Lonnie Wayne Bond Sr., a 27-year-old man, was murdered on April 19, 1985, in Wilseyville, California. His tragic death was part of a series of gruesome crimes committed by serial killers Leonard Lake and Charles Ng, who operated from a remote cabin in the Sierra foothills. Bond Sr. lived with his girlfriend, Brenda Sue O’Connor, and their one-year-old son, Lonnie Wayne Bond Jr., at the time of their disappearance.
Lake and Ng were known for their horrific acts, which included kidnapping, torture, and murder. Bond Sr. and his family were among their victims. The killers abducted Bond Sr., O’Connor, their child, and a family friend, Robin Scott Stapley, from their home. Their remains were later discovered in shallow graves near Lake’s property, along with over 40 pounds of burned and crushed human bone fragments, indicating the extent of the brutality inflicted upon them.
The investigation into Lake and Ng’s crimes began when they were caught shoplifting in June 1985. Upon arrest, Lake swallowed cyanide pills he had sewn into his clothing and died four days later. Ng, on the other hand, was arrested in Calgary, Canada, and later extradited to California to face charges related to multiple murders, including that of Bond Sr.. Ng was ultimately convicted of capital murder for his role in the killings.
Authorities continued to work on identifying remains found at the crime scene. In 2025, forensic advancements led to the identification of Brenda Sue O’Connor’s remains, which were returned to her family. However, the remains of Lonnie Bond Jr. have yet to be found. The case remains one of the most disturbing serial murder investigations in California’s history, highlighting the sheer brutality of Lake and Ng’s crimes.
