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Description
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Brandon Tholmer: The West Side Rapist

Early Life and Background

Brandon Tholmer was born in 1949 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Details about his early life remain scarce, but it is known that he moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970s. There, he took on various low-skilled jobs and attempted to pursue a career in music as a drummer for a band called "The Hostages." Tholmer also worked at a shoe factory in Monterey Park and was in a relationship at the time of his arrest. His favorite song was "Killer on the Loose" by the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy.

Criminal History

In 1975, Tholmer was arrested for assaulting and raping a 79-year-old woman. He pleaded guilty to the crime, attributing his actions to being under the influence of LSD. Subsequently, he was declared a mentally disordered sex offender and was committed to Patton State Hospital for treatment. Tholmer was released in October 1979 and continued outpatient treatment at a rehabilitation center in Silver Lake.

The West Side Rapist Murders

Between January 1981 and October 1983, a series of brutal murders targeting elderly women occurred in Los Angeles' West Side, leading to the moniker "The West Side Rapist." Tholmer was linked to at least 12 of these murders, though authorities suspected his involvement in up to 34 cases. The victims were often found in their homes, having been raped, beaten, and in some instances, strangled or stabbed. ...Read More
Victims
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Confirmed Victims: (5)
  • Rose Lederman Age: (80), Date of Death: 1981-08
  •     ...View 4 additional victims
    Links to Additional Sources (10)
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    Killer's Details

    Brandon

    Tholmer

    1949 (age 74–75) New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

    Male

    Black

    The West Side Rapist

    Murder

    Life imprisonment

    12-34

    1981 - 1983

    California

    November 7, 1983

    California Medical Facility

    07/11/2025