Where Is Ed Kemper Now? Revisiting the Co-Ed Killer’s Murder Spree That Began with His Grandparents 61 Years Ago

Ed Kemper’s Notorious Murder Spree: A Look into the Co-Ed Killer’s Reign of Terror

Ed Kemper, also known as the Co-Ed Killer, gained notoriety for his brutal murder spree that began over six decades ago, when he committed his first killings by murdering his grandparents on August 27, 1964. Edmund Kemper III, a towering 6 feet, 9 inches tall, displayed disturbing tendencies from a young age. Born on December 18, 1948, in Burbank, California, Kemper’s parents divorced when he was just 7 years old. His troubled childhood included disturbing behaviours such as mutilating animals and displaying fantasies of violence.

At the age of 15, Kemper committed his first murders at his grandparents’ ranch in North Fork, California. He shot his grandmother, Maude Kemper, and then killed his grandfather, Edmund Kemper Sr., upon his return home. Following the murders, Kemper called his mother and the local sheriff to confess to the killings. He was subsequently committed to the Atascadero State Hospital for the Criminally Insane until 1969, after being deemed “cured” by psychiatrists.

Despite his violent history, Kemper was released and went on to commit a series of heinous crimes between May 1972 and April 1973. During this time, Kemper murdered six young women, predominantly hitchhikers, in Santa Cruz, California. His modus operandi involved picking up victims, then stabbing, strangling, or shooting them before mutilating their bodies. Notably, he also killed his own mother and her friend in April 1973, before turning himself in to authorities in Colorado.

Following his arrest in 1973, Kemper stood trial and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to eight counts of first-degree murder. Despite attempts to portray him as mentally unfit, his high IQ and calculated actions led to a conviction on all charges. He was sentenced to life in prison, with the judge expressing his determination to keep Kemper behind bars for the rest of his life.

Currently, Ed Kemper remains incarcerated at the California Medical Facility state prison in Vacaville, California, where he has spent more than five decades. Despite a relatively clean record in prison, Kemper has been denied parole multiple times due to concerns about his potential for reoffending. His most recent parole hearing in July 2024 revealed that he was assessed as being at a “high risk” for reoffending, with various health issues complicating his situation.

As one of the most infamous serial killers in history, Ed Kemper continues to captivate public fascination through books, documentaries, and television adaptations of his crimes. His gruesome acts and chilling intelligence have solidified his place in the annals of true crime, serving as a chilling reminder of the capacity for evil within human nature.