individuals, but law enforcement suspects his involvement in numerous additional cases. As a teenager in Los Angeles, California, Kearney found satisfaction in shooting swine, a practice that his father believed would toughen him up.
Having honed his skills in dispatching animals, Kearney developed a morbid fascination with blood and organs. Despite facing bullying due to his frail appearance, he harbored fantasies of exacting vengeance on those who mistreated him. After completing his education and serving in the Air Force in Texas, Kearney formed a relationship with David Hill, leading them to relocate to California together.
However, their partnership dissolved in 1962, coinciding with Kearney’s transition from animal killings to human murders. The first documented case occurred when he offered a ride to a hitchhiker whom he subsequently shot and abused. Kearney’s violent spree continued over the years, with victims ranging from hitchhikers and sex workers to an eight-year-old boy.
Kearney’s modus operandi involved shooting victims in the head, often selecting individuals reminiscent of his tormentors from school. He would position the deceased upright in his vehicle to create the appearance of company before disposing of the remains in various locations, earning him monikers like ‘The Trash Bag Killer’ and ‘The Freeway Killer’.
After a decade and a half of evading capture, Kearney was apprehended in 1977 following an investigation into a teenager’s death. Subsequent confessions revealed a staggering total of 35 killings. Despite a reported IQ of 180, surpassing that of a “genius” level, Kearney avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to 21 murders. He was sentenced to life imprisonment at California’s Mule Creek State Prison, where he remains incarcerated.