On April 23rd, 1973, police in Santa Cruz, California received what seemed like a prank call. The caller was someone they knew well, claiming he needed to confess to murder. At first, they thought he was joking. But as he continued speaking, he revealed chilling details about crimes that had taken multiple lives across the Santa Cruz area.
Early Life and Family Struggles
Edmund Emil Kemper III was born in Burbank, California on December 18th, 1948, to Edmund Kemper II and Clarnell Strandberg. His childhood was marked by family conflict. While Edmund loved his father deeply, his relationship with his mother was troubled.
Clarnell was a controlling mother who often censured her son. She refused to show affection, fearing it would make him weak. Edmund’s father, a World War II veteran, later said living with Clarnell was worse than being in combat.
In 1957, Edmund’s parents separated. His father moved to Los Angeles, while Clarnell took Edmund and his two sisters to Montana. This move would be a turning point in young Edmund’s life.
Warning Signs
Living with his mother in Montana, Edmund began showing disturbing behavior:
- He created dark games called “gas chambers” or “electric chairs”
- He broke his sisters’ dolls, focusing on removing their heads and hands
- He stalked his second-grade teacher
- At age 10, he killed the family cat and displayed disturbing behavior with its remains
- He killed a second family cat at age 13
Worried about her son’s behavior, Clarnell made Edmund sleep in the basement, away from his sisters.
Read more: Mary Ann Cotton: Britain’s First Female Serial Killer
The First Murders
At 15, Edmund ran away to live with his father, but this arrangement didn’t last long. He was then sent to live with his paternal grandparents on their North Fork, California ranch.
By this time, Edmund had grown into an imposing figure—6’4″ tall and 250 pounds. His relationship with his grandmother Maude was as difficult as with his mother.
On August 27th, 1964, Edmund committed his first murder. He shot his grandmother as she sat at the kitchen table, then killed his grandfather when he returned from shopping. When police asked why, Edmund said he “wanted to see what it felt like.”
Institutionalization and Release
After the murders, Edmund was sent to Atascadero State Hospital. There, doctors discovered he had:
- An IQ of 136
- Signs of paranoid schizophrenia
- Strong manipulation skills
He learned to say what doctors wanted to hear and even became their assistant. By 1969, at age 21, doctors considered him recovered and released him – despite recommendations that he shouldn’t return to his mother’s care.
The Santa Cruz Murders
After his release, Edmund moved to Santa Cruz, where his mother worked at the University of California. He took various jobs and befriended local police officers, earning the nickname “Big Ed.”
In 1971, Edmund received $15,000 from a motorcycle accident settlement. He bought a car and began offering rides to young women near the university campus. His first victims were:
- Mary Ann Pesce and Anita Luchessa (May 1972)
- Aiko Koo (September 1972)
- Cynthia Schall (January 1973)
- Rosalind Thorpe and Alice Liu (February 1973)
Final Crimes and Capture
On Good Friday 1973, Edmund killed his mother, Clarnell, with a hammer while she slept. He then killed her friend Sally Hallett. Afterward, he drove to Colorado and called Santa Cruz police to confess.
Legacy and Impact
Edmund Kemper’s case helped shape our understanding of violent criminals. His detailed confessions and interviews with FBI agents Robert Ressler and John Douglas contributed significantly to modern criminal profiling.
Today, Kemper remains at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, serving eight life sentences. His story has influenced popular culture, appearing in shows like “Criminal Minds” and “Mindhunter.”
