A man described as a serial killer with exceptional intelligence exhibited early signs of violent behavior at the age of 13 by killing pigs. Patrick Kearney, born in 1939, was found guilty of murdering 21 individuals, although authorities suspect he may have been involved in additional killings. During his teenage years in Los Angeles, California, Kearney took pleasure in shooting swine, a disturbing activity that his father believed would toughen him up.
After refining his skills in animal slaughter, Kearney harbored dark fantasies of murdering those who had mistreated him. Following his military service in Texas, he entered into a romantic relationship with a man named David Hill and together they moved to California. However, their partnership ended in 1962 when Hill returned to his family, coinciding with Kearney’s transition to killing humans.
Kearney’s first known murder occurred in 1963, followed by a series of killings starting in 1968 after Hill’s departure. Over the years, Kearney targeted various individuals, including hitchhikers, sex workers, men in bars, and even a young boy. He would shoot his victims in the head, often selecting targets who resembled his former bullies.
One of Kearney’s methods involved driving with one hand and shooting with the other, then placing the corpses in the passenger seat to give the appearance of company. He would later dismember the bodies, disposing of them in trash bags at different locations, earning him nicknames like ‘The Trash Bag Killer’ and ‘The Freeway Killer.’
After a 15-year killing spree, Kearney was apprehended in 1977 following an investigation into a teenager’s death. Kearney eventually confessed to 35 murders and, despite his high IQ of 180, he pled guilty to 21 counts to avoid the death penalty. He is currently serving a life sentence at Mule Creek State Prison in California.
