Latest news with #HillsideStranglers
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Who is Kenneth Bianchi? Dreaded Hillside Strangler, 74, denied parole for the 8th time
Kenneth Bianchi, one of the two men behind the horrific 'Hillside Strangler' killings, has once again been denied parole. The decision came this week, meaning Bianchi will stay locked up in a California prison, where he's been serving a life sentence since 1983. Kenneth Bianchi was part of a killing spree that gripped Los Angeles in the late 1970s(@WillSutton78/ X) This is the eighth time he han been refused parole. His first denial came in 1985, and another in 2010. Who is Kenneth Bianchi? Now 74, Bianchi was part of a killing spree that gripped Los Angeles in the late 1970s. Over four months from late 1977 to early 1978, ten women were abducted and murdered. Bianchi later admitted to killing two more women in Washington. He committed those last murders on his own. Bianchi didn't act alone in most of the Los Angeles cases. He carried out the crimes with his cousin, Angelo Buono Jr. The victims were girls and young women between the ages of 12 and 28. They were strangled and left along remote hillsides around the city. That's how the killers got the name 'Hillside Stranglers.' Police arrested Bianchi in Washington state in January 1979. Buono wasn't caught until that October. To avoid a harsher sentence, Bianchi agreed to testify against his cousin. That deal gave him the chance to seek parole one day. Both men were given life sentences, however Buono died in prison in 2002. Also Read: Idaho murders: Who is Murphy? Here's what happened to Kaylee Goncalves' dog after she was killed Kenneth Bianchi held in a prison in Washington state At one point, Bianchi changed his name to Anthony D'Amato, something he did about two years ago. He's currently held in a prison in Washington state. Authorities say Bianchi and Buono posed as police officers to get their victims to cooperate. They would find young women waiting at bus stops or walking near their apartments, flash fake badges, and then take them away. Also Read: Idaho murders: Who were Ethan, Xana, Kaylee and Madison? Remembering the victims Murders caused panic across Los Angeles Once they had them, the cousins would rape, torture, and strangle them before dumping their bodies in remote areas. The murders caused panic across Los Angeles. Women were afraid to go out at night. Police worked for months to figure out who was behind the killings. Bianchi's plea deal was the only thing that kept him from getting the death penalty. His cooperation helped prosecutors convict Buono. But despite the deal, parole has never been granted. Families of the victims have continued to speak out each time Bianchi goes before the board. And each time, the result has been the same: he stays behind bars.
Fox News
09-07-2025
- Fox News
Notorious 'Hillside Strangler' seeks freedom after decades behind bars despite expert warnings
One of the notorious "Hillside Stranglers" was recently considered for potential parole in Washington state, with many asking how someone convicted of such heinous crimes could be considered for release. "When people hear that Kenneth Bianchi, one of the men known as the Hillside Stranglers, is up for parole again, it brings back fear and sadness for the families of the victims," retired FBI special agent Jason Pack tells Fox News Digital. "These families lost daughters, sisters, and friends in some of the most brutal and cold-hearted crimes this country has seen. For them, this hearing isn't just a legal step. It forces them to relive painful memories they've carried for decades." Anthony D'Amato, formerly known as Kenneth Bianchi, is one of the infamous "Hillside Stranglers," responsible for a series of murders involving women and girls during the late 1970s, including two killings in Washington. D'Amato and his cousin, Angelo Buono, were also convicted of murdering five individuals in Southern California. Buono passed away in a California prison in 2002. Acting alone, D'Amato also killed two women in the Bellingham area. Though suspected of additional killings, he was never convicted of those crimes. D'Amato then legally changed his name from Bianchi in 2023. "As a retired FBI agent who spent years working violent crime and studying the behavior of offenders like Bianchi, I can tell you that this kind of danger does not simply go away with age," Pack said. "His crimes were carefully planned. He picked out his victims, gained their trust, and then attacked and killed them. Even after his arrest, Bianchi worked hard to avoid responsibility. He faked mental illness, claimed to have multiple personalities, and tried to manipulate doctors and the justice system," Pack pointed out. Pack said the fact that D'Amato changed his name could be seen as another attempt to distance himself from his past and confuse the process. "Some people watching at home may wonder why he's even getting a parole hearing. The reason is simple: under the law, certain types of sentences require parole reviews at scheduled times. This does not mean he is likely to be released. The parole board will consider many things: how serious his crimes were, how he has behaved in prison, whether he has shown real remorse, and what risk he would pose if ever released," Pack explained. "In Bianchi's case, the pattern of lies, manipulation and lack of accountability should weigh heavily against him." Pack added that even though Bianchi is now 74 years old, "age does not erase the mindset that led him to kill." "The thinking, manipulation and risk factors that made him dangerous in the past remain present today. People like him can still manipulate others, even from behind bars," Pack said. Even if paroled in Washington, California has active murder charges pending, Pack explained, working to ease concerns for those who are worried about public safety if he is paroled. "It's important to know that even if Washington state were to grant him parole, which I think is unlikely, California has multiple life sentences waiting for him. He would not be released into the community. He would be immediately transferred to California to serve those sentences," Pack said. Realistically, Pack said Bianchi could remain incarcerated well into old age – likely until death. Despite disturbing headlines, parole does not guarantee release, Pack said, adding that Bianchi still faces serious legal roadblocks. "At the end of the day, the families of the victims deserve peace. The community deserves to feel safe. And the justice system has a responsibility to make sure a man who caused so much harm remains where he belongs – behind bars," Pack said. After committing a series of violent crimes, including the sexual assault and murder of women in the Los Angeles area, D'Amato was employed as a security guard in Bellingham in January 1979. During his time there, he persuaded two Western Washington University students, Karen Mandic and Diane Wilder, to accompany him to a residence, where he subsequently strangled them. These murders prompted law enforcement to link D'Amato to approximately 10 similar cases in California. To avoid a death sentence, D'Amato pleaded guilty in Washington and received two consecutive life sentences without parole. During his incarceration, D'Amato has made repeated legal attempts to overturn his Washington convictions, arguing, among other things, that his confession was obtained under hypnosis. He has consistently proclaimed his innocence. Pack said that during the time of Bianchi's conviction, California law allowed for periodic parole hearings, even for convicted murderers. That law remains applicable to those sentenced under it. D'Amato's parole requests have been denied on multiple occasions in recent years in both Washington state and California. D'Amato, now 74 and incarcerated at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, was originally scheduled for a parole hearing in May 2025, which was later delayed. The board is expected to publish its decision by July 23. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
