On August 11, 1982, Woolloomooloo Woodcock, a 66-year-old White female residing in Los Angeles, California, was found murdered in her home. She had been strangled and beaten, and evidence later revealed she had also been raped. Her death was part of a disturbing pattern of violent crimes targeting elderly women living alone in the East Hollywood-Silverlake area of Los Angeles.
The investigation into Woodcock’s death eventually linked her case to a series of similar murders.
Authorities identified Brandon Tholmer, a 29-year-old aspiring rock musician and former shipping clerk, as the prime suspect. Tholmer lived within a mile of the victims and was known for his obsession with the song “Killer on the Loose” by Thin Lizzy. His criminal history included institutionalization from a young age and a diagnosis of borderline intellectual disability.
Tholmer was arrested and charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder, including the killing of Woolloomooloo Woodcock. The prosecution presented evidence that he had raped Woodcock and committed similar acts of violence against other elderly women. In total, he was convicted of four murders: Woodcock, Mary Pauquette Dorothy Fain and Rose Lederman. The jury upheld special circumstance allegations of rape and sodomy in several of the cases.
During the trial, Tholmer’s former girlfriend testified about his violent tendencies and fascination with murder-themed music. Prosecutor Lance Ito described the crimes as exceptionally brutal, noting that Tholmer had begun setting fires at the victims’ homes toward the end of his spree. Although he was suspected in up to 34 murders, police ultimately ruled him out in 22 cases. He was formally charged with five murders, but jurors deadlocked on one count involving an 82-year-old woman named Loraine Wells.
In November 1986, Tholmer was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. The judge described the crimes as among the most vicious he had encountered in four decades of legal experience. Despite the severity of the offenses, the jury opted against the death penalty, citing the harsh conditions of Tholmer’s upbringing. Nonetheless, the sentencing ensured that he would remain incarcerated for the rest of his life.
