Herbert William Mullin

Serial Killer

Herbert William Mullin: The Earthquake Killer

Early Life and Mental Health Issues

Herbert William Mullin was born on April 18, 1947, in Salinas, California. He experienced a relatively normal childhood until the death of his best friend in a car accident, which some experts believe triggered the onset of his schizophrenia. Mullin was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was admitted to various mental hospitals over the years.

Belief in Earthquake Prevention

Mullin believed that human sacrifices were necessary to prevent catastrophic earthquakes. He thought that the Vietnam War had produced enough American deaths to forestall earthquakes, but with the war winding down, he felt compelled to start killing people to prevent a major earthquake.

Murder Spree

Herbert Mullin's killing spree began on October 13, 1972, and lasted until February 13, 1973. During this period, he murdered 13 people in California. Below are the details of his victims:

• October 13, 1972: Lawrence White, a transient man, was killed.
• October 24, 1972: Mary Guilfoyle, a college student, was stabbed to death.
• November 2, 1972: Father Henri Tomei, a priest, was killed in a confessional.
• January 25, 1973: Jim Gianera and his wife, Joan, were shot to death.
• January 25, 1973: Kathy Francis and her two sons, David and Damon, were killed.
• February 10, 1973: Fred Perez, a retired fisherman, was shot while gardening.
• February 13, 1973: Four teenage boys were killed in a state park.

...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (13)

Lawrence White Age: (55), Date of Death: 1972-10-13

    ...View 12 additional victims

Herbert Mullin - Wikipedia

    ...View 13 additional sources