Wesley Shermantine, a notorious serial killer linked to a series of heinous crimes in California, has passed away at the age of 60. Shermantine died in the health centre of California State Prison, Sacramento, on Thursday, 17 September 2023, according to an announcement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
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Shermantine, along with his childhood companion Loren Herzog, formed a murderous duo known as the “Speed Freak Killers.” The pair were implicated in numerous murders and disappearances that plagued California’s Central Valley from the mid-1980s through the late 1990s. Investigators have long suspected the duo of committing as many as 70 killings during their drug-fuelled spree, which spanned approximately 15 years.
The cause of Shermantine’s death is yet to be confirmed, with the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office tasked with investigating the details surrounding his passing. His conviction for murder included the brutal slaying of Cyndi Vanderheiden, who was 25 years old at the time of her death in 1998. He was also convicted of the murders of 31-year-old Paul Cavanaugh and 35-year-old Howard King in 1984, as well as the case of 16-year-old Chevelle “Chevy” Wheeler, who had disappeared in 1985.
Initially sentenced to death for his crimes, Shermantine had his status altered due to California’s moratorium on the death penalty. He had been on condemned status since being received from Santa Clara County on 18 May 2001 and was one of 563 individuals on death row within the CDCR.
Loren Herzog, Shermantine’s accomplice, faced a different legal fate. Although he was also implicated in the murders of Vanderheiden, Cavanaugh, and King, Herzog’s convictions were overturned upon appeal after it was determined that his confessions had been coerced. He ultimately pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was granted parole in 2010. However, due to concerns regarding his reintegration into society, he was placed under strict supervision in a trailer located on the grounds of High Desert State Prison near Susanville. Herzog took his own life in 2012 at the age of 46.
John Vanderheiden, father to Shermantine’s victim Cyndi, expressed his feelings upon hearing the news of the killer’s death. He remarked that Shermantine “got his punishment that he deserves right now… being dead,” adding that he believed Shermantine should not have lived as long as he did. Remembering his daughter, he reflected on her vibrant personality, stating, “She was a very happy person all the time and brought happiness to our house.”
The legacy of Shermantine and Herzog, marked by a reign of terror in California, continues to resonate within the communities affected by their horrific actions. As investigations into their crimes and the closure of numerous cold cases remain ongoing, Shermantine’s demise adds another chapter to the grim history of the “Speed Freak Killers.”
While Shermantine’s death does not erase the pain and loss suffered by the families of his victims, it serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of his crimes. As authorities reflect on the chilling saga of this duo, it is hoped that justice for the victims continues to be pursued, with communities longing for closure and healing.